Eastern Docklands
Oostelijk Havengebied | |
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Neighborhood of Amsterdam | |
UTC+1 (CET ) |
The Eastern Docklands (
The neighborhood consists of the districts: KNSM Island, Java-eiland, Oostelijke Handelskade, Cruquiuseiland, Borneo-eiland and Sporenburg.[1]
The area, about 2/3 water and 1/3 land, consists of an extension of the Oostelijke Handelskade, east of the center of town, and four artificial "islands" (peninsulas), all of which were former industrial and harbor locations of the port of Amsterdam. In the early 2000s, after a large-scale reorganization, the city's biggest post-World War II building project, the Eastern Docklands was de-industrialized and became home to some 17,000 people living in some the highest population densities in the Netherlands.[2]
History
Construction
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Kaart_Oostelijk_Havengebied.svg/220px-Kaart_Oostelijk_Havengebied.svg.png)
In the mid-nineteenth century the Dutch government determined that the city's open harbor front was to be filled in to allow for the construction of the
The development of the Oostelijke Handelskade (1876)[5] gave Amsterdam a deep-water harbor for the first time in its history, and warehouses such as Europa, Azië, and Africa jumpstarted economic activity in 1883. The quay was designed according to modern requirements, with a railroad track and steam-powered cranes for loading and unloading.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Sporenburg_the_whale.jpg/350px-Sporenburg_the_whale.jpg)
One problem was the Zuiderzee, which caused high waves and disturbed harbor activity. The city decided to build a
The deep-water harbors allowed for much economic development. In 1903, the
Panorama
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Java_eiland_panorama.jpg/880px-Java_eiland_panorama.jpg)
Recent development
In the 1980s, The city decided to change the by now derelict area into space for residences, and even proposed to fill in the harbors. In the end, the harbors and islands remained intact, to create relatively quiet enclaves of residential neighborhoods.[4]
Many of the homes in the Eastern Docklands attract young families, which has led to more families with young children staying in the city (rather than move to places like Almere, which offer more affordable family homes with gardens).[9][10] The area is also attractive to "trendy" and well-to-do urbanites;[11][12] the notably modern features of the new buildings in the "architecturally spectacular" area[13][14][15] draw in "trendy young media and IT professionals" and are a boon for tourism to the area.[16]
Since 2005, the fast
Oostelijke Handelskade
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Lloyd.jpg/200px-Lloyd.jpg)
A central element in the development of the Docklands is the Oostelijke Handelskade, the Eastern Quay. Located on the IJ harbor, it ran along the docks to the east of the center of Amsterdam and got its name in 1883. Previously known as Handelskade, it was built between 1875 and 1883. In 1919 part of the quay was renamed Piet Hein Kade. In 2001, it became connected to
One of its characteristic buildings is the Lloyd Hotel, which was constructed in 1921 by Evert Breman as temporary housing for emigrants to Latin America, many of whom from Eastern Europe. During World War II it was used as a prison by the German occupiers, and after the war it retained that function. It became a prison for underage convicts in 1964. After 1989 it stood empty for a time, and in 1996 the city of Amsterdam opened a competition to turn the building into a hotel. That conversion, designed by Otto Nan, was finished in 2004 (with 120 rooms).[17]
References
Literature
- Ton Heijdra, Kadraaiers & Zeekastelen: geschiedenis van het Oostelijk Havengebied. Amsterdam: Het Open Havenmuseum, 1993. ISBN 90-900570-1-3.
- Ton Heijdra, Zeeburg. Geschiedenis van de Indische Buurt en het Oostelijk Havengebied. Alkmaar: René de Milliano, 2000. ISBN 90-72810-32-5.
- Geert Mak & Frans Heddema (text), Han Singels (photography), De Eilanden. Het Amsterdams Oostelijk Havengebied in stadsgezichten 1974-2002. Amsterdam: De Verbeelding, 2002. ISBN 90-74159-45-1.
- Bert Franssen, Ruud van Soest, Ontdek het Oostelijk Havengebied. Amsterdam: Stokerkade cultuurhistorische uitgeverij, 2009, ISBN 978-90-79156-07-8.
Notes
- ^ "Oostelijk Havengebied" Borough of Amsterdam East Archived 2012-10-09 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch)
- ^ Szita, Jane (April 2002). "Street of Dreams". Dwell: 62–69. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-6550-180-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-6450-573-7. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-78088-11-0.
- ISBN 978-90-6550-180-6.
- ISBN 978-90-72131-39-3.
- ISBN 978-90-5662-307-4.
- ^ "Gezin rukt op binnen ring A-10, in de stad". Het Parool. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ "Steeds meer jonge gezinnen in de stad". AT5. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ "KNSM-eiland". Oostelijk Havengebied Amsterdam. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ "Amsterdamse stadsdelen rollen rode loper uit voor toeristen". TourPRessHolland. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ Haastrecht, Ruud van (4 October 1997). "Lonely Planet Amsterdam: suffe reisgids voor oudere jongeren". Trouw. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ Mawer, Fred (17 September 2005). "Dockland chic in the city of canals". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ Roos, Robbert (30 April 1998). "Java-eiland en Borneo/Sporenburg: speeltuin voor architecten in het Oostelijk Havengebied". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ Trew, Jonathan (22 May 2004). "New Amsterdam". The Scotsman. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ Kreulen, Edwin (19 August 2004). "Slapen in industrieel erfgoed". Trouw. Retrieved 17 May 2010.