More than four years after the evacuation of the former ADM site and the subsequent move to a vacant piece of land in North Amsterdam, the sword of Damocles is once again hanging over the heads of dozens of ADM employees. And that while they say they have only just started to feel at home in Noord. The city council is expected to decide this spring whether the group will be allowed to continue living in Noord after October next year.
After 21 years, the site of the former Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (ADM) in the Westelijk Havengebied was vacated at the beginning of 2019. The ADM employees were given a new place: the former sludge fields in Noord, just outside the ring road. With 55 men they moved to the vacant lot, where the water treatment plant used to be. They were initially allowed to stay here for two years, but the city council extended the agreement until October 2024.
“Don’t always erase, but draw in the face of the city with permanent marker”
Added value
And now that they finally say they feel at home, that date is suddenly awfully close. Hay Schoolmeesters is coordinator of the site, which has been renamed ‘Het Groene Veld’, and says that it is finally starting to come to life again. “We have good cooperation with the surrounding areas of Jeugdland, Elzenhagen and Noorderkwartier. The people from the neighborhood like us and we like them.”
“What does the neighborhood lose if we have to leave here? Very good neighbours”
The fact that ADM’ers maintain warm ties with residents of the surrounding neighborhoods is not only pleasant, but in their eyes also crucial in their aim to be allowed to stay longer. They hope that, if they are of great cultural and social value, the city council can only decide to let them stay in Het Groene Veld.
In the report below you can see what is currently happening at ADM Noord. We talk to a poet, a visual artist and take a look at the folk kitchen and the garden.
ADM’ers feel at home in Noord – NH News
A spokeswoman for the municipality says that the city council also sees that the ADM employees are of added value. Not only for the surrounding neighborhoods, but also for the district and actually the entire city. At the same time, she points out that the municipality is of the opinion that the site is larger than the needs of the ADM employees. The aim is therefore to use the site for various things.
In any case, part of Het Groene Veld will have to make room for the construction of a small heating plant. In addition, the municipality expects that there will be room for ‘culture and recreation.’ Whether that means that the ADM’ers can stay in their new place, remains to be seen.