residents association - local newspaper

The Community Newspaper International Readers' Service February 2008

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Neighbourhood insight

Archipel Festival June 2008

It will be party-time again for all in the Archipel on 28 June 2008! This year’s theme is: “neighbourhood insight”. You can join in treasure hunts and guided tours, play football, fly balloons, browse the stalls in our very own flea market, listen to music, win the craziest prizes on the wheel of fortune, savour the Bankadinner sitting around the Bankaplein fountain and afterwards dance to the music of a great band. And for the youngsters, Billitonstraat will again be transformed into a playground paradise.

The organizing committee has lots more up its sleeve, but any bright and amusing ideas you may have are more than welcome! Perhaps you are a member of a club (bridge, tai chi, street dance, photography, painting) and would like to give a demonstration or workshop. And don’t forget those choirs, solo instrumentalists and bands: we know you are all dying to add lustre to the party! Covers or own numbers, anything goes! All acts are welcome so give your creative juices free rein! If you have any ideas or would like to volunteer your help, we would very much like to hear from you. Contact us through the Festival e-mail address: wijkfeest@archipelbuurt.nl.

You will be kept posted on all developments via the website www.archipelbuurt.nl and the community paper.

Let’s all, young and old alike, make it an event to be remembered!

The Traffic Circulation Plan (VCP) -

we remain vigilant

In June 2007 the Executive Council set down the VerkeersCirculatiePlan. The Executive’s proposal included the decision to keep Laan Copes as part of the CentrumRing.

We were not happy with the decision because the already unacceptable inconvenience of the continuous stream of traffic as a result of the VCP (with the partial closure of the city centre) will only increase. Cars entering The Hague wanting to reach the Westeinde Hospital for example will have make a detour along Laan Copes.

After failing to stop the VCP, we believe that at least the CentrumRing a should be moved to the Telderstracé as was proposed previously. (The Telderstracé is much wider than the narrower and more densely populated Laan Copes van Cattenburch/Burgemeester Patijnlaan. Moreover, it was also promised at that time that the plans for the new 1+1 profile on Laan Copes would be safeguarded.)

Fortunately the Executive has taken something of what we said on board: an investgation into whether the centrumring can be redirected to the Telderstracé. The results were supposed to be ready at the end of 2007.

We read recently however in the Progress Report VCP that the investigation has been postponed till June 2008. In response to this, we have sent an angry letter to the alderman, asking him whether he thinks that by taking a never say die attitude tomorrow may never come.

Eveline Blitz

Newspaper & website shoulder to shoulder

The editorial teams of the community newspaper and the community website www.archipelbuurt.nl have agreed to strive to work in closer cooperation and to achieve a better inter-relationship on an editorial level. Which means in practice more cross-referencing. On the site for example: “for more information see the latest issue of the newspaper”. And in the newspaper: “for more details visit www.archipelbuurt.nl”.

Not falling on deaf ears

Josien Deknatel of the working party Public Space is enthusiastic about the council Contact Centre where every resident can report anything concerning the public spece: from loose paving stones to a lamppost that doesn’t work. Reports appear to be taken seriously so if you see something that you think needs reporting telephone

070 353 30 00 mail mail contactcentrum@dsb.denhaag.nl.

The New Year’s Reception

Sunday13 January 2008 was a successful gathering, with a period palm-court orchestra to complete the event. It was a joint celebration of the’t Klokhuis Association, the Klokhuis Foundation and the Residents Association Archipel & Willemspark.

It was also an opportunity to officially say goodbye to the Residents Association’s chairman Joop Vos, who was presented with the A&W 2007 Honorary Prize nd beautiful book about historical maps of The Hague. Alderman van Alphen also made a speech and Deputy Mayor Klijnsma provided him with a large umbrella featuring the VCP plan!

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Late for school?

The bridge had to be opened!

The opening of the cycle bridge across the Koninginnegracht, which was realized as the result of a buurtinitiatief, was opened at the crack of dawn on Monday morning 7 January 2008. Back to school after the Christmas holidays but first Alderman Smit and initiative-takers Bert Kreemers and Marin Engelhard, along with others involved from the Residents Association A & W, had to open the bridge.

So young cyclists from the Wolters Institute, the Vrije school, the Montessorischool and the Aloysius College had to wait shivering in the cold. The opening ceremony by the Alderman did not go very smoothly, the speech was short and incomprehensible but the bridge was there and for the swarm of school kids crossing it (with their parents) the shortest and safest route to school. That day those late for school had the perfect excuse: the bridge wasn’t open…

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Lamplighter paves the way

1 February 2008 – Alderman Bert van Alphen unveils the sculpture of the lamplighter by The Hague artist Loek Bos on the square at the entrance to the Schuddegeest and Mallemolen mews. The event marks the 150th anniversary of the 1854 Association, which owns the Schuddegeest mews, and the official opening of the renovated Mallemolen square.

The 1854 Association owns the Schuddegeest mews and presented the city with an artwork to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2004. They wanted the piece to encapsulate the trade of one of the residents to first live there. As well as coachmen, chimney sweeps and saddlemakers these included one or two lamplighters (a story narrating the activities of a certain 'Hans Paalvast' was specially written for the unveiling ceremony).

The installation also marked the completion of the repaving and transformation of the messy entrance tp the hofjes into a pleasant courtyard in which three trees will soon be planted.

QvH

Hotel survives

Hotel Cattenburch on Laan Copes will close its doors at the end of 2007 for building work and a complete refurbishment but will be opening again in the summer of 2008 under the name Hotel Mozaic. In a letter the new owner Corina Waaijer (of the Cheesemonger chain?) explains to her future guests, “A year ago I handed in my notice in order to run a hotel. I want to share my passion with you by offering you a warm welcome, a convivial and relaxed ambiance and light comfortable rooms with all modern conveniences. My goal is that after your stay you leave feeling refreshed and satisfied.”

www.mozaic.nl

Resurfacing Mallemolen

So finally it’s going to happen: resurfacing Mallemolen will start mid-February 2008. The proprietors of the restaurants and bars have been working for years to upgrade the profile of their street.

The operation will take about six weeks and will be finished before 1 April. This is when the "terrace season" begins. Work will start with renewal of the underground drainage system. This will be moved to the centre of the street. Measures will be taken to keep inconvenience to householders and restaurateurs to the minimum. Pavements will disappear so that the whole street is on one level, creating extra space for the “pavement’ terraces and a place to promenade!.

Gransjean

10 years in business on Bankastraat or just beginning: ripe or young cheese, your choice.

Zuivelland

PAGES 6-7

have their say ...

After the festive break the editorial team thought it was in need of a BBB regime (Battle against Binge and Bulge) to get us back into shape. Thus inspired, we decided it was time to give the floor to the trio of streets Borneo, Billiton and Boni.

