What if the buildings around us could tell a story? Here in Molenwijk, they do just that. Molenwijk is a neighborhood in Amsterdam-Noord. It is part of the Oostzanerwerf district.
This area transformed in the early 1960s. It became a place to deposit dredged material from the North Sea. Amsterdam developed the Molenwiek Plan for this area. The plan included 1,256 residential properties in 15 buildings. Amsterdam annexed the area on August 1, 1966.
Architect K. Geer designed the Molenwijk plan. He worked with the city and housing associations. The design featured high-rise buildings. Ten-story buildings have ground floor storage. The buildings were arranged like windmill wings around car parks. This layout inspired the name Molenwijk. The flats were named after Dutch windmill types.
Most apartments had four rooms. They were large for Amsterdam standards at 95 square meters. Some apartments had two or three rooms. They were designed for affluent families. The first residents moved in on April 1, 1968.
The apartment buildings used prefabricated elements. These came from the contractor Zaanse Indeco-Coignet. A sixteen-story skyscraper for the elderly was built. It included a shopping mall, a garage, and a library that was later demolished. Two schools and a nursery were built along the northern edge. The main square was renovated and reopened in 2007. Molenwijk also features a botanical garden and a petting zoo.
A causeway surrounds the neighborhood. This includes the Stellingweg and Molenaarsweg. Four roads lead to central car parks. The remaining area is a pedestrian and park-like zone. It is only crossed by bicycle and footpaths. Early plans included an Amsterdam subway line to Molenwijk. It would run via the Landsmeerder Dijk and Oostzanerdijk. However, this plan was withdrawn in 1975. This happened after the Nieuwmarkt riots.
The Molenwijk is often seen as a precursor to the Bijlmer. Both have a separation of traffic types. But, the plans were developed almost at the same time.
The flats in Molenwijk have unique names. They are Bergmolen, Bovenkruier, Grondzeiler, and Handmolen. Also, there are Paltrok, Petmolen, Rosmolen, and Schipmolen. Spinnenkop, Standerdmolen, Tjasker, Torenmolen, Walmolen, Watermolen, and Wipmolen are included. These flat names are also the street names.
In 1972, artist Pieter Holstein created signs for each flat. These signs showed the background of the flat’s name. There were 72 signs. Many were stolen. A renovation changed the look of the flats and the signs disappeared.
In 2009, residents Henk Veen and Freeda Verburg made new signs. These signs provided information and commentary. Some saw Herman Brood’s style in them. However, many of these signs also disappeared over time.
A sewage pumping station stands between the Rosmolen flat and the Stellingweg. It was likely the first structure built in the Molenwijk. It differs greatly from the flats. It has only one story. Air makes up a third of its volume.
From 1974 to 1980, Herman Damen created a sculpture group. It was called Windbuilroute. These sculptures served as directional guides in the neighborhood.
Today, Molenwijk stands as a testament to innovative urban planning. It shows community spirit. Its history is etched into its buildings and streets.