EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Overdie and Schermereiland

Overdie and Schermereiland – Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Introduction

For the project Our Neighbourhood’s Move in Alkmaar, the City of Alkmaar opted for measures aimed at social cohesion and integration. The participation process is in keeping with the existing consultative structures.

Problem

The questions that are asked: How can the neighbourhood keep it a neighbourhood? How do we retain the neighbourhood feeling while demolishing 150 residences? And how can we improve the neighbourhood’s reputation?

Description

A combination of problems exists in the districts of Overdie and Schemereiland:

There are physical problems:

a homogeneous housing stock of poor quality and hardly any green areas.

There are also social bottlenecks:

residents with a low level of education and low income;
economic weaknesses, such as a lack of economic activity, competition with the city centre, etc.

These problems together adversely affect the living climate in the district immensely. Therefore, investment in each of these three areas is desirable.

Approach

Alkmaar has a global programme with measures chosen by the residents aimed at social cohesion and integration. The participation process surrounding Our Neighbourhood’s Turn is in keeping with the existing consultative structures. There is a lot of money available for childcare.

Results

The Oosterhoutparkfestival (‘Oosterhout Park Festival’): this multicultural festival in 2002 was very successful, partly owing to the significant participation by immigrants.
Cultural profile: residents of Overdie were to take a close look at their own district to put together a cultural profile of the district. This project was ultimately cancelled.
Schermereiland social and cultural events: a CD was made of the choir, Schermereilandzangers (‘Schermereiland Singers’).
Neighbourhood documentary of Schermereiland: the first part of the documentary follows the process up to the demolishing of 15 residences. The second part follows the residents in the interim to the moment that the residences were completed.
Pre and early school education: projects to this effect were started at four primary schools in Overdie and Schermereiland.
Social activation: a social activation project was started in Overdie in 2002. Its objective was to develop a method to involve more residents from diverse target groups using individual guidance.
Schermereiland drop-in and info centre: The municipality and Woningstichting Willibrordus housing corporation man this info centre and have made a financial contribution. This info centre meant a lot to people who had to relocate, certainly from a socio-emotional perspective.

Contact info

City of Alkmaar
Peter van Dorsten, tel. +31 72 5488660

Contact info

City of Alkmaar
Mascha Geleijnse, tel. +31 72 5488660

Project start date

01/06/2001

Links

City of Alkmaar

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Social inclusion & integration, Urban environment