“Ever heard of a construction company that helped rebuild the Netherlands after the war?” That’s J.P. van Eesteren. We are standing in front of one of their Amsterdam offices. This company has a rich history. It all began in Rotterdam in 1932. Jacobus Pieter van Eesteren founded it. He was the brother of Cornelis van Eesteren.
J.P. van Eesteren quickly made a name for itself. One of their first big projects was the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam. Even during the war, they were busy. They built storage places for Dutch art treasures. This was on behalf of the Rijksgebouwendienst.
The company really took off during the post-war reconstruction. They built ERA flats. These flats were a quick solution to the housing shortage. The flats used a rational, industrial building process. It was also known as tunnel construction. They helped many people find good, affordable homes.
J.P. van Eesteren has completed many impressive projects. These include the Bouwcentrum Rotterdam and the Groothandelsgebouw. They also worked on the Euromast and the Dijkzigt Hospital. They even built the Nederlandsche Bank headquarters here in Amsterdam. More recently, they were involved in the A’DAM Toren. Also HAUT in Amsterdam is one of their projects.
The company became part of the TBI Groep in 1982. In 2012, they merged with Heijmerink Bouwbedrijf. Since then, they have simply been known as J.P. van Eesteren. The main office moved to Gouda in 2016. But they still have offices here in Amsterdam. This Amsterdam office focuses on renovation and maintenance.
Currently J.P. van Eesteren is transforming a former courthouse into a museum. This is located at Parnassusweg 220. They are working with Kuijpers on this project. They are renovating the existing building. Also they are adding a new building. The goal is to create a unique museum space. It will combine historic and modern architecture. The company also works on other projects in the area. For example the Onderzoeksgebouw VU at the De Boelelaan in Amsterdam.
J.P. van Eesteren continues to shape the landscape of the Netherlands. They are known for their quality and innovation. Next time you see a modern building in Amsterdam, it might be one of theirs.