Our preliminary research indicated that, within the Netherlands, development and

management of Dutch housing by Housing Associations began in 1851 with the Vereeniging ten
behoove van de arbeidersklasse (Association for the working class) forming as the first
association with the sole goal of providing housing.1 From the beginning, “most of these
associations could be characterized by their half-speculative, half philanthropic character.”2 In
1901 the social housing sector had become a dominant part of the housing market with a
gouvernmental Housing Act that formalized the right to housing. With this right to housing, The
Netherlands developed a robust and complex housing system designed to serve not only low-
income families, through direct rental subsidies, but also higher-income citizens, through the
provision of social housing units and rent control policies.3 In Housing in The Netherlands 1900-
1940, Donald Grinberg explains that, “Following the First World War, the Dutch were in a
unique position to build, but they were only able to exploit the situation because of the important
changes that had taken place through the Housing Act of 19012 and the housing built under its
aegis prior to World War I.”4
This unique set of circumstances led to a social housing system in which housing
associations developed and maintained housing in conjunction with the government. By 2001
social housing constituted 75% of the total rental housing stock and 36% of all housing stock.5
The majority of these units, 49% as of 2002, were built between 1946 and 1974; 33% were built
between 1975 and 1991, 9% after 1992 and 9% was pre-1945 construction.6

Most recently, mergers of various Housing Authorities has created a wave of

consolidation and the government is no longer providing housing development subsidies to these
groups. While still operating in the public interest, they have developed into robust, financially
independent businesses which must now maintain sufficient financial health to cover
unprofitable investments with their own capital.7 This has given them incentive gentrify and to
start selling off their social housing units to private business or owners, or to convert them to
higher cost apartments, targeted to the economic middle class.

Based on our first explorations of neighborhoods in Amsterdam we have decided to study

the Indishe Buurt neighborhood specifically, and how social housing and neighborhood
development is being handled there. Located in the district of Zeeburg, it was built in the early
20th century due to a large population increase in Amsterdam and economic boom that happened
after the construction of the North Sea Canal in 1876 and the commissioning of the
Merwedekanaal in 1892. It is the oldest neighborhood in the district, and was originally a
1
Grinberg, Donald I. Housing in The Netherlands 1900-1940. [Delft]: Delft UP, 1977. Print. P 22.
2
Grinberg, Donald I. Housing in The Netherlands 1900-1940. [Delft]: Delft UP, 1977. Print. P 22.
3
Ouwehand, André, Gelske Van. Daalen, and Jeanet Kullberg. Dutch Housing Associations: a Model for Social Housing. Delft:
DUP Satellite, 2002. Print. P 42.
4
Grinberg, Donald I. Housing in The Netherlands 1900-1940. [Delft]: Delft UP, 1977. Print. P 14.
5
Ouwehand, André, Gelske Van. Daalen, and Jeanet Kullberg. Dutch Housing Associations: a Model for Social Housing. Delft:
DUP Satellite, 2002. Print. P 2.
6
Ouwehand, André, Gelske Van. Daalen, and Jeanet Kullberg. Dutch Housing Associations: a Model for Social Housing. Delft:
DUP Satellite, 2002. Print. P 17.
7
Ouwehand, André, Gelske Van. Daalen, and Jeanet Kullberg. Dutch Housing Associations: a Model for Social Housing. Delft:
DUP Satellite, 2002. Print. P 16.
10 http://www.jlgrealestate.com/English/Amsterdam_Oost/Indische_Buurt/
shipping and residential neighborhood due to its location around the western port of Amsterdam.
Once the port was moved in the 1960’s it became a purely residential area.8

After our initial walking tours we discovered that the Indische Buurt is now undergoing
rapid change. Under the slogan “Together Indian Area” the housing corporations Ymere, Eigen
Haard, the district of Zeeburg, and the Alliance, a merger of the four housing corporations
Atrium, Dawn, Green City Almere and SCW, are working together to refurbish and resell former
squatting residences, and student housing, and other housing stock in need of renovation.9 Just
recently they’ve completed the area around Timorplein where they’ve put in a new stayokay
hostel, a movie theater/café/art gallery commissioned by University of Amsterdam called Studio
K, and the IIRE building. Javastraat, has been converted into a new “Mediterranean-style
shopping boulevard” with newly paved streets and accessible bike parking, In Javaplein the
Borneohof building is currently under construction It will add a large public library to the area
surrounded by a pedestrian only promenade. 10

The thinking behind this renovation is that with the building of better homes and
shopping centers “a stronger economic position of the district,” as well as “improve safety and
livability” will fallow.11 However to the people who currently live here these renovations are
changing the face of the neighborhood, while simultaneously cutting down on the available
housing stock. \

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hauge, and Utrecht have 26% pre-war social housing rentals
and 44% considered “cheap dwellings”.12 This has led the immigrant population to become
clustered in the prewar dwellings.

Furthermore, the late industrialization of The Netherlands allowed the development of a

receptive climate towards the city and technology.”13

8
http://www.buurt-online.nl/amsterdam/indischebuurt/
9
http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html
10
http://www.jlgrealestate.com/English/Amsterdam_Oost/Indische_Buurt/
11
http://www.de-alliantie.nl/smartsite.shtml?id=4444
12
Ouwehand, André, Gelske Van. Daalen, and Jeanet Kullberg. Dutch Housing Associations: a Model for Social Housing. Delft:
DUP Satellite, 2002. Print. P 20.
13
Grinberg, Donald I. Housing in The Netherlands 1900-1940. [Delft]: Delft UP, 1977. Print. P 14.