BUILDING ZUIDAS
PUBLIC SPACE
Got a minute? In and around Zuidas are a myriad of towers, both historical
Google’s Olivier and Danielle are leaving their cars to cool their wheels
and new, that define the Amsterdam skyline. The public rarely get a chance to admire the view from these skyscrapers, but on Saturday 19 March, the fourth edition of the Open Tower Day Amsterdam, a handful opened their doors to
Olivier van Arkel and Danielle Koens
the public. Hello Zuidas was on the scene to report on the view from the five participating towers in Zuidas.
Danielle Koens and Olivier van Arkel were fed up with the traffic jams, the endless hunts for a parking space and the long journeys. Both work at Google in the Vinoly Tower and both, as it happens, live in The Hague. ‘It’s actually typically Dutch to persist in taking the car to work’, says Danielle. ‘We stick out like a sore thumb compared to
RAVEL RESIDENCE
international cities like London, New York and Shanghai.’
We meet Rikke and Toine with their sons Toon (31/2) and Claas (71/2) on the roof of Ravel Residence. Rikke: ‘Toine rents
BUMPER TO BUMPER
an office at Spaces. When the kids visit him there, they’re always
For a long time, driving was Danielle’s commuting option of
could look into ways of encouraging employees to opt
fascinated by the orange basketball pitch on the roof of
choice for the journey between her home in The Hague and
for some other means of transport apart from the car.
Ravel Residence. They’ve asked repeatedly to play basketball
Amsterdam. Until she finally had enough: ‘I noticed that the
What’s the easiest way for people to get from A to B?
there, and we promised to take them as soon as the complex
motorways were getting massively busier. I tried avoiding rush
And have they got company cars or bikes that people
was finished – never realizing that the building would only be
hours for a while, but between 4pm and 7pm it’s basically
can use to get to appointments? Google gives us a mobility
accessible to residents and their guests! When I heard that
impossible to get out. At a certain point my working days
allowance. What you do with it is up to you! Now we can
Ravel Residence took part in the Open Tower Day, I leapt at
got shorter and I had to change something, so I decided to
simply claim the expenses whenever we take an electric
the chance to finally take the boys to the basketball pitch.
switch to traveling by train.’ ‘There were definite withdrawal
car to get to a meeting, for instance. And, provided there
At long last, they can enjoy shooting some hoops here.
symptoms those first few days’, Olivier admits. ‘The train
is a good connection, lots of Google staff are now opting
It’s also great for them to get to see Toine’s office from
took some getting used to! After a while though I was
for public transport to commute to and from work.’
a totally different perspective.’
completely converted, and now I love being able to commute this way. I can get a head start on reading and answering my emails, so it’s time spent productively –
One of the aims of the Zuidasdok project is to
SYMPHONY
and that, to me, is a big bonus.’
maximize public transport access to Zuidas and the
Paul (31) and Nena (28) live in Utrecht and made a special trip
northern Randstad area. Amsterdam Zuid station
to Amsterdam to attend the Open Tower Day. Nena: ‘We thought
CREATE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
will be upgraded to serve as a future-proof public
it would be fun to explore the inside of the towers for a change.
As both Olivier and Danielle have noted, there’s no financial
transport hub for train, tram, bus and metro services.
Normally, you only see them when driving past.’ Paul: ‘I studied
advantage to trading in your car for the train, and that’s a
Zuidasdok feeds into the continued development
urban planning and work at a municipal project office, so I find
definite drawback. ‘We both pay around € 350 each month
of Zuidas as a prime residential, working and
all of the urban development taking place here really fascinating.
to take the train, which doesn’t make it more attractive than
recreational location. For further information,
Plus, the international character makes this area unique;
commuting by car’, explains Danielle. ‘There’s definitely
visit www.zuidasdok.nl
Utrecht hasn’t got that particular vibe. The whole ambiance here
some room for improvement’, Olivier concurs. ‘Employers
Text Romy Lange | Photography Davien Hulsman
is totally different, and it’s fun to get a taste of it here today.’
14.
For more info or questions, send an email to leef@zuidas.nl.