Borneo is the third largest island (after Greenland and New Guinea) in the world. Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei (after which it is named) all have territory there. Billiton (Belitung in Malay) on the other hand is a very small island, located off the coast of Sumatra, along with the island of Banka.  It is especially well known for its deposits of tin. Finally, Boni was a Bugis kingdom on South Sulawesi (Celebes). Also rather wayward if the Dutch expeditions sent to sort out the rebellious queen there at various times, including 1859, are anything to go by. Wayward too are the cross(wise) streets built around twenty years later, named after Borneo and Boni; just as are many of the crosswise streets which begin with ‘B’ in the Archipel. Just to be contrary, Billitonstraat toes the line and snuggles in neatly, parallel, between Riouwstraat and Madoerastraat.

MO

De Vliegende Fietser*

The Flying Cyclist

As long as locals can remember the corner shop Bonistraat/Celebesstraat has always been a “bike place”. The butcher who started there (the hooks for hanging carcasses van still be seen in the ceiling) has been forgotten, as has the comestibles shop (Stuart shows me a photo) that followed. It’s highly probable that Paul (the bike man) was next as he ran his repair business here for 44 years.

Stuart Bell (English father and Dutch mother) is a real Archipel/Willemsparker – raised but not born – who lives in Malle Molen. He took over from Paul and spent three months renovating the premises and uncovering the original tiling work and ceilings.

A flying start

Stuart opened on 1 january 2006. He’d always wanted to work with his hands and started out in a car business in Scheveningen, made a detour to J&J Carservice in Sumatrastraat before ending up in the bike business.

He repairs bikes, sells new and secondhand bikes and is a dealer for the top quality

RIH bikes. Recently he started selling cargobikes (bakfietsen), which are very popular in the neighbourhood. He first borrowed one from a Celebesstraat neighbour and was immediately “sold” and bought one himself! You can’t get a better recommendation than that.

ED

* name borrowed from the title of a book by Bob den Uyl.

25 years in Billitonstraat

Is living in one street for a quarter of a century a record? Marleen Haye reckons all the residents on her side of the street between Exotenhof (greengrocer) and the Meischke (bric à brac shop corner Billiton-/Bonistraat) are just as loyal.

Long ago practically the whole row of houses was owned by the married couple Dietz, who have in the meantime passed away. “Mr. Dietz, very formal and smart, who greeted you with a tip of his hat”, says Marleen.

What makes the street so special, apart from its residents, is its width. The fact the houses are not particularly tall allows the sun to fully illuminate live in the street. Suchas,the kids kicking a football against a garge door.

Bustle and activity

There are businesss at each corner of the street with the constant bustle of all kinds of people coming and going. And Erik Bauer, the man with the “old timers’ garage, adds to the general activity.

There are also more invisible activities like Marleen Haye herself, who runs her architect practice from the first floor. Not so invisible actually. She played an instrumental role in the make over of Koos and Dirk van Starkenburg’s greengrocers shop Exotenhof.

CR

PAGE 9

De Kleiclub

The Clay Club

Another great spot for kids after school: Terra Cotta, the ceramics workshop on the corner of Bankastraat/Billitonstraat. Mik (8 years old), “without a ‘c’”, is the first to arrive on this Monday afternoon.

He thinks the Clay Club run by Thessy Ries is “really good”. It’s got something to do with sort of clay Thessy uses according to him. He very proudly shows me his beautiful glazed mask and asks me what I think it is. I see an angry face on one side and a laughing one on the other and answer: “ A mood mask”. It goes quiet. That is until Floris (also 8 years old) walks into the studio and starts checking out how his mask has faired in the intervening week. It gets the thumbs up. When Rosalinde and Anne Puck (they are all 8 years old this afternoon) arrive, decorating can begin.

Thessy does the glazing and firing and the artworks can be taken home the week after. And the potter’s wheel? These budding ceramic artists can turn their hand to this too!

Thessy Ries did teacher training for primary school pupils and is qualified in decorative techniques. She has also worked with psychiatric patients in the past and has been at Terra Cotta since 1996.

Under 8 and interested?

Contact Thessy at thessy.ries@hotmail.com or phone 070 354 67 70.

CR

A/W Community Newspaper, February 2008

This text may not be used or reproduced in any publication or
other form of media without prior permission.
Contact linda@archipelbuurt.nl

PAGE 2

Fruit & Veg stall towed away on a trailer

21 Nov 2007 – After having had just set out all his fruit and veg and served two customers, Dave popped across the road to get some small change from the tobacconist.

When he returned there were men waiting for him with papers. In a wink of an eye the complete fruit & veg stall had been loaded onto the back of a trailer. Dave and his customers were left to stare in astonishment at the mess left behind on the pavement.

There's mixed reaction in the neighbourhood about what has happened.

4 Dec 2007 - The fruit & veg stall has returned and it's back to work for Dave! Was it some sort of misunderstanding?

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Introducing…

… new board members of the Archipel & Willemspark Residents Association

Wybe Taekema	Eveline Blitz	Auke Bloembergen
I’ve been a lawyer for more than 40 years: until recently in a large office but now in the kitchen at home. When I bought my first house in The Hague, I already dreamed of the Archipel, but back then it was beyond my means. However in 1984 the dream became reality; first Couperusduin and five years later Laan Copes. I was asked to join the board in spring this year. My wife José said, “Do it. It’ll keep you off the streets (and out from under my feet).” Together with Eveline Blitz and Sander van den Berg of the Laan Copes Lobby Group, I’ve invested a lot of time in the campaign against the VCP, especially the CentrumRing that runs through our neighbourhood. The fact that I am now chairman isn’t my doing. Other board members chose me as the successor to Joop Vos. We owe him a great deal of gratitude for all his work during his nine-year tenure as chairman. I hope in the future the same will be said of me. Anyway we have an enthusiastic board of capable people.	I’ve been a member of the board for just a couple of months. The VCP will be the focus of my attention and the campaigns undertaken for the neighbourhood within this context. In addition I will be the point of contact on the board for the working party  dealing with traffic. I’ve lived with great pleasure on Monchyplein since 2000. Before that, when my children were still at home, I lived in the Belgisch Park district. During my working live I was employed by the Municipal Council of The Hague and various other councils. I have also been an active member of  the Vrienden van Den Haag  society for many years.	I've been a member of the board of the Residents Association since the autumn. My tasks will be the coordination of two working parties (Urban Planning and Public Space) and the recruitment of motivated fellow residents as working party members. After reading this it’s highly likely you’ll be invited to join one of the working parties: unless you’ve already signed up of course! Around ten years ago I was a member of the Public Space working party; then called Wijkleefbaarheid (quality of life in the neighbourhood). The council had a special budget for this at the time and we thought that we’d have a better chance of obtaining funds if we used this name. We were right. Among other things the climbing frame in the playground on Atjehstraat and a number of benches were paid for in this way. More ambitious projects dating from that period were the planting of trees along Riouwstraat (thanks to three fanatical lady residents) and the “skate pit” adjacent to the zandvlakte playground at the edge of the Scheveningen Woods on Ary van der Spuystraat. After a rather prolonged “timeout” being a member of the youth committee of my sons’ football club, last year I decided the next lustrum should again be devoted to the neighbourhhood!.

