Holland refers to the western region of the Netherlands. The etymology of Holland comes from the Middle Dutch term holtland (wooded land). Many areas of Holland are below sea level, requiring constant drainage. This lead to the ubiquitous Dutch windmills, used for pumping water.
Holland
:Randstad
Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Holland contains four major cities, Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Noordvleugel (North Wing), and The Hague and Rotterdam in the Zuidvleugel (South Wing). These four nodes link with other cities to form the Randstad (rim city). The Randstad has seen many proposals over the years to link the region through high speed rail and international motorways.
Amsterdam The Hague Rotterdam
Utrecht
Over 7.5 million people, or half the population of the Netherlands, live along the Randstad.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in the Netherlands. Including the Randstad cities, Amsterdam is the sixth largest greater metropolitan area in Europe. The earliest mention of Amsterdam is October 27, 1275. Early inhabitants had built a bridge with a dam across the river Amstel. Amsterdam’s history of foreign occupation and subsequent independence has produced a culture largely tolerate of various faiths.
Holland Amsterdam
:Context :Development :Evolution :Historical :Boroughs
Berlage Zuidas
The Golden Age of Amsterdam occurred in the 17th Cent. thanks to their worldwide trade connections. Amsterdam’s most defining feature is its Grachtengordel (series of three canals) Major Highways
Major Waterways
Fifteen Boroughs of Amsterdam
The three plagues of Amsterdam are reflected on their city’s coat of arms as three crosses (flood, fire, & pestilence).
Development of the Grachtengordel 1342
1383
Holland 1st Cent. BC
12 BC 4th Cent. AD
1544
1667
1597
Frisians, Batavians, and other tribes settle the coastal territory along the Rhine River Romans attempt to push their empire’s frontier across the Rhine Barbarian invasions from the Saxons and Franks settle the region
Amsterdam
:Context :Development :Evolution :Historical :Boroughs
814
The death of Charlemagne creates a power vacuum within his empire
Berlage
10th Cent.
The counts of Holland and Zeeland begin to assert their authority in the region
Zuidas
1275
Count Floris V of Holland grants the people of ‘Aemstelledamme’ toll-exemption from navigating Holland’s canals
1287
A heavy storm washes away the last land barrier between Amsterdam and the sea
1296
The Lords of Amsterdam assissinate Count Floris and revert back to the rule of the Bishop of Utrecht
1300
Amsterdam officially declared a city
1506
Amsterdam is inherited by Charles V, King of Spain
1555-1579
The Protestant Reformation takes hold in Amsterdam, resulting in a break from Spain and Catholicism, culminating in the Alteration of Amsterdam (1578)
1581
The United Provinces declares their independence from Spain
Amsterdam’s Golden Age (1585-1672) reflected their power as Europe’s most dominant trading hub.
Facade Construction by Century pre-1700
1800-1900
1700-1800
1900-present
Holland 1602
The United East India Company is founded
1609
Henry Hudson, working for the East India Company, sails from Amsterdam and discovers Manhattan island
1626
New Amsterdam is founded in America
1652
Cape Town is founded in South Africa
Berlage
1673
William of Orange defeats invading French by opening sluice gates to flood the countryside
Zuidas
1747
Composite
Riots for governmental reform break out in Amsterdam
1795
The Velvet Revolution takes place as the French occupy Amsterdam with the aid of Dutch revolutionaries
1813
The Netherlands gains its independence from France
1853
Vincent van Gogh is born in Holland
1904
Amsterdam’s city council asks Berlage to design the undeveloped land to the south of Amsterdam
1920
KLM, the world’s first airline, schedules service between Amsterdam and London
1928
Amsterdam hosts the Summer Olympics
1934
The Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dike) turns the sea near Amsterdam into the freshwater Lake IJsselmeer
Amsterdam
:Context :Development :Evolution :Historical :Boroughs
Germany occupied Amsterdam in WWII, with over 100,000 Jews being deported, including Anne Frank.
