15 by 15

15 by 15

The further development of Zuidas to become a district with the best possible balance of functions and users will take several decades. The Zuidas of today is not the Zuidas of 2030 or beyond. In each phase of its development, Zuidas must remain a sustainable, fully functioning part of the city, never losing sight of the overall objectives. Alongside the various activities inherent in any major development project, Zuidas Amsterdam and its partners have therefore established a supplementary programme for the coming five years, known as ‘15 by 15’. It sets out fifteen interim projects to be implemented by the year 2015, preferably with the support and assistance of our various stakeholders. These projects are intended to enhance the vitality of the district.

15 BY 15: FIFTEEN ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED BY 2015

1. Zuidas will actively seek out a further fifty international companies wishing to relocate to Zuidas, with a view to strengthening the international character of the district yet further.
2. Amsterdam Zuid Station will be upgraded to make it even more attractive and recognizable as a national and international transport hub. It will have new retail outlets, more bicycle storage facilities, dynamic travel information and increased transfer capacity.
3. Zuidas is to develop five new street kiosks in a contemporary style, to establish a new standard for the vitality of the district.
4. Zuidas will press ahead with the development of one thousand new housing units (500 permanent homes and 500 temporary student accommodation units) to promote synergy between the business and residential functions.
5. Zuidas will promote Mahlerplein as a location for attractive public amenities in order to create an even more pleasant setting for residents and visitors. Close attention will be devoted to the public areas, including their trees and greenery.
6. New, vital functions will be introduced to all existing buildings in the district, on either a temporary or permanent basis. They may include a sports/dance centre, flexible work stations and a nightclub.
7. Zuidas devotes particular attention to sustainability and flexibility. Buildings must be readily adaptable to meet future requirements without excessive modification costs.
8. Zuidas wishes to exploit the district’s potential as a venue for major public events. We have the space and we enjoy excellent accessibility. An extremely varied annual programme is to be devised, with everything from a marathon to a circus and a cycling race to concerts.
9. Initiatives to promote social interaction will be encouraged: football matches shown on large screens, Tai Chi on the square and free WiFi in the park area are just a few of the current ideas.
10. Various arts and cultural events will be organized as the development progresses. Zuidas and the Virtual Museum will facilitate the use of areas for exhibitions and similar events.
11. Zuidas will establish clear connections with the nearby recreational areas such as the Nieuwe Meer, Amsterdamse Bos and the river Amstel, facilitating their use by walkers, runners and cyclists.
12. Beatrixpark is to be upgraded to offer users a location with its own special atmosphere. There are plans for garden areas and a teahouse.
13. Zuidas will ensure that the ongoing construction work causes as little inconvenience as possible. Visual impact can be reduced through the use of new resources such as public art, while agreements will be made with contractors regarding routing, road closures, site management and communication.
14. A new partnership is to be established with a view to increasing vitality by ensuring that best possible use is made of the street-level sections of large buildings. Investors, developers and property agents will be invited to help produce an action plan.
15. The quality of the district is to be greatly enhanced by moving the A10 highway underground, specifically by reducing noise nuisance. It is hoped that work will begin before 2015.

To reach this list of actions, a lot of work has been done: In order to progress to the next phase, Zuidas Amsterdam has joined its many partners and stakeholders in reformulating the vision, mission and strategy. The resulting programme clearly sets out how Zuidas wishes to develop in the years ahead.

VISION
In 2030, Zuidas will be the most ambitious and internationally oriented district in Amsterdam.

MISSION
Zuidas is to facilitate the creation of a business and residential setting of international allure, based on the traditional qualities of Amsterdam itself. Zuidas will not dictate or impose conditions; it will facilitate growth in partnership with all stakeholders.

STRATEGY
2030 is still some way off, and there remains much to be done if Zuidas is indeed to become the most ambitious and internationally-oriented district in Amsterdam. To ensure that our plans are clear to all, we have divided our long term plans into short term objectives. We have stated the action points and ‘milestones’ for the various stages of development. This phased approach will ensure that the overall objective can be achieved precisely as envisaged.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ZUIDAS IN GENERAL

Zuidas is the new international knowledge and business centre of Amsterdam. The district is strategically located within minutes of Schiphol Airport on one side and the city centre on the other, and is well served by all forms of transport. No fewer than four hundred leading national and international companies have already established a presence in Zuidas, which is also home to one of the Netherlands’ largest universities with its teaching hospital and medical research centre.
Zuidas offers a vibrant setting for successful business, doing much to raise the international profile of Amsterdam and, of course, that of the Netherlands. But Zuidas is even more: it is a place in which to live and in which to enjoy a broad range of cultural and recreational activities. The first four hundred homes have now been completed and various entertainment venues have opened their doors to guests. It is now just over ten years since the development project began. By 2030, Zuidas will have taken on its own special character. It will continue to grow and develop to meet the needs of all its business users, residents and visitors.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Substantial progress has already been made in developing Zuidas, but we must continue to look ahead. How can we ensure that the atmosphere remains vibrant outside business hours? The ‘round the clock’ character of Zuidas is extremely important. In addition to the various facilities for commerce, knowledge development and research, there must be even more housing and public amenities. We envisage a broad range of services which have yet to be defined but which Zuidas will welcome with open arms. Zuidas is already a prestigious business centre. We aim to help it grow into a district with high ambitions and an extremely international outlook: a district in which there is always plenty to see and do.

The key values which underpin the Zuidas development programme are: Amsterdam Qualities, International, Ambitious and Vibrant