Zuidas District

Zuidas is a new, rapidly developing business district in Amsterdam’ southern outskirts, between ringway A10 and the Amstel river. It has the largest number of skyscrapers in Amsterdam. Many of them are brand new with postmodern architecture. There are about 7 highrise districts in Amsterdam, but this is by far the largest. Zuidas is Amsterdam’s answer to Paris La Defense. However, the 2 tallest buildings in Amsterdam are located in Omval district. Most buildings in Zuidas are only around 100m tall. Zuidas is also known as the "Financial Mile". You can find the headquarters of ING Group, ABN-Amro, and Akzo Nobel as well as World Trade Center here. The large train station is dividing Zuidas in 2 halfs. There is also an eastern part. Just north of Zuidas you can find an upmarket residential area with private villas.

The skyline of Zuidas. It is located in the south outskirts of Amterdam, within less then an hour train ride to Schiphol and the Hague.
From the left: ABN-AMRO, Symphony Towers, Ito-toren and The Rock, all in front of the Zuidas train station, that is expected to be the 5th busiest in the Netherlands.

WTC Bldg H behind the train.106m high.Built in 2004. The tallest building in Zuidas, and 3rd tallest in Amsterdam.

Office workers during lunch hours at the plaza in front of the station.

WTC (World Trade Center) Amsterdam, main building from 1985. The center consists of 9 buildings.

WTC Amsterdam, bldg A from 1985.

The atrium of World Trade Center inside.

WTC H, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.

World Trade Center, some of the 9 buildings. The road goes above a huge biking parking.

Skyline of Zuidas seen from the north, with Symphony Towers in teh middle.

Overview of the WTC complex.

Viñoly, built in 2005, designed by Rafael Vinoly. This 25-storey tower looks like it is cracked in 3 pieces.

Symphony Towers and Ito-toren.

Water and glass creates a modern look.

ABN AMRO Headquarters from 1999. 105m tall, 25 floors.

A square arch and Ito-toren from 2005. 100m tall.

Ito-toren was designed by Ito architects.

 

Funny female robot sculptures at Zuidas, popular for bike parking.

Amsterdam Symphony Towers (105m tall), completed in 2009. Designed by Dietrich Boecker. 2nd and 3rd tallest in Zuidas.

De Boelelaan towards the East. The highrise to the left is brand new.

De Boelelaan. The white highrise to the right is called New Amsterdam and was built in 2008.

A curved red building in the distance, don't know the name.

The exhibition "body worlds" that is touring around the world.

Colourful architecture.

De Boelelaan.

Mahler 4 by the architect firm UN studio, a residential building from 2009.

The Rock is the name of this highrise from 2009, because it resembles a rock. It has 24 floors and was built in 2009. Designed by Erick van Egeraat in structural expressionism style.

A postmodern marble building.

The Manhattan of Amsterdam.

Vino bldg again.

Here is Viño from another angle. It has many diagonal lines.

 

You can find a lot of strange sculptures in Zuidas.

This cow stands outside the café Koetjes en Kalfjes.

East part of Zuidas, at RAI station:

The east part of Zuidas can be reached from the RAI station.

East part of Zuidas.

Ernst & Young (87m) from 2007 is the building with the crosses. It was designed by Norman Foster and partners.

Alticom-toren is a 146m tall tower, that is Amsterdam's tallest communications tower. The NH trains are yellow and black, but this one has graffiti.

The RAI station.

 

A residential area in Zuidas:

This was the only residential area with private villas i visited. It was located close to the skyscrapers.

Minervalaan.

Minervalaan with its fahionable residential houses.

A canal just north of Zuidas.

A prominent aluminum sculpture.

Minervalaan again, with the skyscrapers in the background.