Holland
Historical Maps 1544
1866
1662
1922
1940
Nazi Germany invades Amsterdam
1942
Anne Frank goes into hiding
1945
Canadian soldiers liberate Amsterdam from the Nazi occupation
1949
The Netherlands joins NATO
1958
The Netherlands joins the European Economic Community, an early version of the European Union
1964 The Beatles tour Amsterdam’s canals 1975 Amsterdam decriminilizes cannabis usage in its 700th year as a city
Amsterdam
:Context :Development :Evolution :Historical :Boroughs
Berlage Zuidas
1997 The Treaty of Amsterdam marks the euro as the official European common currency
1770
2001 The world’s first legal same-sex marriage takes place in Amsterdam 2002 The Dutch parliament marks the Netherlands as the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia 2008 Plans push forward to build the Zuidas urban business center, with an estimated 2.5 million m2 development 2010 Construction is underway on the Dokmodel, where the new Randstad infrastructure is located below ground between the Zuidas highrises 2035 Estimated completion of the Dokmodel
The grachtengodel was used as a defense mechanism, transportation system, and flood control.
Holland Amsterdam Westpoort Noord 2
Geuzenveld/ Slotermeer
Zuidas 4
Osdorp
1 Bos en Lommer
:Context :Development :Evolution :Historical :Boroughs
Berlage
1 3
Zeeburg Oost/ Waterfraafsmeer
Slotervaart
2 Westerpark 3 De Baarsjes 4 Oud-West Zuidoost
Zuidas South Axis Centrum Center Oud-Zuid Old South Zuideramstel Southern Amstel
Amsterdam is divided into fifteen boroughs, with each borough containing several neighborhoods.
Holland Amsterdam Berlage
:Hendrik :1904 :1915 :1922
Zuidas
In 1901 a law was passed that sought to regulate overcrowding in Amsterdam by giving financial support to corporations that built affordable public housing for their workers. This lead to Berlage’s Plan Zuid (South) and Plan West. Hendrik Berlage is considered to be the father of Modern Dutch Architecture. His influences included H.H. Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright. His work inspired many Dutch architecture groups in the 1920s, including De Stijil and the Amsterdam School.
Holland Amsterdam Berlage
:Hendrik :1904 :1915 :1922
Zuidas
Berlage’s initial plan for the southern expansion in 1904 included winding streets and a strong connection to the existing fabric. The city council rejected his plan due to high cost and inefficiency.
Holland Amsterdam Berlage
:Hendrik :1904 :1915 :1922
Zuidas
In 1914 Berlage introduced a new plan, this time with straight streets and broad intersections. The plan was a success, with construction approved in 1917, following the style of the Amsterdam School.
Holland Amsterdam Berlage
:Hendrik :1904 :1915 :1922
Zuidas
A major feature of the plan was The Apollo area, which included the 1928 Olympic stadium. However, not all of Berlage’s plans were built according to plan, as evidenced by the southern edge of the plan.
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Light Rail
Railroad
Canal
Motorway
This map shows areas where the Oud-Zuid meets the Zuideramstel. The moments all occur along intersections of infrastructure, and serve to highlight Amsterdam’s efforts to capitalize spaces that would ordinarily be left unused.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Borough
Canal
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
The eastern edge of the Apollo area is highlighted by Berlage’s plan for connecting canals to create open, public spaces of water.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Borough
Canal
Green Space
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
One of the major features carried over from Brelage’s plan, this intersection incorporates multiple layers of transportation with public green space for residents.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Borough
Canal
Green Space
Railroad
Motorway
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Along the Amstel River, bikes and boats are given priority. They serve to simultaneously link Amsterdam’s parks, canals, and historic trails across the motorway.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Motorway
Canal
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Amsterdam has created transit stations that can support transportation at a variety of scales. This image highlights the efficiency of space and foresight in planning.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Motorway
Canal
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Station Rai is a major transit hub for both train and light rail. It bridges over to create a multi-layered system of departure and arrival.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Light Rail
Motorway
Canal
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
The most significant development is the Zuidas business district. It has become the home to a number of major international corporations. The fabric between the motorways is finely grained, allowing for future modifications to the existing infrastructure with minimal interference.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
These two plans are for the Zuidas business district and surrounding communities. Construction is currently ongoing to create an international hub for business and transportation, linking to the Schiphol airport and the rest of Europe through the Randstad’s high speed rail lines and motorways.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid
Holland Amsterdam Berlage Zuidas
Berlage’s plan for the Zuid was to expand the boundaries of Amsterdam. He did so through weaving the fabric found within the grachtengordel with a new framework so that future connections would be possible.
The Zuidas is becoming the focal point for business in Amsterdam and along the Randstad. That an area bisected by a highway and rail is coming together as an international business hub speaks to the foresight of Berlage and the spirit of Amsterdam.
:Footprints :Apollolaan :Waalstraat :Amstel River :Amstelveen- seweg :Station Rai :Station Zuid