Celebrating Christmas 2024 in the Zandvoort water tower? Architect and resident of Zandvoort Kees Draisma thinks this is a realistic goal. “We will submit the permit application at the end of this year and then hopefully start construction in the second or third quarter of next year.” There has to a lot happening at the water tower. Bad masonry and the fire in 2001 have ensured that the tower now looks bad. Nevertheless, Draisma is positive. He takes us upstairs and proudly tells us about the plans.
“We are already including the neighborhood in the plans as well as possible, and hope that everything goes smoothly,” says Draisma. For example, they recently revealed their plans during a neighborhood meeting. “These fit very well, I get positive reactions from all over Zandvoort,” says the architect.
On top of the water tower, he shows the beautiful view and explains that it is difficult not to build everything from glass. “The view is phenomenal, 360 degrees, the sea, Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, Zandvoort, IJmuiden, Haarlem and The Hague. You can see it all”, he shouts clearly cheerfully.
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Kees Draisma tells about the plans on top of the tower – NH Nieuws
By placing so-called ribs along the tower, the ‘look and feel’ remains the same. “As a result, there are many windows, but because you always look at the tower at an angle, you can’t see this because of the ribs,” says Draisma. The idea comes from another building, designed by J. Ziesma, the original architect of the water tower. “We have analyzed all his buildings, in order to stay as close as possible to his design style of the time.”
Nevertheless, a lot of new things are also made and built. “Unfortunately, many parts that we wanted to reuse have not withstood the test of time, so we are forced to have them made again,” says the architect. During the climb up the water tower, the cracks in the tower are clearly visible.
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Kees Draisma takes us up – NH Nieuws
Due to the poor condition of the exterior walls, they have to be completely rebuilt. These come back 60 centimeters wider. “This is allowed according to the zoning plan and ensures that the content is large enough so that the tower can be separated from other buildings.”
In 2001 there was a major fire, according to architect Draisma this was the final blow. “But there were cracks before, that’s because the expansion of the stones was not taken into account during construction. The water cooled the walls so that they did not expand. Now that the water has been removed, this does not happen, so you see cracks appearing.” , especially on the side where the sun shines the longest, but the period when the tower was squatted did not help either,” says Draisma.
However, a lot can also be reused. For example, the imposing staircase, the original concrete structure and the water distribution station in the basement are one of the showpieces in the new tower. Draisma also fantasizes aloud about how some robust piping can become showpieces of luxury kitchens.
Ultimately, eleven luxury apartments will be built. “The price goes up per floor and the top penthouse is unfortunately only for the happy few,” continues Draisma. He then jokes that if you want to admire this view again you should make friends with the new owner.
The new owner of the penthouse still to be built does have an obligation when moving into his or her home, Draaisma continues: “The Zandvoort flag always flies at the top of the tower and the new resident must maintain this. of course waving a black and white checkered flag and the rainbow flag with the Zandvoort Pride.” This tradition has been maintained for years and even the residents who squatted the water tower took part by hanging up a pirate flag.