A m s t e r d a m P o c k e t A t l a s Amsterdam P ocket Atlas ii Core of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area Amsterdam is a unique city, a city on a human scale. Modern metropolitan amenities are to be found just a stone’s throw away from a centuries-old and richly varied landscape. World Heritage in the 17th-century ring of concentric canals in the centre of the city, the North Sea coastline and the landscape of manmade polders are situated within easy reach of one another. And how is all of this interconnected with Europe and the rest of the world? You can find out about all that in this Amsterdam Pocket Atlas. This atlas presents a geographical impression of Amsterdam, providing information about the Dutch capital’s location and its developmental history as well as devoting due attention to the spatial themes that play an important part in plans for the Amsterdam of the future. Pivotal to this is the city’s relationship with the surrounding region, in many cases now so crucial that the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has become the guiding principle for the urban plans and developments currently in hand. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy the texts and images in this publication. Hans Tijl Director, Department of Physical Planning City of Amsterdam Contents 1 1 2 3 General information 2 Getting there and Spatial qualities 22 Some basic facts 3 around 12 Green city 23 Historical inner city 4 Amsterdam Parks and green space 24 Scale 5 in the region 13 Spatial restrictions 25 History 7 Public transport Blue city 26 Changing population 8 networks 14 Amsterdam & sea level 27 Administrative borders Main road and Densities and heights 28 and collaboration 9 bicycle network 16 Mix of functions 30 Recreational routes 18 Housing prices 32 Interconnectivity 19 Public space 33 4 5 6 Economy & knowledge 36 A sustainable, healthy Future: vision and major Economic clusters 37 city 46 projects 54 Schiphol Airport and Sports 47 Investment programme 55 Port of Amsterdam 38 Food 48 North/South metro line 56 Hotel developments 40 Biodiversity 49 IJburg 57 Meeting and Sustainable energy 50 Zuidas 58 convention locations 41 Electric transport 51 Top talent & institutes 42 International companies 43 1 General information Amsterdam London Frankfurt Paris Madrid Some basic facts 3 Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and its largest city, with 767,000 inhabitants and 391,000 dwellings. The seat of the Dutch national government is in The Hague; Amsterdam is the financial and cultural heart of the Netherlands. Other important economic sectors are trade, business services, tourism and education. The city’s rich history is reflected in its built environment and its tolerant image. General information ƒ 52º22’ N , 4º51’ E ƒ 177 nationalities ƒ 50% native Dutch ƒ 50% native non-Dutch ƒ Area: 219 km2 (25% water) ƒ 12% green space ƒ 4,509 inhabitants/km2 land ƒ 400,000 trees Amsterdam 4 Historical inner city Amsterdam’s main attraction is the entire historic inner city with its semicircular layout of concentric canals designed in 1613, a unique cityscape that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010. The canals are traversed by radial roadways that connect with the rest of the city. The water of the canals, the River Amstel and the IJ inlet is the most distinctive feature of the cityscape. Many of the island blocks defined by canals surround large private gardens – hidden oases of greenery. The city centre is often praised for its diverse mix of functions: the ratio of residents and jobs is about one to one. Though employment in the city centre has fallen markedly over the last 40 years, it remains the city’s most important concentration of work activity, alongside a mix of shops, cultural centres and educational institutions that make the old inner city Amsterdam’s most diverse and vital area. Area: 8 km2 Water: 1,7 km2 Jobs: 90.000 Population: 81.000 Scale 5 Amsterdam New York City population 767.333 City population 8,363,710 Regional population 2,200,000 Regional population 19,006,798 Area 219 km2 Area 1,214 km2 Population density 3,504/km2 Population density 6,889/km2 Amsterdam might be called the smallest New York City and its agglomeration metropolis. While the city scores high on are much larger, but Amsterdam has an many indicators of economic competi- equally diverse economy. tiveness and international attractiveness, it cannot compete by size. Frankfurt Paris City population 664,838 City population 2,193,030 Regional population 1,922,101 Regional population 10,142,977 Area 248 km2 Area 105 km2 Population density 2,681/km2 Population density 20,886/km2 Although Frankfurt has a larger urban Paris has far greater densities of agglomeration, its large airport and population and the agglomeration is financial sector are comparable to those much larger, but the area within the of Amsterdam. Périphérique is similar to that within Amsterdam’s A10 ring road. Each map represents an area of approximately 25 x 20 kilometers. Source: citypopulation.de / wikipedia.org 6 History 1 2 3 5 4 7 7 6 c. 1200 Earliest evidence of human habita- transport and water supply networks are tion along the River Amstel 1 established, mostly on private initiative 1275 First recorded mention of the settle- 1839 Opening of the first railway line in ment on the Amstel the Netherlands, between Amsterdam and c. 1600 Amsterdam is a major port and Haarlem 4 trading city and the centre of political 1850 City authorities establish a Public power in the Republic of the Seven United Works Department Netherlands 1870 First new urban expansion projects in 1613 Beginning of expansion beyond the more than 250 years medieval city core: Amsterdam acquires its 1876 Opening of the North Sea Canal con- semicircular form 2 nects the city directly with the North Sea, 1813 The city becomes the capital of the further reducing shipping turnaround peri- Kingdom of the Netherlands, but the seat ods 5 of national government is The Hague 1915 Founding of the Municipal Housing 1824 Completion of the Great North Department: Amsterdam City Council starts Holland Canal connects the city with the to build housing on its own initiative North Sea, providing a significant advan- 1916 Schiphol Military Airfield established tage for shipping 3 to the southwest of the city. It will eventu- 1829-1834 Measures are introduced to ally become the national airport 6 combat the silting up of the port; the 1920-1980 Urban expansion beyond the Eastern and Western Docks are excavated 19th-century city core 7 1830 Gas, electricity, sewers, telephone, 1928 Founding of the Municipal Town