Zuidas won’t lean back

Like so many other entrepreneurs, shop owners at Zuidas are having a difficult time during the Coronacrisis. To sit back is not an option. Several restaurants at Zuidas started home…

Like so many other entrepreneurs, shop owners at Zuidas are having a difficult time during the Coronacrisis. To sit back is not an option.

Several restaurants at Zuidas started home delivery services, now, flowers, tailored suits and wines can also be delivered to the front door.

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The sound of violins in Zuidas on Woningsdag

On Woningsdag 2020 (a play on words that turns King’s Day into Home Day), three violinists will treat Zuidas to mini concerts at 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00h. They will be…

On Woningsdag 2020 (a play on words that turns King’s Day into Home Day), three violinists will treat Zuidas to mini concerts at 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00h. They will be drawing their bows across the strings on the roofs of Intermezzo and the Gershwin Brothers, and in the courtyard garden of Xavier.

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VU open info evening online

Due to the Coronacrisis, VU Executive Education organizes an Information Evening online on May 13th. There will be several ‘live’ presentations and Q&A sessions for professionals about: Accounting & Control, Finance and…

Due to the Coronacrisis, VU Executive Education organizes an Information Evening online on May 13th. There will be several ‘live’ presentations and Q&A sessions for professionals about: Accounting & Control, Finance and Management & Leadership.

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The construction of the Zuidasdok project in Amsterdam may cost 1 billion euros more, according to the NOS yesterday. Moreover, a letter from Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen to the House…

The construction of the Zuidasdok project in Amsterdam may cost 1 billion euros more, according to the NOS yesterday. Moreover, a letter from Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen to the House of Representatives reveals that the large-scale construction project is once again being delayed.

Construction had initially been planned for nine years. But even before the first shovel hit the ground, the prestigious project was delayed. One of the reasons for this was the complexity of the project, with many tunnels in a small area.

Because of the delays, the cabinet had the project investigated by a committee led by former minister Sybilla Dekker. It now concludes that the project must go ahead at all costs. “Doing nothing is not an option,” she advises. Otherwise there will be too many traffic jams on the highway and at the public transport.

In view of the complexity, the project should be divided into small parts, Dekker advises. The last part will then be completed between 2032 and 2036, which is four years later than planned at the earliest. But all this also costs more money. The budget deficit is now estimated at between 700 million and 1 billion euros.

Source: www.nos.nl

Update:

From an article that newspaper NRC Saturday 28 March devoted to the developments on the Zuidasdok, it appears that the expansion of Station Zuid in particular has high priority. The number of passengers grew by 47 percent in the last year. Partly due to the arrival of international trains, 300,000 passengers per day are expected here in due course instead of the current 80,000, according to NRC.

Walter Etty, chairman of passenger organisation Rover, even calls the situation dangerous. “People are falling off the platform, it’s so crowded there.

Two professors, the economists Coen Teulings and Henri de Groot, who were consulted by Dekker, find the plans for two additional tracks too modest. They advocate eight tracks.

In her advice, former minister Dekker concludes that the national prosperity will only benefit if the Zuidasdok project is completed. Bureau Decisio calculated that two billion in costs would be offset by 2.1 billion in benefits.

According to a spokesman for the municipality of Amsterdam, the municipality is now entering into talks with the national government. The agreement is that Amsterdam will pay a quarter of the extra costs, and that the government will pay the rest. Dekker expects that politicians will agree to the extra billion, because the transport hub is of national importance. “You don’t solve anything by stopping, especially in times of crisis,” she says to NRC.

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New delivery service for Amsterdam shops

Those who live within the ring of the A10 can now order products, which will be delivered to their home the same day. This is an initiative of Peddler, a…

Those who live within the ring of the A10 can now order products, which will be delivered to their home the same day.

This is an initiative of Peddler, a young company (start up) that wants to support local Amsterdam shops and the local economy. Via the website www.lokaalamsterdam.com it is currently possible to order products from around fifty shops. These are delicatessens, florists, clothes shops and wine shops. More and more retailers are joining this delivery service.
Bicycle couriers ensure that the purchased products are delivered the same day, completely contactless.

The corona crisis is severely affecting the middle city. Retail advisor Bureau RMC reports a drop in the number of shop visitors of more than 70%. As a collective, united in Local Amsterdam, local retailers can guarantee their continuity and improve their online visibility, the initiators say.
Click here for more information.

