OLD AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS
NETHERLANDS MAP
Afsluitdijk
IJsselmeer Markerwaarddijk
Markermeer
Amsterdam
• The first plans to close off the Zuider Zee came in the late 17th Century. • 20th century technological advances and political will made construction of the Afsluitdijk possible. • Completion of the Afluitdijk in 1932 allowed for the construcution of the first three of the four proposed polders.
ZUIDER ZEE
Logement Waterland
Old Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM REGION
Amsterdam Noord Westergas fabriek
Garden Cities
Overhoeks
Old Amsterdam
Westerdock Island/Eastern Harbor District/Ijplein
Sarphatipark
Vondelpark
De Pijp
Amsterdamse Bosch
AMSTERDAM OUTERCITY
1600: 40,000 1610: 50,000 1622: 105,000 1662: 210,000 1670: 200,000 1795: 221,000 2007: 719,000
HISTORICAL POPULATION GROWTH
1250: Settlement begins around River Amstel 1265: Dam constructed 1347: First Dam sluices constructed 1420: Amsterdam becomes largest city in the region (pop. 30,000) 1480: Singel Canal built (encircling Medieval Centre) 1585: City expansion past Singel Canal Amsterdam, 1538 (before “Three Canals Plan� expansion)
HISTORY (MEDIEVAL)
1600: Beginning of Dutch Golden Age 1609: Town Hall established 1613: Three Canals Plan (Phase I) - Development of Canal Ring & Jordaan to the Liedsegracht
Amsterdam, 1649 (with first section of the Canal Ring added)
HISTORY (GOLDEN AGE)
1660: Three Canals Plan (Phase II) - Development of the Canal Ring to the River Amstel The Singelgracht becomes outermost limit of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, 1662 (with first section of the Canal Ring added)
HISTORY (17th CENTURY)
1700: End of Dutch Golden Age 1795-1813: Economic stagnation
Amsterdam, 1770 (with Canal Ring completed)
HISTORY (18th-19th Century)
1920-1940: Economic depression 1960s-present: Gentrification, urban renewal, tourism
OLD AMSTERDAM (20th Century - Present)
JORDAAN CANAL RING MEDIEVAL CENTRE
OLD AMSTERDAM (3 NEIGHBOURHOODS)
FIGURE GROUND
PUBLIC SPACE
PRIVATE GREEN SPACE
LEGEND After 1980 1920-1980 mixed before 1920 no data
AVERAGE BUILDING AGE
LEGEND Private Landlords Housing Associations Owner occupancy & private landlords Owner Occupancy no data
HOUSING OWNERSHIP
Major Roads
Major Bicycle Routes
LAND TRANSPORTATION
Metro
Rail
Tram
Ferry
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Br
ou
we rs
gr
acht
Da
mr
ak
Ege
IJ
Pri nse ng Ke rac ize ht rsg rac He ht ren gra Sin c gel gra ht cht
cht
rsgra e i t n la
ac ht
rgr aurie
L
cht a r eg
ds
Canal / Waterway
ste m A r Rive
Reguliersgracht
l
Lei
WATER TRANSPORTATION
MEDIEVAL CENTRE
MEDIEVAL CENTRE
• Built around the dam at the River Amstel at the end of the 12th Century • De Walletjes (small walls) named after the low brick walls that surround the canals • 16th Century architecture bounded by canals with a network narrow streets and lanes • the style of architecture shows evidence of past investment • Red Light District • Now home to a range of brothels, sex shops, coffee shops, churches, museums and numerous historic buildings MEDIEVAL CENTRE
a rd
ty ur Co
ial nt de ng i s i Re uild B
g t ee kin Str Par &
l tia en sid ding e R uil B
ty ur Co
ard
Mixed Use Buildings
STOOFSTEEG, DE WALLEN AMSTERDAM (facing NW) 0
0
50
5
10
20
30
ial nt ide ng
a rd rty 150 ou
100
40
50
g t ee kin 200 Feet Str ar
Stoofsteeg Lane
Mixed Use Buildings
20 m 50 ft l tia en
ard
ty ur
60 Metres
MEDIEVAL CENTRE
Mixed UseMixed Buildings
Stoofsteeg Stoofsteeg Lane Lane
Use Buildings 0
50
0
Mixed Use Buildings
Stoofsteeg Lane
Mixed Use Buildings
5
10
100
150
200 Feet 60 Metres
Stoofsteeg Lane
0
Stoofsteeg Lane
Use Buildings
STOOFSTEEG, DE WALLEN AMSTERDAM (facing NW) 50 20 30 40
Mixed Use Buildings
0
Mixed Use Buildings
Mixed Use Mixed Buildings
50 5
10
Mixed Use Buildings
100 20
30
150 40
200 Feet 50
60 Metres
Mixed Use Buildings
MEDIEVAL CENTRE
CANAL RING
CANAL RING ‘GRACHTENGORDEL’
• Developed in the 16th century • Three main canals the Herengracht (Gentlemen’s Canal), the Keizergracht (Emperor’s Canal), and the Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal). • The area was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2010. • The buildings along the canal were taxed based on their frontages.Typical plots are about 30’ and 200’ deep.
