Construction begins on New Passage

In March the building across from the Hema in The Hague’s city centre is slated to be demolished. The space will be used for the construction of the New Passage (Nieuwe Haagse Passage), a modern extension of the historic Passage shopping arcade.

The last shops in the enormous building across from the Hema are make preparations to close for good. This past weekend marked the final days for the outlets on the Grote Marktstraat and Spuistraat. At the end of March demolition work will start on the building in which Marks & Spencer used to make its home.

The site will make way for the construction of the New Passage. The old Passage will be extended from the Spuistraat to the Grote Marktstraat. Multi Vastgoed expects construction to begin this year and be completed at the end of 2013.

The New Passage is designed by the French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi. The complex will contain four floors and will have a glass roof. It will contain shops on the underground level, ground level and first floor. The second floor will get restaurants and cafes and a roof garden. There will be a hotel on the top floor.

The architect says he was inspired by Dutch skies and Delft pottery.

Click here to watch a video by Multi Vastgoed about the Nieuwe Haagse Passage project.

The New Passage project is part of the plans to turn the Grote Markstraat into a ‘shopping boulevard with international allure. With chandeliers, coloured lights and a luxurious paving stone.’ The Grote Marktstraat project is designed by by architect Lana du Croq from Lucas Ellerman van Vugt.