Makeover for Archipel & Willemspark website

The two hubs of our neighbourhood: left: Bankaplein; right: Plein 1813 / Photos: Olaf L. Schwenke

5 December 2007

After 5 years in the ether, it was time for a makeover for our Archipelbuurt website.

The homepage now has a new A&W logo complementing that of the community newspaper designed by De van Galen. The sections have been simplified and the Latest News items for Archipel and Willemspark residents are now clearly grouped in their own separate column. Practical information for newly arrived international residents can be found on the English language part of the website. We’re curious to know what you think of the revamp and look forward to receiving your comments and ideas. Do you have any particular suggestions or wishes?

The website is maintained by a small group of volunteers. Are you a resident with an interest in the neighbourhood who would like to contribute? Then send in your news items and photos. Would you like to help  translate Dutch text into good English? Then please get in touch. Computer buffs willing to provide technical support/backup are most welcome too.

All enquiries to website@archipelbuurt.nl

Specifically for the English language site: linda@archipelbuurt .nl

Source: Stadskrant The Hague Municipal Council, 28 November 2007

regular column entitled: Bij ons in de buurt (In our community)

A site for expats in English

One out of three residents in the Archipelbuurt is a foreigner of western origin. By means of an English language website the Archipel & Willemspark Residents Association try to get these expats more involved in the community.

In recent years the Archipel and Willemspark has become more and more popular with expats. Reason enough then for the Residents Association to add an English language section to their website in 2003. Other neighbourhoods also home to many expats followed; the Statenkwartier website for example now has a dedicated English section.

Time for an English language section

"Almost one third of the residents in our neighbourhood are foreigners from western countries," says Ank Beekman, secretary of the Archipel & Willemspark Residents Association. "They are primarily highly educated expats who work for Shell, embassies or international organizations. Most of them speak English and that’s why we wanted to have a section on our website in English. So we advertised for volunteers in our community newspaper."

Linda and Ank in Club House Cantaloup's playpark in Willemspark.

Photo: Henriette Guest

www.henrietteguest.nl

Linda Nash was one of the locals who responded. She comes from England but has lived with her partner in The Hague for 29 years now. Together with two other volunteers, she set up an English site with news about the neighbourhood, information about various local events and useful addresses including local doctors, crèches and plumbers for example. She keeps the English section up to date single-handed.

"Each month the whole site gets about 3,000 unique visitors," says Linda. "Quite a reasonable number and reactions have been positive."

Mixed feelings

Both women have mixed feelings about the arrival of more and more expats in the neighbourhood. "The Hague is actively promoting itself as an international city," says Ank. "Some kind of balance needs to be found though. People sometimes grumble about too many foreigners in the poorer neighbourhoods. That happens here too. Foreigners usually buy the more expensive houses in this neighbourhood. Social cohesion is on the decline. It used to be like a real village here – everyone knew everyone else."

"As more and more foreigners move in, the property prices rise,’ says Linda. ‘When I first came to live here there was much more of a cross-section. On the other hand you see many more Dutch people with children. Just look at he number of cargo bikes on the streets."

Contact between expats and locals

What’s the contact like between the local Dutch and expats themselves? "Club House Cantaloup in Willemspark is a good example of integration," says Ank. "Non-Dutch as well as Dutch parents go there with their children. They organize all sorts of activities and events and there is a lovely playground. There is a really great atmosphere."

Finding volunteers

What’s more difficult is finding people who are prepared to actively do something for the community. Ank: "Many people are happy to help organize a street party but few people want to help run the website or become an active member of the Association. This is because most of the expats are in the 30-50 age group. They are busy with their careers and families. It’s difficult recruiting Dutch volunteers in this age group too."

Surrounded by expats

Linda made a conscious point of getting in touch with Dutch people. "I’m originally a graphic designer and have worked for years as a freelance translator. It was important for me to learn Dutch as quickly as possible. My circle of friends and acquaintances are primarily Dutch and I deliberately didn’t become a member of any expat women’s club. Our son went to a Dutch school and we brought him up bilingually. I currently work part time as an editorial assistant for an international organization and find myself surrounded expats after all."

Curious about the site?

Visit www.archipelbuurt.nl

See feedback from local resident - herself once a member of the website team.

The price of success:
should we be concerned?