Community in a state of flux

Investigation into air quality on Laan Copes van Cattenburch

The results of readings taken of the level of carbon dioxide (NO2) emissions in the street has led the Hague Municipal Council to the decision to carry out an investigation into the air quality on Laan Copes van Cattenburch. In the first four months of 2007 records indicated noticeably high pollution readings of carbon dioxide. The Council wants to establish one way or the other whether pollution on Laan Copes van Cattenburch has actually increased or whether perhaps something went wrong: that the readings are inaccurate for example.

Air quality levels
The Council sets standards for acceptable levels of air quality based on assessments of the detrimental effects of various pollutants. In addition, the air in The Hague is regularly monitored. In most cases pollution levels fall below the officially acceptable levels. However in the first quarter of 2007 the reverse was the case on Laan Copes van Cattenburch: the readings were higher than the calculated levels. A remarkable situation and one that the Council wants to get to the bottom of.

Investigation
The council investigation consists of three phases:
1. Monitoring the amount of traffic using the street;
2. Installation of extra measuring devises by two independent consultancy firms;
3. Analysis of the measuring devices by two different laboratories.
The results are expected to be made known in February 2008. Residents of Laan Copes van Cattenburch have already been informed in writing about the investigation and will be able to ask any questions they may have during an information evening to be organised.

Schuddegeest gets a sculpture

The messy entrance area to the hofjes Schuddegeest and Mallemolen was recently repaved and transformed into a pleasant courtyard in which three trees will soon be planted. To complete the metamorphosis a sculpture by The Hague artist Loek Bos is also to be installed.

The 1854 Association owns the Schuddegeest mews and presented the city with an artwork to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2004. They wanted the piece to encapsulate the trade of one of the residents to first live there. As well as coachmen, chimney sweeps and saddlemakers these included one or two lamplighters. In order to give an impression of what the sculpture will look like Loek Bos has made a photomontage.

QvH

PAGES 6-7

OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES

It must be a foreigner…

“Many expats in The Hague” was the headline in the Algemeen Dagblad on 22nd October. “In the coming years the threat of a greater split The Hague. The difference between the poor and the rich will rise dramatically.”
The arrival of international organisations to The Hague will lead to yet a greater flow of wealthy Western immigrants. The Hague will develop into a mini London. This is the forecast from experts at the Central Office for Statistics (CBS), Jan Latten and Han Nicolaas. Latten expects that through the influx of employees of international organisations the houses in the more expensive districts of the city become unaffordable for the Hagenaars on a middle income. According to PvdA councillor Norder (responsible for housing) it won’t get that far in The Hague.

Who are the expats really?
The editorial staff visited a number of them to ask them their stories. They work in embassies or delegations (of which you can find 27 alone in the Archipel, from Azerbaijan to Vietnam, from the Palestine Delegation to Qatar). They work at Shell or the International Court of Justice, or other international organisations in which The Hague takes pride. Or they work 6 days a week in the building trade as ubiquitous Polish plumbers.
They are ordinary people who value a good rapport with their neighbours.
Some are here for a short time and don’t bother with learning the language or getting to know their neighbours. But many do their best to learn Dutch and, by doing voluntary work for example, they can make a contribution to the social network in the neighbourhood. As Amanda Dunn in “The Local Expat” explains, it goes in phases: at first you’re pleased that you can do everything in English; then with your first sentence in Dutch it continues to be difficult as everyone replies in English; but finally this stops as you become reasonably fluent.
There are many facilities for expats: their own newspaper, a monthly expat evening and many special community services. However many want more and want to break out of this this exclusive circle. We as “native” locals can perhaps make this easier by making the first move.

MO

Feel at home and being made to feel at home

When we, as a native Dutch couple, moved into our home twenty years ago, one of the first things we did was hold our wedding reception there. It was very lively, full of friends and family but our contacts in the street were still very limited. During the week we were both out working. Whilst clearing up after the reception, we found potted plants, bouquets of flowers, cards and bottles of wine with congratulations from neighbours we didn’t even know. So welcoming, it made a big impression. We visited all those gave presents to say hello and thank you. That really was the start for us in the neighbourhood.

CR

Germany
Lide van der Vegt makes a “terrace” by setting out tables and chairs in the two parking bays in front of her house. She cooks pancakes for whoever wants them. Lutz from Berlin and Katrin from Kier arrive with their sons, Tilman and Philipp.

Tilman, Philipp, Katrin and Lutz Muller-Kirschen

They are new in the area. Lutz speaks good Dutch because he came to study in Groningen for one year from Berlin. If he could get a job at the European Patent Office in Rijswijk he’d take it. I n fact the whole family speaks really good Dutch and feel at home in the neighbourhood; although the idea of returning home is always there…

CR

France

In the Lorraine region we also celebrate Sinterklaas, says Mireille Barreau, from eastern France. She has lived in The Hague for three years: first in the Statenkwartier, and eighteen months ago she moved to Nassauplein.

Friends’ initial reactions were: Why La Haye, it’s so boring. Go to Amsterdam. After just one visit these same friends were completely won over: wonderful area and everything within such easy reach! Madame Barreau – slim, elegant, the archetypal French woman – runs a sophrology practice from her home. She helps her clients/patients achieve a harmony between body and mind. You don’t have to be fluent in French or English to enjoy the benefits.

HB

Mr. Leonid Skotnikov - Russia
I’m from Moscow, Russia, and have been here since February 2006 in my capacity as a member of the International Court of Justice.
I have been appointed for a 9-year term. I feel accepted in the neighbourhood.

AK

Solrun Vidarsdottir - Iceland

Why the Netherlands?

In Iceland you can only train to be a general doctor. If you want to specialize you have to go abroad. In 1997 my husband Stefan got a job as financial manager of an Icelandic transport concern in Rotterdam and I was able to embark upon a training as internist/endocrinologist (hormones) at the Medisch Centrum Rijnmond-Zuid, (later the Leids University Medical Centre - LUMC). I graduated in 2003 and since 2007 have been an internist/endocrinologist at Antoniushove in Leidschendam.

Do you feel at home and accepted in the neighbourhood?

Yes, we feel at home here. It’s the nicest neighbourhood we’ve lived in up till now. Because so many people from other countries live here it is quite normal to be a “foreigner”.

Could anything be improved?

Solrun and Stefan think not. Their two sons (one studies in Leiden and the other will be doing his final exams at school this year) feel completely integrated.

