“De Nachtegaal zal uit de struiken zijn lied zingen.” This quote from promotional material perfectly describes the spirit of De Nachtegaal. Let’s step back in time to Amsterdam Bijlmer in the 1970s.
De Nachtegaal was a café. It was located within Grubbehoeve. Grubbehoeve was one of the first “honeycomb flats” in Amsterdam Bijlmer. These flats had communal spaces. Residents could meet and organize activities together.
Grubbehoeve had the oldest collective space in Bijlmer. It housed a daycare center called De Roze Panter. It also housed the Bijlmervrouwenhuis, the Bijlmergalerie, and the Bijlmerfilmhuis. De Nachtegaal, the café, was also there. It was quite famous.
Sadly, much of the original flats have been demolished. Sixty percent of them lost their collective spaces. Fortunately, residents saved the collective space in and around Grubbehoeve. The collective space was renovated in 2003.
In 2009, the renovated flat won the Zuidoost Architecture Prize. The residents wanted to maintain the original design principles of the Bijlmer during renovation. They succeeded. The architect, Casa Architecten, integrated businesses and facilities into the building on the ground floor.
After the renovation, the Collectieve Ruimte Grubbehoeve gained a flexible character. It can be arranged as desired. The bar and kitchen support activities. Tables can be used for brainstorming new ideas during the day. In the evening, they can be used for sharing a meal. The high white walls are perfect for presentations.
Today, the space is also known as the Bijlmermuseum vh De Nachtegaal. The Bijlmermuseum and the Collectieve Ruimte are places for residents. Residents organize activities for each other. Flat and neighborhood residents work together. They create a connected society. Grubbehoeve welcomes everyone with open arms. De Nachtegaal continues to sing its song of community.