Neighbourhoods, Rotterdam

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This articifical lake is a popular recreation area in the busy city of Rotterdam. Away from the city center, it is in a quiet environment. People walking their dogs, joggers, skaters, soccer players or just people going out for a small walk: They all can be seen here. During summertime, people making barbecues or just sitting on the lawn are a common sight. For children, there’s a small peeting zoo at the northeastern corner. To the east, you fill find some restaurants and two windmills. All in all, a nice place.

As Rotterdam is a big city there is too much to see and to do to list here.
Please check Rotterdam start page before you go.
I've added an overview with the major landmarks.

The office complex 'Wilhelminahof' was put into use in the fall of 1996. The complex, with the surface area of 120,000m² that was officially opened on 3 April 1997, consists of a courthouse with 14 courtrooms for the district court and the subdistrict court, offices for the judiciary, a complex of buildings accommodating the customs offices, the tax-collection offices, and offices for the private market. The Govenment Building Agency renting 70,000m² is the most important lessee of the 'Wilheminahof'. As the capacity of the courthouse is already insufficient, an extension to the office complex, the 6,000m²-large Rijnhaven building, will be erected to accommodate, among other things, cases that attract wide publicity.

The 'Wilhelminahof' was designed by the architectural firms of Cees Dam & Partners (the 'Comb' building), Kraaijvanger Urbis (courthouse and Rijnhaven building), and Zwarts & Jansma (metro station Wilhelminaplein). The 100-metre tall Wilhelmina tower designed by Cees Dam was completed by the end of 1997. This office tower is the first one on the Kop van Zuid that was entirely developed for the market. Behind the office complex 'Wilhelminahof', along the Laan op Zuid, the construction of the Ichthus Hogeschool started in June 1998. The year 1999 will also witness the construction of an office accommodation for the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB).

The development of Stadstuinen, a residential district with attractive owner-occupied and rented housing, wide avenues, and a central green area started in 1997. In the course of a continuous building process lasting over two years, 918 residences (apartments, single-family houses, studios, and shops) will be built. At the Vuurplaat there are 170 dwellings for rent designed for the elderly. The first portion of single-family houses was completed in the fall of 1998. Stadstuinen will also have its primary school 'De Pijler' (already operational), retail and business spaces.

Entrepot is an attractive residential environment with atmosphere which offers a number of recreational possibilities. The redevelopment of the monumental Entrepot building commenced at the end of 1995. In this former warehouse called 'The Five Continents' dating from 1879 the following functions have been realised: 107 lofts and maisonettes, 2,000 m² office space, and the 'World Market' owned by the Konmar store chain which, by offering a wide range of 'goods from faraway countries', focuses on recreational shopping (fun shopping). Various interior design shops, companies, and restaurants are located in and in the vicinity of the Entrepot building too.

The Entrepot building, the boulevard, and the marina with the capacity of 120 boats have been put into use in stages since mid-1997. Also in other parts of the Kop van Zuid residential projects are under construction. Along the Vuurplaat, a cross connection between the districts Afrikaanderwijk and Feijenoord, 171 owner-occupied and rented houses, a neighbourhood shopping centre with 2,000m² retail, and a car park have been built. In the same district the primary school 'De Wissel' with two gymnasiums has been realised. The Albeda College, a school for upper secondary vocational education (20,000m²), was built in the Rosestraat. It has been operational since 1997.

In th elate 1970s, J. Verhoeven designed 584 homes on the former Heliport Site on Hofdijk. Characteristic features are the dwellings' pitched roofs and the continuous gallery at second-floor level, which links all the courtyards, open spaces and dwellings.

Architect: J. Verhoeven
Design: 1976
Construction: 1977-1983

De Peperklip is an almost completely closed block grouped around an inner courtyard. The building comprises 76 HVAT units (small flats for young people), 191 three-bedroom apartments, 134 four-bedroom apartments, 148 five-bedroom appartments and 14 apartments for disabled occupants. The facade units are clad in small square tiles in six different colours.

Architect: C.J.M. Weeber
Design: 1978-1980
Construction: 1980-1984

Characteristic of Ommoord is its strict division into high-rise and low-rise areas. The high-rise housing is located at the center of the district together with a shopping center and the social and cultural amenities. The middle portion is made up of varying allotment patterns, including articulated, straight and tower blocks.

Urban designer: L. Stam-Beese
Design: 1962-1970
Construction: 1970-1977