ED

Wanted: Passionate expat mother and Father Christmas
The South African, Soul Robertson, targets English speaking expat parents with children. Last year she organized numerous workshops. When I rang her to ask what activities she has on her programme for next year, I found out she was looking for a successor. She is just about certain she is moving with her family in 2008 to Bermuda.
Therefore anyone interested in taking on the coordination and website of www.passionateparenting.nl should contact Soul Robertson tel. 06-41857773. She is also looking for a successor for her 350 Xmas Boxes project in 2008 for South African orphans.

CR

Dutch Lessons
Josien Deknatel in Balistraat, herself an ex expatriate wife, gives Dutch lessons to au pairs, expat families and anyone else who wants the challenge of expressing themselves in Dutch. She has developed her own teaching methods. Visit www.kickstartschool.nl

America

He waxes lyrical about the Netherlands, The Hague and the Archipel, surpassing all the usual obligatory polite phrases. Rob L. Jacoby (53) is American, an engineer at Shell, who in his own words has been privileged to work at head office for the last three/four years. His main task is “keeping the technical people safe”. Together with his wife Carol, he lives – among his furniture flown in Houston – in one of the most agreeable houses in Riouwstraat. Back home it takes him two and a half hours to get to his office by car. Here on his dead-ordinary bike (bought specially for the purpose) he cycles to work in ten minutes. “ And the people. We’d hardly moved in and the neighbours were organizing a welcoming party.”

HB

Linda Nash - UK

Where do you come from?

From London, England.

Why are you here?

My husband and I are both originally graphic designers.  A Dutch friend suggested we set up as editorial designers in the Netherlands and we liked the idea.  In 1978, after showing our work to all sorts of potential clients, we decided to take the plunge.

Do you feel at home and accepted in the community?

Yes, I feel very much at home.  We are friends with the neighbours and have made many friends primarily with similar interests to ourselves. However when we first arrived here we were not really made to feel more at home in any structured way.

How could this be improved?

The Residents Association could be more proactive and organize something for everyone.

I am a volunteer with the English language website www.archipelbuurt.nl

ED

Mr. Kiri Kikis - Cyprus
I was born in the Greek part of Cyprus but grew up and received my university education in the United Kingdom. I work for Shell Recruitment and came to Holland 6 years ago. One year ago I met my Dutch girlfriend. It is great living here and I have an international network of friends. (The Hague is so international!) Where I live is great (close to the centre) and I really like the Dutch culture. I would love to BBQ on the terrace.

AK

Denmark
Malene, Klaus and little Julius (18 months) are from Denmark and have lived for almost a year in Sumatrastraat. Before that, they lived and worked in Shanghai, China. It was Klaus’s work that brought them to the Netherlands. He works for A.P.M. Terminals, part of a large Danish Conglomerate of companies. The Head Office of the terminal and harbour section is located in The Hague. He has a management function in the company.
Malene is busy completing her architectural studies and the final phase requires one to two weeks in Denmark which means a Philippino au pair for Julius. Malene hopes to find work after graduating.
They like the neighbourhood. It’s clean with a lot of greenery in the immediate vicinity and the people are friendly.
What they miss is that apart from some shops in the area there is little to do, no market, theatre or gallery. Everything can be found in the city centre but it would be nice if there was more in the neighbourhood.

ES

Scotland and Australia

The Scottish lawyer Tracey Greenaway (Lanark) didn’t think twice before accepting the job offer from Shell in The Hague and packing her things in London.  Her Australian husband Jon (Sydney) found work in Brussels with a company in Business Intelligence.  So they’re pursuing their European dream in (according to them) child-friendly Holland. When Edward (Cookiemonster group, Child Centre Willem) and Isaac were born they were glad to be living in the child-friendly and pleasantt Malakkastraat with nice neighbours around them.  And I’m lucky enough to be one of them.  Recently a fine arrived on my doormat for jumping a red light.  It appeared that it was Tracey when she’d borrowed my car.  John beamed.  I didn’t understand why until he confided in me: “This time it wasn’t me!”

CR

PAGE 12

Computer lessons

IF YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO:

write and receive e-mails

attach photos and files to your e-mails

open attachments

download your pictures and edit them

chat with your family and friends abroad via Skype

surf the net

book tickets using your computer...

THEN GRAB YOUR CHANCE NOW!!!!!

Starting 14 January 2008:

Monday 09.30 - 11.30 computer lesson conducted in English

Tuesday 16.00 - 18.00 computer lesson for children from 8 years old and over

Tuesday 19.00 - 21.00 computer lesson for beginners

Thursday 09.30 - 12.00 computer lesson for beginners

Friday 14.00 - 16.00 computer lesson for those with some experience

The courses comprise about 8 lessons and cost €25 per person (exclusive course book which is optional).

The courses for more experienced students will among other things cover Word, Excel and Power Point.

A detailed description of each course is available at 't Klokhuis.

For more information and registration call 't Klokhuis administration between 09.00 and 13.00 on 070 350 35 11.

A/W Community Newspaper, December 2007

Translation Sue de Wit (pages 6-7)
This text may not be used or reproduced in any publication or
other form of media without prior permission.
Contact linda@archipelbuurt.nl

2 November -
A surprise for the over sixty-fives organized by the
Archipel/Willemspark
Residents Association

The MADD days - whereby volunteers make a day something special for someone else: Make A Difference Day - will be celebrated in The Hague on Friday 2 an Saturday 3 November.

This year the Residents Association wanted to focus on the many over sixty-fives in the neighbourhood who for one reason or another can’t easily enjoy a day out.

Any grandparents or mature relatives living with or visiting any of our international residents are most welcome to join in too. Do make sure you fill in the coupon on the front page of the community newspaper or send an e-mail before 31 October (see additional information at the end of this article).

A choice of two programmes on Friday:
Programme 1 – A bus tour of The Hague/new residential areas and the Westland as well as Xotus near Delft. Xotus is a large tropical garden centre with a restaurant serving Indonesian snacks. Not only a chance to have a look around but also to make a few purchases with coffee and something tasty thrown in.

Bus leaves Het Schakelpunt care centre (Burg. Patijnlaan 1900) at 09.45 and returns at around 13.00. There is also the possibility for those who live some distance from the care centre to be collected from/returned to their homes. This programme is suitable for those who can get around without a rollator and can get in/out of the bus independently or with the minimum of help.

Programme 2 – A lavish high-tea with musical accompaniment provided by Harold Veenstra from 14.00 until 17.00 in the beautifully renovated Klokhuis community centre (Celebesstraat 4). This programme is suitable for the less mobile and poorly sighted of our older residents who would like to enjoy an afternoon out not too far from home. The wijkbus, equipped with a lift, will be available to collect those who live a bit further away.

Places for a maximum of 50 participants.

Register before Wednesday 31 October:
* by E-mail secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl stating your name, address and telephone number; which programme; whether you want to be collected by the community bus.
* by filling in the coupon on the front page of the community newspaper and putting it in the letterbox of 't Klokhuis Community Centre in an envelope addressed to Bewonersorganisatie, Celebestraat 4.

