Marineterrein Amsterdam is a former navy yard and military area owned by the Dutch National Government. With the Dutch Ministry of Defence vacating parts of the area, the Dutch National Government and the Municipality of Amsterdam have made a cooperation agreement to develop the area into an innovative and experimental city-quarter aimed at solving urban sustainability issues. The area is developed in an adaptive and experimental fashion, without a predefined urban development plan or set goals. The first step is to build a community of innovative businesses and organisations, with further programming following from that.
Het Marineterrein (the Navy Yard) is a historic area of 14 hectares. It was first built in 1655 as a construction site for warfare ships for the Dutch East India Company. In 1915, the Navy Yard became an education and training centre for the Dutch Royal Navy, and the name was changed to ‘Marine Etablissement Amsterdam’. Because of the military nature of the terrain, it is sealed off from the rest of the city by a large wall for approximately 350 years. In 1968, an area at the western side of the terrain was demolished to make space for the IJ-tunnel, a car tunnel connecting the centre of Amsterdam with its northern neighbourhoods. In 2013, partly driven by the financial crisis, the Dutch Ministry of Defence voices intentions to vacate (parts of) the area. The Dutch National Government and the municipality of Amsterdam form a collaboration to gradually open up and develop the site into an innovative city-quarter. [1]
Marineterrein Amsterdam aims to be a future-proof city district characterised by open innovation and a unique living, working and leisure atmosphere. Innovators, scientists and businesses are brought together to design, test and implement solutions to urban (sustainability) challenges, specifically in relation to water, learning, living, mobility, and health. The district is home to educational technology companies and a range of start-ups and scale-ups. Currently, tenants are allocated on a temporary basis until a definitive development strategy is developed. The leading party of the initiative, Bureau Marineterrein, selects tenants and aims to generate cooperation and connection between them to stimulate cross-fertilisation and innovation. This is done among others by organising drinks and meet-up sessions and by providing online community tools, like digital workspaces and regular newsletters. Bureau Marineterrein also hosts open days for the wider community. Since 2019, the area has been home to a Living Lab focused on testing solutions for future-proof cities. An example project developed here is Roboat, the world’s first self-driving boat that can transport people and goods while at the same time it collects waste from the Amsterdam canals. Next to the Living Lab, a Living Art Lab offers space for creative projects connected to developments and experiments at Marineterrein. [1;2]
Future activities might also include investments in local infrastructure and public space, among others related to replacing damaged quay walls. Moreover, plans are designed to develop an additional 160.000 m2 for living, working and learning from 2027 onwards. [1;2] In the first instance, the Dutch Ministry of Defence intended only to keep its recruitment and selection services based on the Navy Yard. In 2018, the Ministry indicated the intention to remain active in a more significant part of the area because of its strategic position. The Municipality of Amsterdam and the Dutch national government are discussing the implications of this for the future development of the area. [2]
On behalf of the National Government and the municipality of Amsterdam, the project organisation ‘Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam’ is responsible for the day to day management of the area. This organisation has, among others, the mandate to select the tenants for the area. This is done according to the potential of tenants to contribute to predefined research themes related to urban sustainability. Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam is supervised by a steering committee that meets approximately four times a year and comprises different members from governmental and municipal organisations. According to the mandate agreement, the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Dutch National Government facilitate the development process based on the ambition to become a future-proof resilient city district. [1;3]
Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam is focused on building networks between tenants, local inhabitants, the wider general public and organisations/businesses. It cooperates and tries to connect the work of a range of different players, ranging from start-ups to established companies and private organisations, non-profits, research and education institutes and civil society. [1;2;3]
Both the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Dutch government have provided an initial investment of €5.500.000 through an investment fund. To access this fund, Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam submits an annual action plan and budget. [3]
Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam rents out buildings on site, either in part or as a whole. Currently, these contracts are on a temporary basis (either 1-3 years or for buildings that require a significant investment from the tenants, 5-10 years). Revenue generated is utilised to cover management and exploitation costs and further the area’s development. [3]
Tomescu, A ( 2019), Marineterrein – Navy Yard (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), D2.2 Individual Report on the Observatory Cases, OpenHeritage, H2020 GA 776766, available on openheritage.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/15_Open-Heritage_Amsterdam_Observatory-Case.pdf, accessed on 04-01-2022
Marine Terrein, organisational website, available on www.marineterrein.nl/en/questions-and-answers/, accessed on 01/09/2021
Principe Nota (principal memorandum of organisation), 2017, available at www.marineterrein.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Principenota-Marineterrein-Amsterdam-printbaar-20-juli-2017.pdf, accessed on 01/09/2021