New plans for Wijnhaven area

A consortium of 15 parties has submitted a new vision for the Wijnhavenkwartier, the area encompassing the Spuiplein and Turfmarkt in the centre of The Hague.

Artist's impression Wijnhaven area

The most important elements of the plan include the construction of the new dance and music centre on the Spuiplein, a large new conference centre, a hotel and a ‘city lobby’ with a big balcony and a screen where performances and concerts can be projected.

The consortium of 15 specialists (project developers, financial backers and property advisors) has now presented its proposal to The Hague Municipal Executive and is still awaiting the official reaction. The various parties say their plan, called Spuiparc, can count on support from the cultural world and many players on the property market.

One characteristic element of the plan would be to move the new cultural centre planned for the Spuiplein by a quarter turn. This would make the now somewhat empty and desolate Spuiplein more sheltering. The Spuiplein should also be better connected to the gardens of the Nieuwe Kerk and the Rabbijn Maarsenplein. The consortium proposes extending the plants and trees of the Nieuwe Kerk side to the other side of the tram rails running down the Spui.

Plans also call for the construction of a small but interesting building, a sort of pyramid like at the Louvre in Paris. The building should serve as an entrance to the underground garages and a replica of the Golden Coach would be placed in it.

The towers of the former ministry buildings would be stripped down and given a new purpose: one would become a hotel and the other an educational institute like the Royal Conservatoire or the new joint collaboration between the universities of Rotterdam, Leiden and Delft, for example. The low-rise building could become a sort of ‘city lobby’ with a large balcony for fans to pay tribute to their sports heroes or where pop concerts could be held. It would become the spot for a large screen with projections of live performances in the cultural centre.

The plans also call for space for some 500 new apartments as well as restaurants, cafes and shops. Initiators of the plan are also pushing for a conference centre with exhibition space, comparable to the Statenhal, which was torn down in 2005 to make way for the new Europol building.

For more information go to www.spuiparc.nl.

Translated from the AD/Haagsche Courant, 6 February 2012