The city council of Amsterdam has given the green light to the arrival of the HISWA association in Amsterdam North. The piles for the breakwater will be the first to be placed, followed by the construction of the ‘yacht and event’ marina, then the office building as well as the marina office.
HISWA In-Water Boat Show 2012 at the heart of Amsterdam
“Our goal was to upgrade the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show, which we have been successfully organising in Marina Seaport IJmuiden since 1995,” says André Vink, director of the HISWA Association. “Our ambitions exceeded what IJmuiden had to offer as a location, however. For example, there was very little for our visitors to do in the area outside of the show location. Moreover, the time was right to renew the exhibition concept and this required a different approach and a new location.
“Amsterdam was always the most attractive option. The NDSM wharf is a logical and nautical location, where we can bring the boat show and our offices together and centralise all our activities in one location. This will also result in considerable cost savings. And our international focus is in line with the style and appeal of Amsterdam as the capital of the Netherlands.”
With these impressive new facilities the organisation will be returning to its roots: The HISWA association was established in Hotel Krasnapolsky in the Dutch capital in 1932, and the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show used to take place on the Oosterdok, also in Amsterdam.
Breakwater
Rob Post, Chairman of Amsterdam North district council, and Rob Vooren, project manager at property developer Noordwaarts (developer of the City of Amsterdam for locations such as the NDSM wharf), immediately recognised the added value of HISWA to the area, and both were constructive and cooperative. In a local newspaper, Post says: “The district council recently signed an agreement with HISWA. As a result the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show will be held at the NDSM wharf starting 2012. The HISWA Association is also moving to Amsterdam North, bringing an actual marina to the area. A great asset!”
Installing a breakwater is an essential part of the realisation of the plans. This will be placed in the IJ waterway and provide the necessary protection to the marina. The 400-metre structure will be accessible during events and construction will get underway in February.
Amsterdam Marina
The Amsterdam Marina, as it will be called, will be constructed as a typical marina. Investments and operations will be in the hands of Fred Redeker, director/owner of Marina Projects BV. Redeker operates large marinas in Stellendam, Schokkerstrand and the Regatta Centre Medemblik. The marina, with permanent berths for around 340 vessels, will open in summer 2012. Facing south, it will catch plenty of sun and the fresh deep water (c. ten metres) will make it ideal for large yachts too.
HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2012
The international Amsterdam in-water Boat Show will establish itself in Amsterdam as of September 2012. Amsterdam city council has already booked the clipper Stad Amsterdam for the event to serve as hospitality ship and crowd puller. “We will build a bridge between consumers and businesses by organising a range of activities,” adds Farouk Nefzi, director HISWA Multimedia and organiser of the boat show.
“These will gradually be introduced to Amsterdam not just during the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show but all year round. Our goal is to organise nautical events (alone or with third parties) such as meetings between specific yacht classes, expo platforms, and even seminars and conferences or study programmes. We will also host trade missions and media visits. And, over the past year we have been working on a new exhibition concept that is focused on enhancing the ‘visitor experience’.”
Office building
The HISWA offices will be housed in a building of around 2,000 square metres that will be ready in May/June 2013. Marina Projects BV has also invested in these premises. A contemporary design with distinctive terraces around the building has been developed by SeARCH Architecten. The building will also house the marina office and a restaurant, and there is still space for a maritime tenant, preferably one associated with HISWA.
HISWA Nautical Centre
The arrival of HISWA at the NDSM wharf will create a nautical centre with service providers such as watersport shops, brokers and dealers. Together with the HISWA main office, the marina and the marina restaurant, they will form the HISWA Nautical Centre. The centralisation of companies, events and activities in the watersport arena should attract (inter)national watersport enthusiasts, holidaymakers and tourists alike.
Accessibility
Although Amsterdam is not known for its wealth of parking facilities, there will be a major demand for parking near the marina during the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show. For this purpose five locations will be established at walking distance from the site in order to accommodate the thousands of visitors. The NDSM wharf is also easily accessible by public transport, including a free ferry that travels to the wharf from Amsterdam Central Station in five minutes.
Sidebar: The NDSM wharf
The NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North is creative, versatile, innovative and inspiring. NDSM is short for the Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (Dutch Dock and Shipbuilding Company). The area has a rich maritime and nautical history that is still visible on the site of the former shipyard. The premises had been left undeveloped for many years and are now being transformed into a multifunctional city district offering a wealth of new activities and initiatives.
The area project developer, Amsterdam Waterfront, aims to transform the NDSM wharf into an exciting contemporary area that combines working, living, culture and water and offers opportunities to businesses on the water, along the water and related to the water. The goal is to create the optimal cluster and mix of nautical companies so that all benefit from the economies of scale. Some 65 watersport companies are currently interested in locating at the NDSM wharf.