 

 

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Unique Porsches in Ben’s Garage

In Ben’s Garage, the recently opened cellar of the Move Mobility Experience at the Stadionplein, a unique collection of Porsches is currently on display. Visitors are given a tour of…

In Ben’s Garage, the recently opened cellar of the Move Mobility Experience at the Stadionplein, a unique collection of Porsches is currently on display.

Visitors are given a tour of a number of special models, including the very first Porsche 356, which was sold in the Netherlands in 1949. The 911 Carrera 4S Ben Pon Jr., named after Porsche Ambassador Ben Pon Jr., who passed away last year, can also be seen.

More than seventy years of Porsche in the Netherlands comes to life in Ben’s Garage. From the Porsche 356, which came on the market in 1948 as the sports car manufacturer’s first model, via the 946 Targa, which was used by the Dutch National Police in 1992, to the 991.2 GT2 RS, the most powerful 911 ever. Visitors are given a tour of eleven models and hear stories never told before behind the cars.

Ben’s Garage is named after Ben Pon jr., also known as ‘Mister Porsche’. His family business became the very first Porsche importer in the world in 1949. In addition to being an importer, Pon jr. was also a racing driver in various models of Porsche. His endless love for the Stuttgart sports car brand is now temporarily given a place in the recently opened to the public cellar of the Move Mobility Experience.

In this experience, the first of its kind in the Netherlands, you can make an interactive journey through the history, but also the future of mobility. It is located right next to the Olympic Stadium. Here you can also admire the latest and ‘future’ models of bicycles and cars, including Gazelle, Cervélo, Audi, Porsche and Bentley.

Ben’s Garage is open every Saturday and Sunday. Visitors should book a half-hour slot on https://move.amsterdam/gebouw/bens-garage/ in advance. Admission to this temporary exhibition amounts to five euros for children under 12 years of age and ten euros for everyone over 12. Afterwards, visitors will receive a collector’s item poster from Porsche as a souvenir.

The exhibition, which began in February, will be on display for a few months. The experience itself can be visited at the Stadionplein in Amsterdam from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 and 17 hours. Move is suitable for young and old and is free of charge. Reservations can be made via the website www.move.amsterdam. The Porsches collection can only be visited temporarily, every Saturday and Sunday.

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‘Aesthetics and sustainability can go hand in hand’

Visitors entering Circl are likely to come across Marijn Muller or a piece of sustainable furniture from his company, Cartoni Design. Circular is keyword to what Marijn does and stands…

Visitors entering Circl are likely to come across Marijn Muller or a piece of sustainable furniture from his company, Cartoni Design. Circular is keyword to what Marijn does and stands for.

Marijn grew up in The Hague and was soon known cross Marijn Muller or a piece of sustainable furniture from his company, Cartoni Design. Circular is keyword to what Marijn does and stands for.as ‘that boy with the dog and the colourful clothes’. And that hasn’t changed in all these years. “I guess I just have my very own style: I like to wear pink shirts and pink jumpers made of lambswool. For more official occasions I always take a tweed jacket with me. It makes me feel comfortable.”

“Recently, I talked to a high-school friend and she said that I haven’t changed one bit. I’m still wearing my Ray Ban Wayfarer, the classic Blues Brothers sunglasses.”

Marijn also uses his outfit as a statement to show that he is closer to the creative industry than the other companies at Zuidas. “With Cartoni Design we show that aesthetics and sustainability can go hand in hand. Only four years ago, people were wondering if this was actually possible and now everyone is doing it. A company that is not looking at sustainability, is doomed and will soon be out of business.”

Marijn gives ABN Amro advice on interior design, that’s why he holds office in Circl – ABN Amro’s circular pavilion – and exhibits durable and innovative solutions here. “The whole world visits this place: designers, architects, large companies like DSM. I connect them, give presentations, organize exhibitions. There is a lot of knowledge sharing and that’s a good thing because no-one has yet found the perfect way to create a real circular society.”

 

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‘We lift it safely or we do not lift at all’

28 The largest Dutch courthouse, the New Amsterdam Courthouse, is undergoing a complete renovation. It is a project being headed up by Heijmans, a leader in the construction industry. Amer Mahmutovic…

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The largest Dutch courthouse, the New Amsterdam Courthouse, is undergoing a complete renovation. It is a project being headed up by Heijmans, a leader in the construction industry. Amer Mahmutovic is a crane operator, and one of the many people working on the site.