We’ve heard a lot about The Hague profiling itself as the city of peace and justice, encouraging more international organizations to put down their roots here alongside the established expat employers like Shell and the European Patent Office. Also how important it is to make the international community feel at home and to provide its members with every comfort and convenience. Some locals however are becoming uneasy as they watch the influx of new neighbours from the international community increase in leaps and bounds. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Makes the fabric of our community more cosmopolitan and boosts the economy. However, as with all things, it is important to strike a proper balance.

An article in this week’s AD Haagsche Courant (22 October 2007) seems to confirm that the unease among some Archipelbuurt locals could be well founded. The title of the piece: Grotere tweedeling – Rijke Westerse expats jagen Hagenaars de stad uit (The divide widens – Rich western expats drive Hagenaars from the city) describes how The Hague has been extremely successful in its efforts to halt the exodus of inhabitants from the inner city. As the centre of international justice [Eurojust, Europol, ICTY, ICC and ICJ], the city has attracted many western expats on high incomes. This is certainly good for the city’s economy but there is a price to pay. Data from the Central Bureau voor de Statistiek – CBS (Statistics Netherlands) and the Ruimtelijk Planbureau - RPB (The Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research) seems to indicate that in the coming years there is a risk that there will be a greater divide between the "haves" and the "have nots" with the steady influx of wealthy western immigrants. According to their prognosis, by 2025 the number of western immigrants in The Hague will increase drastically to just above 20% of the total population; in 2005 the figure was just a little more than 10%.

These affluent people want to live in expensive homes in the most attractive districts of The Hague [the Archipelbuurt is specifically mentioned along with the Statenkwartier]. This drives the property prices up [some say expats are actually paying the “asking price”] whereby Hagenaars on middle incomes are having to leave the city for the so-called VINEX suburban housing projects and neighbouring boroughs in order to find affordable homes. This is the price of success: The Hague authorities chose this option by becoming part of the international circuit and thus the influx of well-paid foreigners.

Strangely enough those in authority appear to be surprised by the consequences of their chosen policy, although PvdA alderman Marnix Norder doesn’t believe that the policy will lead to a widening of the divide, “Not all employees of international organizations have high salaries or live in the Statenkwartier.”

As you can see from the reactions to the article (get a neighbour to help if your Dutch is not quite up to scratch yet), there is a good balance between those who agree and those who don't.

The Residents Association Archipel/Willemspark
was one of the 150 organisations taking part on 9 September

in the International Community Fair

There was lots of interest in the A&W stand at the International Community Fair - Feel at Home - and comments about our website were positive. The Residents Association hopes that more of our international residents - now 37% of the local population - will become involved with activities in the neighbourhood and make good use of all the information on our website.

Appeal against VCP – Traffic Circulation Plan

24 July 2007 - On behalf of a number of lobby groups in the Archipelbuurt lawyer Mr R.B. van Heijningen (Vice-Chairman of the Residents Association Archipel/Willemspark) has lodged an appeal against the Traffic Circulation Plan The Hague City Centre (VCP)

On 14 June 2007 The Hague executive council took a decision, conform the resurrected council proposal 77 concerning the VCP, approving the realization of the Traffic Circulation Plan The Hague City Centre, whereby the city centre will become traffic free and traffic restriction measures will be implemented at various locations, as well as a number of other plans and measures, including further development of the traffic system concerning the closure of certain roads. The plan accepted by the council envisages implementation of the VCP in the first quarter of 2009.

Laan Copes van Cattenburch and Burgemeester Patijnlaan, the main streets in the Archipelbuurt carrying through traffic, will remain part of the Centrumring in this Traffic Circulation Plan.

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Letter to the members of the council committee for Traffic, Environment and Social Climate (VML)

In a letter last month to members of the VML council committee about the VCP currently being deliberated, our Residents Association lobbied for the removal of Laan Copes van Cattenburch from the CentrumRing.

The volume of traffic along this section is already extremely heavy and pollution levels constantly exceed the legal limits. In addition, because of the proposed measures regarding the VCP the traffic will increase even more. And then there is the environmental zoning which is part of the Nota Zwaar Verkeer (Heavy Traffic Bill) and will mean that lorries that don’t comply with the norms will be diverted to the CentrumRing, increasing pollution and noise yet again. The committee was reminded of its acceptance of the motion (no. 2001-682) to the effect that after the completion of the Hubertustunnel the Laan Copes van Cattenburch and Burgemeester Patijnlaan would no longer comprise part of the CentrumRing and that Telderstracé would be used instead.

The Telderstracé is much wider than the narrower and more densely populated Laan Copes van Cattenburch/Burgemeester Patijnlaan.