If after registration you are unable to attend please ring 070 350 37 38. If you cannot attend either event the community centre is holding an open day on Sunday 3 November, 10.00 - 16.00. The programme for the day will be on display in the vitrine on the wall outside the community centre centre.

PAGE 3

Community in a state of flux

Cycle bridge underway

Recently residents living in the streets in the immediate vicinity of Koninginnegracht received the following letter from the council:

Construction of cycle bridge Koninginnegracht-Raamweg
opposite Riouwstraat

Dear Sir/Madam,
Various people in your neighbourhood have made a case for a cycle bridge linking Koninginnegracht with Raamweg, the so-called Riouwbrug. Work will begin shortly on the construction of this bridge.

Construction Operations/Activities
As well as the building of the new bridge itself, the tram stops in both directions at the end of Riouwstraat will be relocated and extended. The existing cycle/pedestrian bridge across to Raamweg will also be renovated.

Work in phases
Construction will start 24 September and be carried out in phases between September 2007 and mid-2008 to preserve the safety of road users and the construction crews. Depending on weather conditions, the bridge is expected to be in use by the new year.

Inconvenience and safety
I realize the work will cause some inconvenience but we will endeavour to keep this to a minimum, although sometimes this will be virtually impossible. In order to limit inconvenience and preserve safety various measures will be necessary. This means that work sites will be cordoned off from passing traffic and parking places adjacent to them will be taken out of service. With the aid if signs, fences and other means required traffic will be guided around the sites of operation. Homes and businesses will remain accessible throughout. The operation sites are full of dangers for children wanting to play. Please warn children about these dangers. Finally we kindly request your cooperation during the construction of the bridge and to park your cars elsewhere as the need arises.

Additional information
If you should have questions/comments during the construction operation you can contact the Director of Operations Mr. Jansen at 070-353 68 37. If you have any complaints about construction work you can also telephone the council’s Contact Centrum: 070-353 30 00.

A. Langhorst
City Administration Manger - Haagse Hout district

Matla leaves Bankastraat after 23 years

The Matla family (Narda and Ton to the regular customers) are leaving their butchers business after 23 years. They are going to enjoy a well-earned rest. In 1984 they took over from Hoogenboezem after18 years at a butchers in Rijswijk. The shop received a radical facelift in 1994 providing us with a shop ideally suited to Bankastraat and its clientele. A sandwich counter followed where the undersigned regularly purchases his broodje kroket. Colleagues from all over the Netherlands came to visit because the Matla’s were true trendsetters in the butchers trade.

Ton: “We’ve had a wonderful time in the Archipel, with a very mixed clientele. Now we intend to travel a lot and in particular enjoy our house in Marbella. Our right-hand man who has worked for us for the past 18 years, Eric Blankestein, has taken over the business and will continue to use our name. I hope you will trust him just as much as you have trusted us. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our customers for their custom and conviviality. We’ll miss you all.”

Bert Huisman

Hotel survives

Hotel Cattenburch on Laan Copes will close its doors at the end of this year for building work and a complete refurbishment but will be opening again in the summer of 2008 under the name Hotel Mozaic. In a letter the new owner Corina Waaijer (of the Cheesemonger chain?) explains to her future guests, “A year ago I handed in my notice in order to run a hotel. I want to share my passion with you by offering you a warm welcome, a convivial and relaxed ambiance and light comfortable rooms with all modern conveniences. My goal is that after your stay you leave feeling refreshed and satisfied.”

It is certainly good news that the hotel will not disappear from our neighbourhood but a shame that the name ‘Cattenburg’ will. I wonder why?

To leave Zeestraat?

The Museum for Communicatie is not going anywhere, well not at least for the next five years. Recently the newspaper De Posthoorn reported that the former Postal Museum had plans to move. Fanny Evers from Public relations informed us via the telephone that that there had been talks with the council about relocating to a large development on Anna van Burenplein behind Central Station, but that as yet no concrete decisions had yet been taken. For the time being the museum will remain where it has been housed since 1946: in Zeestraat.

A pat on the back for Stadsbeheer

The Thais embassy has incurred the wrath of local residents by illegally dismantling an old garden wall in preparation for the felling of a massive horse-chestnut tree, a hawthorn, a linden and a whitebeam. But don’t embassies have to abide by the rules asked the neighbours. Don’t they have to apply for a permit first like the rest of us? Things were getting rather tense. But luckily Mr. Gerrit van der Hut from Stadsbeheer and Mrs. Hennie van Staden were able to nip hostilities in the bud. Like true mediators they were able to straighten everything out in a situation where the one party dreamed of a couple of precious parking spaces and the other prepared to chain themselves to the trees that would have to go to realize this, for them, nightmare scenario.

Mr. van der Hut reviewed the situation from an arboreal point of view and brought in Mrs. van Staden who arranged the necessary felling order. After their intervention, the parties were able to come up for air and draw breath (plenty of which is needed currently for the extended debates that are the order of the day on Laan Copes!). It has now been agreed that the large horse-chestnut will be pollarded, the linden and whitebeam pruned and only the hawthorn will be felled; although a sturdy replacement will be planted in its place. Finally Monumentzorg will restore the garden wall to its former glory although without the original bricks as they were disposed of long ago. The Thai Embassy won’t win best in show but Stadsbeheer deserves a pat on the back.

CR

Feast of Saint Martin for young and old

Lantern making
Again this year, volunteers will be at the ready in Clubhuis Cantaloup (entrance via archway next to Cantaloupenburg 26) between 14:30 and 16:30 on Sunday 11 November to help the children to make lanterns in preparation for the Feast of Saint Martin procession. Materials (bring along your own too) and refreshments will be available and extra help and parents will be very welcome!

Procession by lantern light!
It’s almost 11 November again and time for the procession of children to make their way through Archipel and Willemspark on this special Sunday, knocking on doors of houses where candles burn in the window. The children will sing Saint Martin carols and residents will reward them with fruit and candy.

Young and old share in Saint Martin
Later on the same evening, the youngsters will be welcome in the Zorg op Maatcentrum Het Schakelpunt (Care Centre) at Burg.Patijnlaan 1900, where their more mature fellow residents will be waiting for them (and their parents of course) in the festively lit reception room with fruit and other tasty treats between 17:00 and 18:30.

‘Archipellers’ and ‘Willemsparkers’
Residents who would like to hear the carols should place a candle (tie back the cutains and raise the blinds first!) in their window between 17.00-19.00. Make sure there’s plenty of candy to hand!

PAGES 6-7

Schelpkade has it's say

On the one side, backing onto Nassaulaan, the original garden walls behind which, luckily, the many parked cars are hidden. On the other, residential houses interspersed with garage doors. A street with greenery and not too much traffic. The reason why some of the houses could certainly fetch up to €1000,000. In earlier times, at least till 1903 that is, the houses actually stood on a kade (quay) alongside water. Not a canal to be sure, more a ditch. The Schelpsloot (shell ditch) was - via Nassaukade (later -plein), Bankastraat and Delistraat - connected with Koninginnegracht and thus with Scheveningen, from whence the shells came. Where previously children walked to the Schelpkade primary and infants schools, now parents escort their children to the “Willem” child-care centre. The school buildings have a slightly different function these days.

