History

Visitors that walk on the Zeedijk today can hardly imagine that this street was completely impoverished not so long ago. The fact that it is now a pleasant neighbourhood with nice shops and restaurants is mainly due to the efforts of NV Zeedijk. History shows that it is possible to regain control of even the most impoverished streets, provided the right method is used: the NV Zeedijk method.

In the 1980s, the Zeedijk in Amsterdam had actually been abandoned. The once lively entertainment district for sailors had become a no-go area. Junks, dealers, pimps and serious criminals made the Zeedijk a no-go area. Walking across the Zeedijk was risky and the chance of being robbed was high. Police enforcement in the street was rare. In the remaining open bars trafficking in drugs and in stolen property formed a profitable pastime. Apart from a few attempts at regulation, the police and the government did little about it. The police themselves hardly dared to walk across the Zeedijk anymore. Most buildings in the street were poorly maintained and low in value. Residents and entrepreneurs left and that attracted even more disaster. The Zeedijk seemed lost.

Thanks to cooperation between residents, entrepreneurs and the municipality, an initiative was created to turn the tide. NV Zeedijk was born from the ambition to make the dilapidated shopping and entertainment street an accessible street again. NV Zeedijk attracted investors and managed to get money from a number of banks. One property after another was bought, renovated if necessary and then rented out and actively managed. NV Zeedijk resides in the middle of the area from the start and knows what is going on.

Over the years, the success of the Zeedijk has been built up and expanded step by step . In addition to investors, NV Zeedijk also managed to interest a variety of partners in the renovation of the Zeedijk. The hotel (Barbizon) on the hence so infamous head of the Zeedijk attracted visitors with money to spend. At the insistence of NV Zeedijk, the police took active action against the drug nuisance. The street became increasingly interesting for companies and NV Zeedijk was able to rent out the buildings to a variety of entrepreneurs. To promote the neighbourhood NV Zeedijk organised an annual neighbourhood party, the so called ‘Hartjesdagen’. In 10, 15 years the situation completely turned around and the Zeedijk became one of the nicest and safest shopping and entertainment streets in the center of Amsterdam.

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NV Zeedijk video “beheer werkt”

Did that mean that the job was done for NV Zeedijk? No definitely not. The center of Amsterdam was and remains a vulnerable area under constant pressure: money from less transparants sectors circulates, there are potential money laundering flows. Not every property owner or entrepreneur has an eye for the general public interest. Moreover, the nuisance has increased enormously in the last decade due to large numbers of visitors and their problematic behaviour. Ordinary facilities for residents disappear, monoculture develops in shops and retail if you don’t pay attention to it. Although the Zeedijk is in good shape compared to other streets in the city center, NV Zeedijk is still making permanent efforts to maintain that level.

NV Zeedijk Warmoesstraat 67 69

Fortunately today, like in the 80s and 90s there are concerned residents and entrepreneurs full of ambition to make the best out of it. NV Zeedijk remains an important instrument for the municipality in the approach to the city center in 2021; See also the large interview with the NV Zeedijk director in the Dutch newspaper NRC interview on January 16, 2021 entitled: ” Apparently corona was necessary to see what’s wrong with the city “ and the subtitle “Her method – control of supply through real estate– gets in vogue after years of political adversity‘. Also in the coming decade NV Zeedijk will continue to play its unique role. The NV Zeedijk director likes to make her experience serve as source of inspiration for other cities and regions . That is why the NV Zeedijk method has been made accessible to everyone on this website!