The motion also moved to preserve the recently completed redevelopment of the street profile (the central reservations, the trees and the cycle paths).

The Residents Association’s board closed by saying it would greatly appreciate it if the committee would stand by their acceptance of the motion.

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Final Version of Traffic Circulation Plan
presented 17 May 2007

The Mayor and Alderman of The Hague have presented the final, modified, version of the city’s Traffic Circulation Plan (VCP) for the approval of the full Council.

The original VCP was a combination of ideas intended to improve both access to the city centre and the level of air pollution. It met with opposition in some quarters because of the negative economic effects it could have on business, and the greater distances drivers would have to travel, with correspondingly deleterious consequences for the environment. The main points of the revised VCP are : cars banned from part of the Spui and the Grote Markt; improved traffic flow on the CentrumRing round the city centre; more provisions for cyclists; and a Park & Ride facility from Hoornwijk. In order to combat the notorious pollution levels (some of the worst in the country) on the Veerkaden, through traffic to and from the Utrechtsebaan will be kept in check by closing the Lutherse Burgwal from the Grote Markt. Part of the Elandstraat will become one-way, with traffic in the other direction taking the short section of the Noordwal. The new plan will also mean that there will no longer be any obstacles to the emergency services. The Council will also be considering additional public transport facilities.

Source: TheHagueOnline.com

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Fall of Hague City Council because of traffic circulation plan

14 February – Yesterday evening saw the collapse of the The Hague City Council due to all the unrest surrounding the council’s intended traffic circulation plan (VCP). Many communities and lobby groups disagree with the plan, Archipel/Willemspark included. The neighbourhood represented by the A/W Residents Association is one of 31 members of the VCP-Nee initiative. More news about this subject and the campaign site of VCP-Nee.

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Alternative traffic circulation plan

More and more organizations and private individuals object to the Verkeerscirculatieplan Centrumgebied Den Haag (Traffic Circulation Plan – Central zone – The Hague). Our Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association joined the Comité VCP-Nee (“No to the TCP” Committee) in the summer of 2006 and on 30 August also submitted a written objection to the VCP to the Council executive.

VCP: preferably turn back half way than get completely lost
The Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association plays an important role in the Comité VCP-Nee, which now consists of 35 residents associations, employers’ organisations and the like.
On 10 January 2007, the council committee for Traffic, Environment and Social Climate (VML) held a hearing about the VCP, at which 43 people voiced their opinions: the most by far in the negative, our Residents Association among them. Because of the evident concern, the VML committee granted a continuation of the hearing on 30 January 2007 for further discussions between the committee members and participants.
The council committee is planning to speak about the VCP during a public meeting to be held on Thursday 22 February. The formal decision process will then take place in the first committee meeting following this date.
Meanwhile there has been a leak of an alternative secret plan drawn up by the coalition parties because of the lack of public support in the city for the VCP. This plan appears to be very similar to an alternative solution tabled by Mr Eduard Bakker.

Contents of coalition parties’ plan
The alternative plan proposed by the parties VVD, GroenLinks and PvdA contains four points to be addressed that are reasonably concrete and far-reaching:

1. Make parts of the city centre pedestrian zones: the area encircled by Koningskade, Mauritskade, Hoge Wal, Prinsessewal, Torenstraat, Paviljoensgracht and the Veerkaden in combination with a reorganisation of both the physical and economic infrastructure, including compensation for the loss of parking places.
2. Transfer of parking garage capacity in the city centre to the Malieveld garage, which should be converted into an "urban-transferium": increased parking capacity combined with an intricate public transport system to the shopping area and a direct connection to the Utrechtse Baan. As many of the vacated parking garages in the city centre as possible would be converted to qualitive prime public facilities.
3. Close the Prins Bernard Viaduct (entry/exit roads to the Utrechtse Baan). The viaduct would in any event continue to be used by buses, cyclists and cars travelling to and from the Bezuidenhout district.
4. Completion of the CentrumRing and construction of the Trekvliettrace (a link between the Ypenburg traffic intersection, The Hague city centre and the Binckhorst business park) to free up the Centrum zone.