Let’s not forget Schelpstraat: a short street at right angles to the quay with its stunning Lammersstichting hofje. Twenty authentic enclosed almshouses established in 1875 and mentioned in a book written by our own local historian Bob Feenstra. The almshouses were originally meant for the use of unfortunate but decent middle-class spinsters or widows. Their conduct had to be irreproachable at all times, and half had to be of the Protestant faith and half Roman Catholics.

MO

If it's anything, it's the Couperus house!

It's certainly something when an Amsterdam professor of economy, Arnold Heertje, goes to such lengths to preserve the house which was the residence of Louis Couperus from 1884 to 1891 and where he wrote his first novel ‘Eline Vere’. A house that is on sale for the first time since 1927. For just a meer €3000,000, yes that’s the asking price, excluding the cost of necessary renovation work estimated at €1000,000! Still 20 Surinamestraat is a dream of a property in the loveliest street in the Archipelbuurt. And Couperus is a writer who enjoys a special place in literature far beyond The Hague. A writer who has recently been set in a rather different light by the debuting novelist Sophie Zijlstra in her book about Mrs. Couperus (- Baud).

The aim of the Comité Louis Couperus Huis Surinamestraat recently established by Arnold Heertje, is to preserve the property in its original state and ensuring that at least the ground floor can be used to house the Louis Couperus Museum, currently residing free-of-charge at Javastraat 17 owned by Caroline de Westenholz. Facilities for literary and cultural activities must also be part of the package.

Actiecomité
The Action Committee formed a while ago will shortly become a foundation and sponsors have been found to cover running costs and a number of offers of donations have been received. An investigation must be carried out into whether the whole property with the option to sublet the upper floors can be purchased or whether to limit it to just the groundfloor. Furthermore, solutions must be found for the financing of such plans and any restrictions regarding the use of a listed building. Contact will be made with the business sector and the municipal council respectively on these points.

It has already been agreed with the present owner of the property – the state of Egypt, whose Ambassador to the Netherlands resided there up until last year, that any offers from the private sector will be dealt with in a suitably prudent manner. Let’s be honest, what better function could the property have than to honour the cultural legacy of such an illustrious Hagenaar? However there must be sufficient funds available so a bank account will be opened in the very near future!

AK

Additional information at www.louiscouperus.nl where you can also register your support and enjoy a guided tour of the interior of no.20 with Prof. Heertje (click on petition banner on the homepage).

What the kids are up to...

Music lessons for children in the neighbourhood – they’re available, but how do you track them down?

It would be really helpful if all the music teachers in the neighbourhood would send their details to the Local Directory on our very own website www.archipelbuurt.nl stating their telephone number, address, instrument(s) and whether they teach children or adults. It’s very simple, just send an e-mail to website@archipelbuurt.nl.

Whoever currently visits the website will see that Stieneke Voorhoeve teaches violin to children according to the Suzuki method. But she is the only entry under Music lessons! But not for long. The addresses below will soon be available online.

Please register too.

Music lessons for children:

Djembé (a type of West-African drum)
Theo Holstein, course of 4 lessons, Clubhuis De Cantaloup,
get in touch via Willem child-care centre, tel. 363 71 58

Flute, recorder, piano
Angela Duncan, Celebesstraat 37, 350 49 50

Guitar (classical)
Okker Toetenel, Soendastraat 27/A, tel. 350 32 66

Piano (classical)
Stelly Oppenheimer, Laan Copes van Cattenburgh 111, tel. 360 83 77

Piano (classical and pop)
Sara Jeggi, Malakkastraat, tel. 06 – 14892721

(Bass) guitar
Venturin Fernando, Celebesstraat 38, tel. 06 – 14 422 271,
fvrdeoliveira@hotmail.com

Violin, Suzuki method
Stieneke Voorhoeve, Riouwstraat 23,
vioolles@xs4all.nl

Singing
Koor Academie Nederland (Netherlands Choir Academy), Oostduinlaan 50,

tel. 324 97 78,
www.kinderkooracademie.nl

Tip 1: The music shop Albersen, Groot Hertoginnelaan
182, will print out al list of music teachers in your neighbourhood if you give them the instrument and your postal code.

Tip 2: Order pop (sheet) music via internet: www.megapop.nl

Tip 3: Ready to Play is an organization that coaches bands in The Hague. They set up bands and supervise around 30 youth bands. See www.r2p.nl

 

Brothers Felix (drums), Thijs (bass guitar) and Lodewijk (guitar)
Res have formed the band ‘Als Je Van Res Band’.
They play ‘covers’ and participate in the activities organized by
Ready to Play, see tip 3. For boekings phone 06 – 50 48 69 80.

PAGE 11

Singing in an extraordinary church

On Friday evening 30 November esGROOT, the chamber choir with roots in the Archipel, will be performing in the Oud-Katholieke kerk (old Catholic church) in Juffrouw Idastraat. A beautiful church from the 18th century when Catholics were once again allowed to build churches; as long as it wasn’t obvious from the outside that they were churches, that is.

Typical of esGROOT, the programme is once again a wonderful mix of South American, Israeli and light classical music. Watch out for the posters that will soon be appearing in the windows in the neighbourhood near you.

MO

A/W Community Newspaper, October 2007

Translation LFN
This text may not be used or reproduced in any publication or
other form of media without prior permission.
Contact linda@archipelbuurt.nl

The Community Newspaper International Readers' Service June 2007

PAGE 1

An attractive neighbourhood
comes at a price

For years the two parts of the Archipelbuurt – Archipel and Willemspark – have been areas where people wanted to live. So for the last 30 years or so, the houses here certainly don't come cheap, apart from the fact that old properties always need a lot of maintenance. It’s not only the houses that make the neighbourhood desirable. It’s location close to the city centre and the beach, surrounded by greenery, the relaxed intimate atmosphere: all make it a very attractive spot. This, for new owners does come free but other attractions take a lot of hard work. Consider the traffic problem for example.

Investing in your neighbourhood does deliver dividends
Wouldn’t it be nice if those irritating problems in the street were sorted out, if we had more trees in the street, if we organized a nice (street)party: you won’t get anywhere daydreaming. But if you tackle these things with others you can achieve something and get to know your neighbours in the process. A win-win situation. The final plan will often be a compromise: everyone has different priorities or ideas. One’s personal interests must be weighed up against what is best for the general good. It is this general good which primarily concerns the Residents Association in Archipel/Willemspark.

