Slibvelden

Could a place built on sludge become a haven? Here at the Slibvelden, the answer is surprisingly complex. The Slibvelden, once the site of Amsterdam’s wastewater treatment in Noord, holds a unique story. In the 1960s, just south of the Wijsentkade, the city began depositing sludge here, intending to convert it into fertilizer. The idea, unfortunately, backfired. The stench was overwhelming, and the project was quickly abandoned. However, the Slibvelden found new life as a storage depot for dredged material and sand during the construction of the Westrandweg. For a time, the road leading to the Slibvelden was nameless and led to nowhere. This changed in 2021, when the road was officially christened Slibveldenweg. The Slibvelden holds more recent history too. After the eviction of the ADM community in 2019, part of the group found temporary refuge here at Slibvelden, at Buikslotermeerdijk 95. They transformed the desolate space, establishing gardens, a communal kitchen, a workshop, and a concert area. They even hosted small performances and community events, attempting to heal and rebuild after the loss of their previous home. Sadly, their stay was temporary. Despite agreements and a motion passed by the Amsterdam city council to find a permanent location for the community, they were asked to leave the Slibvelden by November 1, 2020. This cycle of repurposing and displacement speaks to the ever-changing nature of urban spaces, and the challenges of finding permanence in a city constantly reinventing itself. The Slibvelden, a place born from waste, briefly became a home, a creative hub, and a testament to community resilience. Its story, though marked by impermanence, is a reminder of the power of adaptation and the hidden life that can flourish even in the most unexpected places.