This interview took some preparation as we needed to go high up. I met him at ground level, wearing who wears the expected combination of work shoes, hi-vis jacket and hardhat. From this staggering height. Firstly, we went up three levels on a ladder, and then a further three levels via an elevator. Once sixty five metres above ground, we were in a cabin, from where Amer is key to the realization of the renovated courthouse.

Before we set foot in the tiny space, we changed our shoes for slippers. Once inside, the hand-held vacuum cleaner, baby wipes and bottles of surface and window cleanser reveal his love of a tidy workspace.

Enormous crane

Up until last year, Amer was a driving instructor. Nowadays he is operating the enormous crane we find ourselves near the top of.

“I was fed up with giving driving lessons; youngsters have changed so much. So, I re-trained to become a crane operator,” he says. “I had to get used to life in the construction industry. And in my case, this is quite a lonely life, being up here. I was always used to always having a student sitting next to me. But, this isolation is for the best, because for this job you need to be fully concentrated at all times.” 

Amer has been working as a crane operator for eight months.  His first job was contributing to the building of the nhow Amsterdam Rai Hotel (the one with the three triangles). He is currently watching the New Amsterdam Courthouse grow beneath him at a great speed from a dizzying height.

“Whether I am lifting a beam, a wire construction, a block of concrete or braided concrete, it all adds something to the Courthouse. Sometimes it is a serious piece of craftsmanship if I might say, with real military precision. But at the end of the day, that gives me my satisfaction. On the other hand, it is a hazardous job. Everything here is about safety.

Carefull

When working with this kind of machinery, you have to be careful, we lift it safely or we do not lift at all! Do you see those other two cranes over there? My colleagues and I are in touch constantly via radio. However, on the rare occasion our booms are too close, they are brought to a halt automatically, just like the automatic distance device in the latest cars.” 

Amer’s crane weighs 32 tons. When dual wired, the boom (the long, moving arm) can hoist up to eight tons, and, when four wired, at least sixteen tons, which is comparable to the weight of ten cars.
As well as taking into account the weight, there are also weather factors to consider, like wind.

“Everything here is checked, checked again, and then triple checked. From the moment I start to lift, it is all about millimetres. With the utmost accuracy, I hand the boys down there their goods. They advise me via their radios. Another two metres, one more, fifty centimetres, thirty, ten, etc. Though I am physically secluded, we have to work together as a team in order to avoid accidents.”

 

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Schaap en Citroen: vintage watches

Recently, Schaap en Citroen Jewellers opened a ‘Pre-owned & Vintage Watches’ boutique in the 5-star Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. With this boutique, next to ‘The Schaap & Citroen Diamonds Boutique’,…

Recently, Schaap en Citroen Jewellers opened a ‘Pre-owned & Vintage Watches’ boutique in the 5-star Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. With this boutique, next to ‘The Schaap & Citroen Diamonds Boutique’, the jewellers add a brand-new concept to their portfolio. The boutique is located in the so-called ‘Van Baerle Shopping Gallery’ in The Conservatorium Hotel and is designed by Rob Feenstra.

For over 130 years, Schaap en Citroen has been active as an authorized sales-address of many leading Swiss watch brands. The knowledge of mechanical clocks, extraordinary complexity and unique models cover the complete watch spectrum. This knowledge and the increasing demand for pre-owned watches was the best combination to open a ‘Pre-owned & Vintage Watches’ boutique.

If a customer likes to sell a watch or a collection, the watch can be traded or a new product can be chosen. Advantages of selling a watch through or to Schaap en Citroen is the fact that the customer does not have the high-security costs, the price is realistic and in line with the market conditions of the watch and the smooth handling of the whole process.

Valuation

After the valuation, the customer is given the options to trade the watch to the Jewellers or have it sold with consignment on the Internet. Even if the client is unable to visit one of twelve Schaap en Citroen Jewellers stores, the entire procedure can be arranged online via schaapcitroen.nl.

Schaap en Citroen is a Dutch jeweller’s brand with a history going back as far as 1888. Nowadays, there are twelve Schaap en Citroen establishments throughout the country, in cities like Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Groningen, Haarlem, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Schaap en Citroen Jewellers is definitely aiming for the future yet valuing their traditional morals.