Residents Association Archipel/Willemspark
The Residents Association Archipel/Willemspark is involved with the social well-being and quality of life in this neighbourhood as well as in the areas immediately bordering our community (the Scheveningse Bosjes for example). The A/W Residents Association is considered to be an official interlocutor by the municipal council and as such receives a grant to carry out its activities; provided it meets certain obligations such as submitting a plausible annual strategy plan and providing proper narrative and financial reports. Five times a year it publishes the community newspaper “Archipel & Willemspark” and maintains the local website www.archipelbuurt.nl, which also has an English language section.

Who does what?
There is a five-member executive board that takes care of day-to-day business. Together with the various working parties of the Association, the board holds a community council meeting five times a year. These meetings provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and views about the different activities and the development of new initiatives with representatives of tenants associations, residents committees, the local police service, the community centre ’t Klokhuis, the Vredeskapel, help the aged and other lobby groups. Interested individuals are also welcome to attend.

The meeting dates for 2007 are Thursday 18/1, 15/3, 24/5, 20/9 and 15/11. They start at 20.00 p.m, and are held in ’t Klokhuis, Celebesstraat 4.

Special working parties
A number of working parties are run by committed local residents who want to focus on particular subjects which they feel are of interest to the neighbourhood. If you would like to participate but are still not sure where your interests lie, you are most welcome to participate as an interested neighbour! These working parties provide feedback to the community council meetings. Some of the working parties are listed below with their respective contact person:

- working party Public Space (Mrs. D. de Buck, dorien@archipelbuurt.nl) - working party Traffic (Mr. A. Hencke, aleksander@archipelbuurt.nl)
- working party Town Planning (Mrs. V. Mendes de Leon, victoria@archipelbuurt.nl)
- community newspaper Archipel/Willemspark (Mrs. E. Drijver, eva@archipelbuurt.nl)
- website www.archipelbuurt.nl (Mrs. A. Beekman, ank@archipelbuurt.nl)

If you are interested in a particular working parties you can email the contact people listed above or check out the others here.

Executive board Residents Association A/W
- chairman: Mr. J. Vos, joop@archipelbuurt.nl
- secretary: Mrs. A. Beekman-Otte, ank@archipelbuurt.nl
- treasurer: Mr. R. Klein, ruud@archipelbuurt.nl
- vice chairman: Mr. G. Hooft Graafland, graafland@archipelbuurt.nl
- board member: Mrs. E. Blitz, eveline@archipelbuurt.nl

If you have any questions please contact: Secretariat and administrative support: Mrs. E. Ponsen-Breugem, secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl

The VCP continued
The traffic circulation plan for the city centre (VCP):

decision by the municipal council 14 June

In mid-2006 the first VCP was decided by the Executive Council.

Participation of the city’s residents was excluded.

A number of organisations, including our own residents association, made sure that this year involvement on the part of citizens was possible. At the end of March 2007 around 50 citizens, including several from our neighbourhood, were invited by the Executive Council to propose alternative plans. This led to three alternatives which were discussed at various meetings in May under the supervision of the new alderman for traffic Peter Smit: first with the selected citizens, and the day after at three locations in the city with other interested parties. There were significant numbers of residents from Laan Copes van Cattenburch present at the venue in the Museon.

On 15 May the Executive decided on a version of the VCP that departed somewhat from earlier alternatives. See illustration. The most important aspects of the plan are as follows: one-way traffic on Piet Heinstraat and Noordwal, closure of Spui at Grote Marktstraat, closure of Stille Veerkade and Groenewegje.

Traffic on the CentrumRing (of which Laan Copes van Cattenburch and de Burg. Patijnlaan is part) is likely to increase until the Hubertustunnel opens.

A/W Community Newspaper, June 2007

Translation LFN
This text may not be used or reproduced in any publication or
other form of media without prior permission.
Contact linda@archipelbuurt.nl

The Community Newspaper International Readers' Service February 2007

PAGE 1

Anniversary celebrations
a great success!

The thirty-fifth anniversary of the Residents Association Archipel/Willemspark, which has served the interests of community for so long, was celebrated is several different ways! Some of them would have gone unnoticed by you as a resident. a list of ideas were reviewed by the board. A jubilee committee was formed to coordinate all these ideas. One idea was a lunch for the 70 or so volunteers who have worked/are still working in the neighbourhood over those thirty-five years: this took place on 16 December 2006 in Hotel Ambassador. Another idea was to do something involving the many artists in our neighbourhood. Karen Kommer, Els van der Kleij and Michiel van der Mast worked the plan out and visited around 60 artists in the district, asking them to participate in an exhibition and a tour d’art with MIJN BUUR IS EEN KUNSTENAAR (my neighbour is an artist) as the theme. Everyone was enthusiastic! After weeks of intensive preparation (and you can be sure that this involved a lot of hard work!) Saturday 16 December had arrived: the official opening of the exhibition in Galerie Frederik on Frederikstraat. Read more on page 5.

Better to turn back half way than get completely lost

In the community newspaper in October 2006 we told you about the Verkeersplan Centrumgebied –VCP (Traffic Circulation Plan) and the Comité VCP-Nee set up to fight this plan.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. Ours is the only organisation, represented by Mr Rupert van Heijningen, that has stated that it will hold the city council liable for the consequences of the VCP.

Discrimination
Since the beginning of 2006 we have pointed out to the alderman responsible for traffic that readings to establish levels of pollution have only been taken to the east of Javastraat; simply ignoring the consequences for half the residents of the city. During a visit to the neighbourhood in mid-2006, the alderman promised that readings would also be carried out in our district to the west of Javastraat. Unfortunately this particular alderman is famous for his empty promises.

The first good sign came on 10 January 2007, when the council committee for Traffic, Environment and Social Climate (VML) held a public hearing about the VCP. More than 40 people voiced their opinions supported by professional advice, highlighting the shortcomings of the VCP. Later, via the media, the alderman for traffic stated that the hearing had been a waste of time because nothing in the VCP could be changed. We are now waiting for the report from this meeting. (Because of the evident concern, the VML committee decided to grant a continuation of the hearing on 30 January 2007 for further discussions between the committee members and participants.)

On 23 January a gathering was organised by the Yonri Themagroep Stedelijke Vernieuwing for politically motivated young people in the Café De Haagsche Kluis. The subject at the top of the agenda was the VCP and the alderman for traffic was present to defend it. But all he did was repeat that the plan would be implemented without any changes. A vote after the discussion resulted in 5 for and 50 against!

An alternative
At the end of the evening the news was leaked that an alternative secret plan had been drawn up by the coalition parties because of lack of public support in the city for the VCP.

Elsewhere in this issue you can read about an alternative to the VCP by Mr. Eduard Bakker which is supported by the Comité VCP-Nee. The new proposal from the parties VVD, GroenLinks and PvdA is almost identical to Bakker’s. It is clear that the paternalistic approach by the coalition parties is not appreciated and that the citizens of The Hague could still have their say, if they persevere!

