Exhibition: UvA and residents Binnengasthuisterrein have buried the hatchet - for now

Foto: Mirjam Taverdin

Edit Tuboly, chair of VOLBG (left), and Amélie Strens, district chair of the Centrum district (right).

Once everyone has found a spot, Edit Tuboly, chair of VOLBG, takes the microphone. “With this exhibition, we are showing what a citizens’ initiative and perseverance can achieve. There is no denying that, without our years of conflict, the Binnengasthuis site would look very different today.” This is true not least of Theo Bosch’s pavilion, where the opening is taking place. That building would have been demolished long ago had it not been for the fierce resistance of the residents.

The new University Library, too, “would not have looked as it does today without VOLBG”, notes Richard Goldstein, Vice-Chair of the UvA Executive Board, in his speech. Just before the summer, the University Library won the Amsterdam Architecture Prize, partly because the building “continues to add value to the city by connecting existing structures with new developments”. Had it been up to the UvA, the listed buildings of the Binnengasthuis – where the new University Library has now been built – would have been demolished and a completely new building erected in their place. Together with heritage organisations, VOLBG managed to thwart those plans, although this did require several court cases.

Frustration
Residents, too, are satisfied with where the parties currently stand. Living on the Binnengasthuis site is still “wonderful”, says Tjeerd Kamper, a board member of VOLBG. He has lived in the social housing opposite Theo Bosch’s pavilion since 1996. “The bikes outside the door are currently one of the few frustrations. There’s a bike shed in the University Library, but many students leave their bikes on the square, which can sometimes cause a bit of frustration.” He isn’t bothered by the students otherwise. “Only by the tourists who make a racket at night.”

One low point he recalls was surrounding the Strategic Master Plan, the plan for the redevelopment of the university quarter that the UvA presented in 2021. Kamper: “A participation plan was set up with the residents at the time. We spent one and a half years, evening after evening, developing our own vision. Very little was done with this by the UvA, and that caused a great deal of friction.”

The introduction of an independent advisory committee, which works alongside local residents to contribute ideas and gives them a say in the UvA’s plans, has helped enormously, Kamper continues. “Relations have improved significantly since then. It has also become clear that we are not opposed to everything but are also contributing constructively.”

Calmer waters
The importance of good cooperation is therefore strongly emphasised by the speakers that afternoon. “This is also an important moment for us,” says Goldstein. “At the moment, the relationship between us – I think – is incredibly good. And I hope it stays that way in the years to come.”

According to Strens, the parties have entered calmer waters. “There is dialogue, there is contact, and there is a willingness to continue building this place together.” A place which, according to Strens, is unique to Amsterdam. “The historic city centre is under pressure from tourism. Many Amsterdammers no longer recognise themselves in their own city. The University Quarter, on the other hand, is a place where a great many people live together in a wonderful way.”

Kemper agrees. “You have lots of expats, yuppies and tourists in Amsterdam who have no connection to the city. The people who live here care about the city and really want to make something of it. If the bins are overturned and the council doesn’t clear them up, we do it ourselves. During a dry summer, we water the plants from our own taps. That’s what I call commitment.”

BG5 and Oudemanhuispoort
Though thoughts are already turning to the future. Two young women, one with a child in her arms, voice their concerns about the Vendelhof. The little green square where their children can still play carefree could well end up looking very different if the UvA building plans go ahead and construction cranes start appearing. “There aren’t that many parks in the city centre – where will our children play then?”

Goldstein, too, makes no secret of the UvA’s building plans. “The UvA still has plans for the coming years here on the BG site, including the renovation of BG5 and the Oudemanhuispoort. And for that to happen, it’s crucial that we put ourselves in each other’s shoes.” A sentence interrupted by the sound of a wine glass shattering. “Someone’s already disagreeing,” jokes Goldstein. From the audience comes a more optimistic remark: “Broken glass brings good luck.”

Then the exhibition is officially opened. Not by cutting a ribbon, but with a jigsaw puzzle of a bird’s-eye view of the Binnengasthuis site, the final piece of which is fitted by Strens. And with that, the BG site is already on its way to the next 25 years. How does VOLBG view this? “With complete confidence.”

The exhibition “25 years of social conflict on the Binnengasthuis site” can be visited from 24 August to 3 September between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm at Vox-Pop, Binnengasthuisstraat 9. Admission is free. To book a guided tour, please email volbg.terrein@gmail.com