Dokzone-EN

Background

Zuidas is to be a prime urban centre, representing international allure while maintaining a local feel. It will be an integral part of Amsterdam with significant future value, strengthening the city itself and the economic potential of the entire region. It is to be a sustainable and successful urban environment with all the qualities associated with Amsterdam throughout the centuries.

In order to make Zuidas a fully integrated part of the city, it is essential that some local infrastructure is brought underground. This will result in the creation of the 'Dock Zone', formed by the A10 Zuid peripheral highway, Station Amsterdam Zuid, and the railway and metro lines. This 'bundled infrastructure' will be at the heart of Zuidas, bounded by the various zones and neighbourhoods. 

Placing the infrastructure underground makes optimum use of the limited available space. Moreover, it will greatly reduce environmental impact while enhancing the human environment. The Dock project will actually create more room for traffic than in the current situation.

Station Zuid, as a hub for all public transport modalities, will make Zuidas one of the most readily accessible locations in the Netherlands, just a few minutes from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. Eventually, Station Amsterdam Zuid will serve up to 300,000 every day, and will thus be one of the five busiest stations in the country. To facilitate this development calls for the construction of an ultra-modern station and the expansion of the existing rail infrastructure.

The process of expanding the infrastructure, placing it underground and developing the station zone is a complex one. Many possible solutions have presented themselves and all have been given very careful consideration. The City of Amsterdam has joined central government in examining various alternative construction methods and financing models. In early 2009, the relevant ministries appointed an official government representative to oversee the process.