Mercatorplein was the centrepiece of a large plan, the 6000-homes plan, initiated in 1922 by two private Construction Companies. Not an avant-garde plan, but unique for its unity of urban planning and Amsterdam School architecture. A sophisticated combination of 9 km of street facades, based on large-scale housing construction. The neighbourhood is the result of a rare effective interplay between private builders, the municipality and some very good architects. And all for the benefit of social housing, hitherto shunned by private builders. The municipality and architects had to make some concessions to keep it affordable, but the municipality managed to keep control, truly unique.

Already during construction, almost daily reports about the plan appeared in the press. General was the enthusiasm. The first pile was driven in 1922, the last in September 1926. In less than four years, 6000 houses were built, an unprecedented operation for the time.

The tour also goes through the Bos and Lommer neighbourhood, including award-winning new buildings, and the 19th-century Chassé neighbourhood, which Kees Fens wrote about with love.

 

Characterisation

 

• Famous ‘Plan West’, 1920s

• Top architects from the Amsterdam School

• Social housing

• Bos and Lommer neighbourhood

• Chassébuurt

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Further details

 

Guided tour by appointment for small or large groups.

Price: € 22,50 per person. VAT is added for companies and institutions.

Small groups pay slightly more per person.

Duration: approximately 2 hours

 

 

Booking: Send an email to info@stadswandelkantoor.nl

Or call 06-41967625 / 06-41967655.