Secret discussions about VCP unwise
The opposition parties SP and CDA in The Hague city council feel it was unwise of the PvdA, VVD and GroenLinks to meet in secret to discuss possible changes to the controversial Verkeerscirculatieplan (VCP).
Now that it’s clear that the coalition parties themselves are receptive to alternative solutions, this will only exacerbate the resistance to the plan in the The Hague. It is also felt that it is rather unseemly that the parties needed to talk in confidence, making it even clearer how controversial the plan is. There is only a limited number of people within the city council who support the implementation of the VCP.
Various organisations and institutes in The Hague are rather surprised at the actions of the political parties. The Comité VCP-Nee would like an independent commission to investigate the best ways of making the inner city a car-free zone.

Board of the Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association,
29 January 2007

The alternative VCP for the most part follows the route currently known as the Parkeerroute. This ring – in fact one way – is significantly smaller than the so-called CentrumRing which is pivotal to the plans proposed by the city council (indicated in transparent grey). Everything inside the ring is within walking distance which is as it should be.

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15 March 2007 A/W Community Council meeting:
Objections to VCP
for The Hague Council workshop to be held on 19 March 2007
(in the Koninklijke Schouwburg at 8 o’clock in the morning)

 

Submitted by Eveline Blitz on behalf of
the Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association

a. Why such a hurry?
According to the Alderman (for Traffic) the council must finalize the VCP by 14 June. Why? If such complex changes are to be successfully introduced, support is necessary. This takes time. So why the hurry? It can’t be because of the air pollution problem on the Veerkades (Stille Veerkade and Amsterdamse Veerkade), because the council won’t be implementing the VCP till 2009 anyway.

b. The objectives apply to everyone living in The Hague.
The objectives of the city council are: no through traffic in the city centre and improvement of air quality in the city centre. Thus the council is completely ignoring the consequences for the districts immediately adjacent to the centre.
The council’s VCP proposes closing the Veerkades and Mauritskade. These closures mean displacement: detours for three quarters of the traffic wanting to leave the CentrumRing to enter the city. Displacement, in fact, of the serious problem now affecting the Veerkades to Laan Copes van Cattenburg. Closure of each traffic route will lead irrevocably to a worsening in air quality, more vehicles, more congestion and more noise elsewhere.
The objective should be: the council is obliged to guarantee the minimum level of acceptable air quality all citizens of The Hague, no matter in which district they live.

c. Computer projections threaten common sense.
Computer projections suggest an exact science, but are as reliable as the computer projections for the weather. The question is actually about which assumptions/hypotheses are fed into the computer model.
Don’t let’s be blinded by quasi-scientific projections, let’s demand that the council members use their common sense: if the council closes off one of the main arterial roads, then the remaining road will end up carrying double the traffic, it’s as simple as that. When Grote Marktstraat was closed off, the Veerkades got twice as much traffic. If Mauritskade is closed then Laan Copes will get twice as much.

seriously, were sorely deluded. According to the explanation given by interim Alderman Norder, it’s up to all us discerning citizens to come up with alternatives. All the city council has to do is sit back and wait. The Alderman will then assess the ideas (and eventually nonchalantly cast them aside, if one reads between the lines).
It’s a topsy-turvy world! Councillors with well-paid jobs but want us to do their jobs for them. Talk about arrogant!

d. The council itself needs to come up with better alternatives.
Those who thought that, after the near toppling of the city council, citizens would be taken

e. Supplementary measures must become concrete pledges.
Each time the worsening situation on Laan Copes is spoken about, the politicians announce that the nuisance caused by the CentrumRing won’t be as bad as everyone thinks because of the so-called “supplementary measures” that will be introduced, such as urban transferia/park&ride. But this just a paper promise; there is no money available for these transferia and no sites earmarked!
We could be called cynical, but if the city council was really convinced that the additional measures will reduce traffic in The Hague, then wouldn't these measures also reduce traffic on the Veerkades enough too? And then there wouldn’t be any need to close off half the city?

f. Mauritskade must remain open.
The crux of the argument from our neighbourhood will be that Mauritskade must remain open.
According to the council, Mauritskade must be shut off "because when access to the Veerkades is no longer possible, so much traffic will divert to Mauritskade that the volume of vehicles wll become unacceptable. So close Mauritskade."
But what happens to the traffic? It goes to Laan Copes. Where apparently suddenly there will no longer be an unacceptable level of dangerous fumes, noise and risks to road users. When in fact at this very moment, even with the Veerkades and Mauritskade still accessible, the pollution already exceeds acceptable levels!
The polititians should use their common sense! Look at the map. The traffic from the Utrechtsebaan and A44 already enters the city via two parallel routes: Mauritskade and Laan Copes. In the rush hour these two roads are already chock-a-bloc.
Even a child can see that if one of these roads is closed the other will come to a standstill. Not to mention if an accident were to occur on the one remaining road. Therefore keep both open; in any event going into the city (leaving the city, there are three roads available, i.e. Javastraat too).

