21 Nieuwe Universtiteitsgebouw | Photo: Kees Winkelman its own character for quite some time. Zuidas wants to keep its reputation as a great location for international companies but is already more than that. Around 4000 people live in Zuidas presently and as a result the area is becoming more lively. Shop-keepers and caterers are seeing opportunities as the level of services in the area increases. Between 7000 and 10 000 residences will be built in coming years, bringing the population to around 20 000 people. The Zuidas is growing into a complete city district for everybody. Diversity and character Developing agreeable places to live is not simply a matter of adding houses. It also means that Zuidas will have to approach city planning differently. Less strict and businesslike, more room for diversity and developing its own character. In 2017 the Amsterdam city council finalised the ‘Woonagenda 2025’ that sets rules and guidelines for residential planning up until 2025 that includes percentages for lower income, mid-range and free-market sector residences. Rules In determining the residential divisions, the Zuidas Amsterdam Development Office have not based the regulations by individual property but on the whole area. Amsterdam has issued a set of ‘game rules’ for the implementation of the Woonagenda. They stipulate that the divisions are not applicable ‘at locations whereby the council already has contractual obligations towards a market actor’. Zuidas will not change agreements already made with developers as that would cause large financial risk and construction delays. As a large number of new houses are needed to supply the large demand the council is beneficiary of timely completion. Zuidas’ neighbouring districts In the southern area of Zuidas a residential sector is being developed along the Gustav Mahlerlaan running from west (sub-district Kenniskwartier) to east (Vivaldi). This is by far the largest residential area in Zuidas and forms an area 1.5 km across. The main roads Amstelveenseweg, Parnassusweg, 2Amsterdam | Photo: Marcel Steinbach Beethovenstraat and the Europaboulevard connect the city in the north-south direction. Due to these ‘natural’ borders, Zuidas develops different neighbourhoods that all have their own character, even in the northern part (see the map on page 27). Sustainability report Zuidas 2018
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