The Westerdokseiland was created in the river IJ in Amsterdam in 1834. The IJ is the body of water on which Amsterdam was originally founded, when all commercial shipping to and from the city still travelled via the Zuiderzee and onwards to the North Sea and the wide-open sea. A ring dyke was initially constructed to prevent the river IJ from silting up. An island, the Westerdokseiland, was constructed later.
Type of development
Residential
Commercial
Size
- 382 appartements
- Wellness centre
- Flex offices
- Commercial spaces
- Day-care centre
Partners
Developing parties
Architects
JSA Rotterdam
MVRDV
Bosch Architects
Art Zaaijer Architectuur
CH&Partners
Contractor
The plan
After the supply of goods on the Westerdokseiland, or Westerdok Island, had stopped and the grain silos had fallen into disuse, they were later used by artists and small businesses. Sometime later, a decision was taken to transform the Westerdokseiland into a modern and attractive place to live and work.
The VOC Cour building plan comprises 12 buildings with a total of 382 apartments, a day care centre, a wellness centre, flex offices and a commercial space. Each building looks out onto the ‘cour’ (courtyard) where people can meet each other, get a breath of fresh air and relax. Each building also has its own identity and its own unique view across the harbour and the city centre, or of the shipping on the river IJ.