Inhabitants of the Veerkades also think that displacement is not the solution to the problems.

 

According to an article in The Hague Times of 30 March 2007 the "second traffic meeting was deemed a success". More...

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Second traffic meeting deemed a success

The second meeting to solve disagreements over The Hague’s Verkeercirculatieplan (VCP) traffic plan (in March 2007) was deemed a success by Alderman for Transport Marnix Norder. The Comité Nee, who are against the VCP, were critical during the first meeting but this diminished during the last meeting. The VCP aims at reducing traffic in the city centre to improve air quality. The plan involves a ring road around the city and restrictions to traffic travelling within the areas deemed as bottlenecks for traffic. Norder said that more discussions will take place in May and that the second meeting ended in applause by those participating. Disagreements over the VCP plan have threatened to topple the Gemeente coalition in the past.

Source: The Hague Times, 30 March 2007

Her Majesty
has been graciously pleased to…

appoint our own Ank Beekman to the Order of Orange Nassau: the power behind the ‘throne’ of the Residents Association Archipel/ Willemspark and this neighbourhood website.

The text of the address given by Mayor Deetman on the presentation of the Member of the Order of Orange Nassuau to Ank Beekman in Diligentia today - 27 April 2007:

Mrs. A.G. Beekman-Otte

Nature, education en teaching is of paramount importance to you and has been for more than fifty years. Since 1953, you have been closely involved in the NJN (Dutch Youth League for Nature Study), and its activities, holding various senior positions on the board. This national youth league for young people between 12 and 25 years of age focuses on many different facets of nature in the Netherlands. Even after you reached the maximum age for membership, for many years you continued to help supervise summer camps and audit camp accounts. Since 2001, you have been treasurer of the NJN’S Foundation for Support and Promotion, which seeks funding from ex-members to finance Youth League projects.

Your commitment to nature protection is also shown by the duties you fulfilled for the Nature and Environmental Education Organization (IVN), of which you are a founding member. Among other things, you organized nature guide courses and helped supervise IVN project weeks in nature reserves.

But not only this; in the field of education in your former home town of Zierikzee, you have also given many years of unstinting service, holding numerous senior managerial positions in the state education sector. You were also a founding member of a lobby group devoted to ensuring the provision of facilities and services in a new housing development.

Your commitment to your community continued when you came to The Hague, becoming in 2001 secretary of the Bewonersorganisatie Archipel/Willemspark (Residents Association A/W) and assuming responsibility for the running of the neighbourhood website.
Duties which you discharge with your usual and characteristic enthusiasm and sense of responsibility.

Former treasurer Ben Verstege fully briefed his successor Ruud Klein at the New Year’s reception in t’ Klokhuis.

Outgoing board member Hans Groenendijk was unable to attend the New Year’s reception but a replacement has already been found to take over the working party Town Planning which was Han’s area of specialism.

CELEBRATION! 1971-2006
35 years RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION ARCHIPEL/WILLEMSPARK

Exhibition 16-23 December
MIJN BUUR IS EEN KUNSTENAAR
My neighbour is an artist
Presenting the work of fine artists and photographers from our neighbourhood
Galerie Frederik, Frederikstraat 467
Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday 12:00-18:00, otherdays 12:00-21:00

“Galerie Window” 12 December - 1 January
DE BUURT IN BEELD
The community in focus
Photos by Karen Kommer

TOUR D'ART Sunday 17 December 12:00-17:00
Visit the some of the artists’ studios

POETRY EVENING 20 December 20:00
Local residents’ poetic vein given full flow
Galerie Frederik, Frederikstraat 467
register before 15 December, preferably by
email: m.vandermast@tiscali.nl tel: 3458197

In December 2006 our residents association will have been in business 35 years and of course we plan to celebrate the occasion.

The Archipelbuurt & Willemspark district has long been a favourite with artists. Not only do many live in the neighbourhood but many have their studios here. An anniversary is an ideal opportunity to make their acquaintance if you have not done so already. The art of getting to know one another, in fact!

Here’s a sneak preview:

- Mayor Deetman has been invited to an exhibition of work by artists who live in our neighbourhoodat at 13:00 in Galerie Frederik at Frederikstraat 467 on Saturday 16 December: exhibition continues until 23 December.

