EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Amsterdam: School for precious metals to become centre for transfer of knowledge and experience

Amsterdam: School for precious metals to become centre for transfer of knowledge and experience

Introduction

The building will be completed in mid-2006. Adult education, social and cultural activities and small-scale enterprise will be brought together in a single multi-tenant building. Some 4,000 m² of floor space will be renovated in total, with one part reserved for small-scale business premises and the other for cultural entrepreneurs and artists.

Problem

This project will link occupational-oriented education to small-scale enterprise. The intention is to allow a system of cross-pollination to develop between education and small-scale enterprise via work experience places and workshops, for example.

Description

The former school for precious metals designed by Berlage and situated on Postjesweg will acquire a contemporary function. The eighty-year-old monument will serve as a ‘Centre for the transfer of knowledge and experience’. This is the result of the collaboration between housing associations, the educational institute ROC Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department for Conservation (RDMZ), the business community, the department of Economic Affairs of the municipality of Amsterdam and the urban district De Baarsjes.

Approach

The spearheads within the Amsterdam programme document are:

Improving the physical business environment.
Stimulating entrepreneurship.
Improving the job market.
Socio-economic activation.
Quality of life and social cohesion.

Results

The project will boost small-scale enterprise and the entrepreneurial climate in the area. The new centre will create roughly 20 structural work experience places. In order to increase job opportunities in the Chassé neighbourhood, affordable premises will be provided for new entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial residents from the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood will also be enriched with a health centre, a digital playground for young people, a childcare facility, a Grand Café and a small auditorium that can accommodate approximately 150 people.

EU involvement

URBAN II is an initiative of the European Commission. The aim is to support innovative projects in the field of urban regeneration in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The URBAN II projects will set an example for national urban policy. In the Netherlands, areas in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Heerlen have been allocated for the period 2000-2006. In Amsterdam the URBAN II programme is being carried out in eight neighbourhoods from four city districts (West binnen de Ring), with a total of 63,000 inhabitants.

Financing

European subsidy: € 800.000
Total cost: € 3.087.100

Contact info

The local programme management, tel. +31 20 5812860

Project start date

01/06/2004

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration

Keywords

Education