The central area of
the Eastern Docklands, right along the Y-lake,
has some of the most striking new apartment buildings and also most of
the historical buildings in the area.
Several of these historical maritime buildings have been renovated;
others are still being restored.
A shopping center is situated
in an old warehouse called Brazilie. In the earlier part of the
twentieth century this warehouse was used
for cocoa storage from Central
or South America.
The historical Lloyd
Hotel at the lakeside was a hotel for emigrants from
Central and
Eastern Europe to the Americas in the early twentieth century.
It has been renovated and now it is again a hotel and a cultural centre.
The Lloyd Quarantaine Building is now a restaurant and a centre for young artists. The Lloyd Coffeehouse has turned into a restaurant and local cultural center.
The new grand
music
building Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ ( IJsbreker / Bimhuis) and the present
passenger terminal for cruise ships are
located in the western part of the Eastern
Docklands.
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ offers very good music performances.This center is also home to several television shows (actualities and discussion and cultural television programs).
The City Museum of
Modern Art (Stedelijk Museum) is now at the
western border of the Eastern Docklands, on Eastern Docks Island near
Central Station.
A large center for design furniture is next to it.
There is also a restaurant on the 11th floor, with an attractive view
over the city.
Several new
developments are planned on Eastern Docks Island.
For example, the
new Central Library of Amsterdam (opening July 2007) and the conservatory
will be located there.
This island is now under
construction.
About 1000-2000 meters south of the Eastern Docklands area, a new university campus of Amsterdam University is under construction.
The new university area is located between the neighborhoods Indische buurt (Indian quarter) and Watergraafsmeer, next to the ringroad A 10 and at a distance of about five to ten minutes by car of public transport from the Eastern Docklands.
One of the renovated
warehouses in the former entrepot area in the Eastern Docklands houses
the International Institute for Social History.
It has a renowned
library on social history.
A press museum is located next door.
The former hydraulic
energy station, commonly known as the steam
factory, now houses the trendy nightclub Panama, offering e.g. Caribean
and Latin shows. It also serves as a venue for TV talkshows.
Some historical ships have been renovated and have
become restaurants. They are situated in the central area of the
Eastern Docklands.
Warehouse Six on KNSM island houses art & design shops.
The central part of the neighborhood is next to the former
city-wall bulwarks. On a remaining bulwark just south of the Eastern
Docklands is a
seventeenth century city windmill.
It is one of the few remaining city
windmills, now home to a brewery
producing and selling the local Y-lake beer. Another former
bulwark is commemorated in a restaurant, located on a small island.
The eastern part of the neighborhood has apartment buildings and houses with roof gardens and an attractive view over the water. The warehouses Monday to Sunday have been changed into apartment buildings.
The western part of the Eastern
Docklands is redesigned
in the style of the seventeenth century part of the city.
This part of the neighborhood has small streets and canals with
attractive canal houses and community gardens and some old
warehouses.
The area around Piet
Hein Kade, the main street in the neighborhood,
is
still under construction.
A fast tram line connects the Eastern Docklands to Central Station and
IJburg
islands.
Development of the
area will be completed soon.
See also:
social
life and nightlife
history
bridges
walking and
cycling in the Eastern Docklands
winter in
the
Eastern Docklands
More information:
www.oostelijkhavengebied.nl (links to many
sites about
architecture)
www.amsterdamarchitecture.nl (links to many sites about architecture, subsite of municipal website)
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