Our thanks go to all the co-supporters in the Comité VCP-Nee for their tireless efforts to get the politicians back on the right track.

Joop Vos
Chairman A/W Residents Association

Community in a state of flux

QUALITY OF LIFE is something that Jan Schinkelshoek discusses elsewhere in this issue: the sense of fellowship in our neighbourhood is not as strong as it might be. Initiatives to change this state of affairs are to be applauded. Applaus then for residents of Monchyplein, Malakkastraat and Celebesstraat – they organized successful (New Year’s) get-togethers. And nothing less than a standing ovation goes to the jubilee event ‘Mijn buur is een kunstenaar’. The opening on 16 December really was extremely convivial! Interesting encounters, art to take your hat off to, in short: next year again, please. Meanwhile, anyone with an idea for improving the sense of fellowship in Archipel & Willemspark even further, get in touch with the A/W Residents Association.

Gardens sought in the Archipelbuurt!

On 9 and 10 June 2007 it is the open gardens weekend Struinen in Haagse Tuinen (Rooting about in Hague gardens) again. Garden enthusiasts can get to take a peek in a selection of city gardens - large and small. Due to the enthusiasm of visitors and garden owners alike, this weekend, first organized in 2004, has always been an extremely popular and inspiring event.

We've had lots of registrations but we would like one or two more from the Archipelbuurt for this very special 'garden route' where we know there are certainly plenty of lovely and interesting gardens!

Gardens will be open from 11:00 - 17:00 during the weekend. The whole event takes place on a purely voluntary basis so any expensive made by participants cannot be refunded. A total of 700 tickets will be available which means in theory each garden will have 700 visitors. Don't worry, past experience shows that the enthusiasts make their own selection from the gardens on the route and certainly don't visit every single one.

Do you have an interesting garden that you would like to throw open, then contact Yvonne Oudshoorn: 070 - 360 57 35 or visit the website:
www.struineninhaagsetuinen.nl

ErePrijs 2006 to Hans Groenendijk

Chairman Vos had wanted, on behalf of the board of the Archipel/Willemspark Residents Association, to present the 2006 honours during the New Year’s reception held on 18 January 2007. This is a prize awarded annually to a local volunteer who has given exceptional service to the community. Unfortunately Hans Groenendijk was unable to attend the reception.

The prize-giving coincided with his stepping down from his position as board member 31-12-2006. For twelve-and-a-half years Hans has dedicated himself to preserving the integrity of the neighbourhood. His specialism was urban planning: preventing the flyover slip roads at Madurodam from disappearing; ensuring that the level of ground water was maintained during the construction of the De Monchyplein building project; overturning planning permission for a large-scale restaurant on Bankastraat are just some of his impressive achievements. Tirelessly, Hans attended the numerous meetings of the community council and many more convened by various municipal council committees, always making himself heard for our benefit. With the award of the ErePrijs 2006, the board acknowledges its gratitude to Hans Groenendijk a committed colleague. The accompanying applause endorsed this appreciation.

The sorrows of Sumatrastraat: new building more colossal than was ever imagined

If the project developer and architect get their way the new building at the Koninginnegracht end of Sumatrastraat will be significantly taller than was presented to the residents eight years previously. The steel skeleton of number 243 rected in June 2006 is 60 cm higher than originally suggested.Once again, the residents in Sumatrastraat are up in arms.

There has been bitter opposition from the street residents right from the moment the plans were submitted because the design is totally out of character with the rest of the Archipelbuurt. And the fact that the architect Rainer Bullhorst managed to get this far, in spite of all the protests, still remains a mystery.

The point is that the girder skeleton appears to be 60 cm higher that indicated in the original drawings (see arrow on photo above). This means that the structure projects above the adjacent property by 210 cm instead of 1.50 cm (photo Frank van Rossum).

In the autumn of 1999 a number of residents, represented by Maarten Rouppe van der Voort, explained their objections to the proposed building plans during a public council meeting chaired by councillor H.J. Meijer. Unfortunately, the heated discussions which followed were to no avail. The existing original 19th-century property was demolished and the council granted planning permission to Mr. De Zoete, the developer, and R. Bullhorst, the architect. For all those present at the meeting, including the chairman, the whole building inspectorate, council members and members of the public, it was the architectural drawings and the model produced by the architect which formed the starting point on which the ensuing debate and subsequent decisions were based.

In November 2006 the chairman of the traffic, inner city and monuments executive, Mr. M. Norder, visited Sumatrastraat to take stock of the situation. He too found that the new building was completely out of keeping.

At the end of January 2007 it was shown that the structural skeleton had not been built according to the original drawings or model.

Measurements were taken and the new construction is indeed 60 cm higher than was indicated in the architectural drawings presented at the meeting in 1999. It is clear from the original plans that the beam which will partly support the roof is level with the ridge board of the adjacent building.The top and front of the new building must align with the roof gutter of the adjoining house and this is not the case. The skeleton currently projects 210 cm above the house next door whereas in the plans and model this should only be 1.50 cm.
The result is that the whole building is even more colossal than was ever originally imagined.

On 4 February 2007 a letter entitled "Het verdriet van de Sumatrastraat" was sent to chairman Norder pointing out that all interested parties in 1999 have been misled by Mr. De Zoete and Mr. Bullhorst.
Signatories of the letter, Maarten en Joke Rouppe van der Voort and Frank and Ellen van Rossum from Sumatrastraat, with the support of other residents, are carefully considering further action.

Cycle bridge between Riouwstraat/Raamweg definite!

The residents of Archipelbuurt and Willemspark can now definitely look forward to a proper cycle bridge over the Kanaal between Riouwstraat and Raamweg. There were no objections to the plans for the Riouwbrug at the information evening held on 30 November 2006, only positive comments.

Deputy Mayor Pieter van Woensel (with responsibility for Traffic) would like the bridge to be completed this year and the authorities have already started drawing up the final plans so that work can begin as soon as possible. According to van Woensel, The Hague is a new and safe cycle route the richer with this cycle bridge offering a fast and direct connection to many children in Archipelbuurt and Willemspark who cycle to schools in the neighbouring district of Benoordenhout. The dangerous situations regularly encountered on the pedestrian bridge will soon be a thing of the past.

As well as the cycle bridge, a new crossing point - for both cyclists and pedestrians - over the tram line along which tram 9 runs will be located directly opposite Riouwstraat. This will accommodate the longer platform required for the second phase of the RandstadRail project. The new cycle bridge will link up with the existing bridge on the Raamweg side carried on supports above the Kanaal.

With the installation of the cycle bridge, the Municipal Council is meeting the burgerinitiatief (citizens initiative) of the Archipelbuurt/Willemspark Residents Association, which was also involved in the development of the plans drawn up by the council authorities.

A/W Community Newspaper, February 2007

Translation LFN
This text may not be used or reproduced in any publication or
other form of media without prior permission.
Contact linda@archipelbuurt.nl