- On Sunday 17 December many artists, those living in Archipel and Willemspark too, will open their studios to the public.

Our website will keep you informed about all the jubilee celebrations and you will also find more information in a special supplement in the December issue of the community newspaper.

A working party has been busy planning and organising festivities for the period between 16 and 23 December for months. Those responsible for the artistic side of things Els van der Kleij, Karen Kommer and Michiel van der Mast have already contacted 60 artists and almost all of them have agreed to give their support. However it’s always possible that we may have overlooked someone. If this should be the case please get in touch as soon as possible with Michiel van der Mast:
T 345 81 97 , M 06-508 480 32 ,
E m.vandermast@ tiscali.nl

Residents Association A/W

Then do something about it before 15 June by

* adding your name to the petition against closure in 't Klokhuis community centre in Celebesstraat, or

* sending an email to info@archipelbuurt.nl with the text "Ík ben tegen sluiting van 't Klokhuis" accompanied by your name, postal and email address, and whether you are a participant of any particular activities and/or visit 't Klokhuis regularly.

Action campaigns against closure of 't Klokhuis

1. Vereniging het Klokhuis (the Klokhuis Association): letter of objection with questions sent to WOC 20/04/05

2. Vereniging het Klokhuis: letter to councillor Klijnsma 20/04/05

3. Residents Association A/W letter of objection sent to WOC 19/04/05

4. Disseminate information via website: www.archipelbuurt.nl

5. Visit the D66 bus on 23/04/05 (people did turn up but there was no bus)

6. Inventory of activities and number of visitors in 't Klokhuis (still to be completed)

7. Petition in 't Klokhuis for ‘clients’ and local residents to sign

8. Collect ‘signatures’ via the website: info@archipelbuurt.nl

9. Point out the possibility of sending a personal letter as an interested party to: Councillor J. Klijnsma, Spui 70, 2500 DJ Den Haag

10. Disseminate information via June issue of neighbourhood newspaper

The stories in Archi-typen are snapshots of our neighbourhood through the eyes of a number of local residents and written by Marie-José Hillenaar, herself a former local resident.

Old memories surface, sometimes about things long forgotten, familiar to everyone. The book is full of beautiful photos taken by local photographer Karen Kommer and can be purchased for €5.50 by contacting the secretariat of the A&W Residents Association: Tel. 070  350 35 11 (Monday 9.00-16.00 and Thursday 9.00-10.00); Fax 084  737 10 29; secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl   

The most recent enterprising initiative from the Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association was the publication of a perpetual birthday calendar, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, featuring aerial photographs of Archipel/ Willemspark. The photos were taken in July 2004 by Olaf Schwenke and the design is by local resident Linda Nash. A small map accompanies each photo pinpointing familiar buildings, squares, streets and 'hofjes' as well as the viewpoint from which the photos were shot.

Exclusive Archipel/Willemspark birthday calendar
with 14 aerial photos of the neighbourhood
for only €5!

Support this enterprising initiative of your Residents Association by buying this truly local and unique gift for your friends and family and let them see exactly where you live!

Available from the A&W Residents Association in the Klokhuis Community Centre:
secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl

During the Residents Association's New Year's reception on 13 January 2005, the 'ErePrijs 2004' was awarded to Rupert van Heijningen. (This is a prize awarded annually to a local volunteer who has given exceptional service to the community.) Chairman Joop Vos praised his contribution to many projects in the neighbourhood. The community also profits from his great juridical expertise. Rupert was born and bred here and his efforts now span almost twenty years.

In his speech of thanks, Rupert remembered the great commotion that broke out when the first expansion plans for Madurodam, which would have meant the loss of a large area of the Scheveningen woods, were proposed. And thanks to the many objections submitted, Monchyplein has turned out to be an asset. Together with architect Guido de Sturler, Rupert has tried as much as possible to ensure that new building plans harmonize with the 19 th -century architectural style here in the Archipelbuurt. Rupert also took on those proposing building plans in Sumatrastraat. In spite of objections to the ultra-modern architecture of the so-called Witte Poort, demolition here was hurried up. Because of difference between the developer and the building firm engaged to execute the work, after three years building has still not started. All in all the community can be satisfied with the results so far.

With loud applause those present endorsed the presentation of the 'ErePrijs 2004'.

The 'Ereprijs' - a decorative pin in silver, designed and made by local resident Eva Drijver.