Longines

This house of jewellers offers names like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, Roger Dubuis, Zenith, A. Lange&Söhne, Breguet, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Panerai, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Blancpain, Breitling, Rado, Chopard, Christiaan van der Klaauw, Omega, Chanel, Tag Heuer, Tudor, Baume &Mercier and IWC.

Jewellery of the brands Pomellato, Piaget, Chantecler, Pasquale Bruni, Serafino Consoli,Piaget, Roberto Demeglio, Casato, Royal Asscher, Tirisi, Tamara Comolli, Shamballa, Oromalia, Noor, Tirisi Moda, Christian Bauer, Mattioli en Bigli.

And of course, the fabulous Jewellery collection by Schaap en Citroen.

 

Schaap en Citroen Vintage Watches
Van Baerlestraat 27
Amsterdam

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‘It has only become more attractive, trendy and sociable here’

Lisette Vriend combines work and life at Zuidas. “Buitenveldert and Zuidas both have an atmosphere that suits me, and it has only become more attractive, trendy and sociable here.” If…

Lisette Vriend combines work and life at Zuidas. “Buitenveldert and Zuidas both have an atmosphere that suits me, and it has only become more attractive, trendy and sociable here.”

If you skip an Ajax football match to attend a community meeting, you can call yourself a proud Amsterdam-Buitenveldert local. Lisette Vriend feels at home in this neighbourhood. “Even grocery shopping is fun. I get in the elevator to enter the indoor shopping centre”.

Lisette tells me that “I was born in Aalsmeer. Even as a young girl, I was bored there. So later, I moved to Amsterdam and have never left. After college, I studied at Schoevers. For some time I had ambitions to be an air hostess, see the world, hang around pretty places for a while, it sounded nice… But I stopped dreaming eventually as life in the airline business is not as glamorous as it used to be. During that time, I realized I should do something else: sales. I proved to be good at it, and it made me happy. For a long time I worked at all levels of account management.”

Life just found a way

Lisette lives at Gelderlandplein and works around the corner, at Boelelaan, as an assistant/office manager at Vanderkruys. Vanderkruys is a recruitment firm for responsible positions in the public and private-public sectors such as the government, hospitals and universities.

“For a while, I had been looking for a job in the neighbourhood. I wanted to live and work here. At Zuidas, recruitment is a booming business, but this specific role suits me.”

Lisette calls herself an “all-rounder”. “I like to get everything thrown in my direction and take the lead. Especially for activities such as organizing events and planning meetings.”

What about women at Zuidas?

According to Lisette, we do not have to worry about the number of women working at Zuidas. “In prominent positions around here, you see women. As a matter of fact, there are more women than men at my office.

“I have lived in Buitenveldert for years now. I used to think it was a bit old fashioned. But not anymore, it has developed and it is now a super luxurious place to live. Buitenveldert and Zuidas have an atmosphere that suits me. It has only become more attractive, trendy and sociable. Here you can find everything you want and need, right at your doorstep.

“The international feel appeals to me. There are many nationalities and expats in our apartment building. In the evening there is a variety of smells coming from everyone’s different cooking habits.”

A proper lunch

“I like to have a good lunch, not grab a quick sandwich, but an extensive one, it might even take up the afternoon. With a lunch consisting of starters and a main-course, you do not need dinner at night.” She visits restaurants local restaurants a lot. “Ron Blaauw’s restaurants, as well as Het Bosch at Nieuwe Meer; all the typical hot spots for Zuidas people. And Aan de Poel in Amstelveen is a favourite as well.”

If it were up to Lisette, the only thing that would improve this new, glorious southern part of the A-10 would be if it were more car friendly.

“There are few parking options. If you don’t have a bike it is hard to get around. That proves to be annoying for people that do not live here. Oh, and a local cinema would be lovely. To go to see a film right now you need to take the tram into the centre. But really, what is that as a complaint?”

Skipping an Ajax match

Lisette and her husband love this neighbourhood, and won’t miss a community meeting here, even if Ajax is playing at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on that particular night.

“We think it is essential to be involved. We would not miss a community meeting for the world. We even skipped an Ajax football match for one once. Harsh, but that’s life. I do like to be in the ArenA, real fun! But to be honest, as it starts getting colder in the winter months, it is good to sit on the couch and watch the games at home.”

 

  

 

   

 

 

 

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