CANAL RING ‘GRACHTENGORDEL’
HERENGRACHT, CANAL DISTRICT AMSTERDAM (facing NE) H E R E N G R AC H T C A N A L AT B ERGST R AAT A M S T E R DAM
0
50
0
100
150
200
250
20 60 R AAT H E R E N G R AC H T 40 C A N A L AT B ERGST
300 Feet 80
100 Metres
A M S T E R DA M
0 0
50
100 20
150 40
200 60
250
300 Feet 80
100 Metres
CANAL RING ‘GRACHTENGORDEL’
Courtyard and Courtyard Building
Residential Building
Street and Parking
Herengracht
Street and Parking
Residential Building
Courtyard
Courtyard Building
Courtyard
Residential Building
Street and Parking
HERENGRACHT, CANAL DISTRICT AMSTERDAM (facing NE) 0
0
50
5
10
100
20
30
150
40
200 Feet
50
60 Metres
CANAL RING ‘GRACHTENGORDEL’
Jordaan
JORDAAN
1612: Development as a working-class district begins as part of the ‘Three Canals Plan,’ following the existing Polder system 1620: Foundations laid for Noorderkerk Church 17th Century: Construction of ‘hofjes’ begin 19th Century: Trade declines, poverty rises Canals of ‘Palmgracht’, ‘Goudsbloemgracht’, ‘Lindengracht’, ‘Anjeliersgracht’, ‘Rozengracht’ and ‘Elandsgracht’ transformed into streets 1940-1944: German occupation of the Netherlands 1960s-present: Urban Renewal, Gentrification & Heritage Preservation
JORDAAN
• One of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Amsterdam • Many hofjes have been preserved, although no longer occupied by the same demographic groups • The neighbourhood attracts a wide range of students, artists and other young professionals
JORDAAN
EGELANTIERSTRAAT, JORDAAN DISTRICT AMSTERDAM 05 0
0
100 20
150 40
200 60
250
300 Feet 80
100 Metres
JORDAAN
Courtyard
Residential Building
Residential Building
Street & Parking
Courtyard
EGELANTIERSTRAAT, JORDAAN DISTRICT AMSTERDAM (facing NE) E GEL ANT IER SST R AAT, JO RDAAN DIS TRICT 05 0
0
100
Scale20= 1:500
150 ERDAM 200 AMST 40
60
250
300 Feet 80
100 Metres
JORDAAN
• Development shaped by trade, ports, canals, dams, dikes, public health issues and fear of flooding • Built form and land uses consciously determined by sharp class and socio-economic distinctions
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY
The Inner City - 4% of Amsterdam’s land area contains: • 11% of population (80,000 out of 750,000) • 12% of dwellings (45,000) • 23% of jobs (95,000 out of 410,000) • Almost 100% of tourist population and 66% of hotels • 13% of homeless population • 90% of state monuments • 26% of office space (1.4 million square metres) • 47% of restaurants and bars • 65% of museums and theatres
(Pistor, 2004)
STATISTICS
• Economic vitality/diversity & competition with other regional urban centres • Preservation of the spatial form vs. changing land uses • Housing vs. commercial land uses • Accessibility (Bicycle abandonment issues, restricted vehicle access) • Tourism & pressures on public space • Expansion opportunities along the IJ • Gentrification in Red Light District
CURRENT ISSUES: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES