PUBLIC SPACE16 • Te x t Celine Boute • Photography Davien Hulsman • 17
PUBLIC SPACE
WABE VAN ENK - PROPERTYNL
‘PropertyNL has been in Zuidas since its launch 17 years ago. As a
real estate firm, we were really excited to have a front-row seat to
all the area developments. In those early years, we were up to our
ears in construction because of the expansion and renovation of the
WTC. The changes have all been positive though, especially for our
office in the WTC. This used to look like a sealed box, but the building
has gradually been opened up, and now there’s lots more traffic in
and around Zuidas. These days, Zuidas is no longer just closed off
corporate offices.’GOT A
MINUTE?
Zuidas is a district in development. And though we’re welcoming many new
residents and businesses, there are also lots of faces that we’ve grown to
know over the years. Hello Zuidas visited four long-time locals to talk to
them about Zuidas’ transformation and its future.
DRIES MEBUS - VAN ROOYEN DRY CLEANER’S
‘I’ve been a part of the local fabric since 1989, so I’ve been around for quite a while
now. In those 28 years, literally ever ything has changed. None of these tall buildings
you see now used to be here. Instead, there was a mix of small businesses and
shops. There was a place that sold records, just as there was a barber and a cigar
shop. The renewal of the district has changed things for the better, but it makes me
sad to see that small businesses often can’t stay afloat in this place. The interaction
with so many different people makes this into a great location to be. We get our
share of suits ever y day, also from customers outside Zuidas. There is construction
noise to deal with, for sure, but I’ve still enjoyed working here all these years.’
BARBARA VAN SON-BREUER - SUSHI TIME
‘Sushi Time opened in 2001 in the back WTC’s central lobby.
We moved fairly soon after that and for more than ten years
we’ve been located on the first floor at the front of the WTC.
Unfortunately, this is still not the most perfect of locations, as
we prefer to be on the ground floor, where visitors can spot us
straight away. One thing that needs to be tackled is more signage
in the area, so that people know what’s where. Zuidas has its pros
and cons. It’s a business location, which means that lots of people
have to be here on a regular basis and drop in automatically. A big
drawback is that we share a building with lots of other tenants.
We cannot open or close our door whenever it suits us. Sushi
Time tries to stay creative by keeping apace with the times and
by responding to changing local demand.’HARPERT KOOPMAN - OLIVER’S RESTAURANT
‘Oliver’s came to Zuidas when it was still pretty much a blank
slate. Now we’ve been here for eleven years and the area has
undergone a genuine metamorphosis. Running a restaurant in
Zuidas is different than in other parts of Amsterdam. For starters,
it’s busier in wintertime than it is during summer. Oliver’s has
car ved out a place in Zuidas and fortunately people know how
to find us.. All the changes that have taken place here have been
overwhelmingly positive. There are more people out and about,
lots of new businesses have appeared, Zuidas has grown explo-
sively and the developments are nowhere near finished. Future
plans like the new station also spell great opportunities for us.
The only thing that’s still missing is basic ser vices, such as a post
office, but that’s all on the drawing board.’