On the seventh and highest floor, you'll find a three/four-room apartment with a generous 92 m² of living space. This apartment boasts a west-facing balcony, offering captivating views of stunning sunsets. The bright living room overlooks the lush inner courtyard, with the iconic water tower as a striking feature. Ideally located near the Westerpark, this residence is surrounded by various cultural institutions and charming dining establishments. It's part of a modern complex equipped with an elevator and situated within the renowned GWL-terrein, known as the Netherlands' pioneering sustainable neighborhood.
Tour
Accessible via two elevators, the top floor is home to this apartment. The communal hallway leads to the entrance door of the property. The layout is as follows: upon entry, you're greeted by a spacious hallway connecting to the bathroom, storage/technical room, and a separate toilet. The living room is flooded with natural light and generously proportioned, featuring five windows and an open kitchen. The L-shaped kitchen includes a breakfast bar and is equipped with various built-in appliances. To the rear, there are three well-sized bedrooms, one of which provides access to the sunny west-facing balcony with panoramic views. Beautiful pine wood flooring graces all the rooms. In the building's basement, you'll find a dedicated storage unit that comes with the apartment.
What the residents will miss
"Our annual neighborhood highlight is the community dinner and local festivity. Face painting for the kids, movement workshops, social gatherings, a community dinner, diverse musical performances, and of course, a DJ!"
Neighborhood
This apartment is situated in the Eco Waterwijk, opposite the Westerpark and in close proximity to the popular Hugo de Grootplein and within walking distance of the Jordaan. Additionally, it's near the Frederik Hendrikplantsoen and Hugo de Grootplein, which offer a variety of delightful dining options and gourmet shops. The Jordaan hosts markets every Monday and Saturday on streets like Westerstraat, Lindengracht, and Noordermarkt. It enjoys excellent access to public transportation and is conveniently located via the S103 exit to the A10 Ring Road. Supermarket facilities are just a five-minute walk away, and charming cafes and restaurants abound in the nearby Van Limburg Stirumplein.
Key features
• Approximately 92 m² of living space
• Approximately 8 m² southwest-facing balcony
• Situated on leasehold land from the Municipality of Amsterdam. Current lease period from July 1, 1996, to June 30, 2046, AB 1994, ground lease canon prepaid until June 30, 2046
• Energy label B
• The GWL-terrein is a renowned urban planning project designed by architects such as Kees Christiaanse (KCAP), Neutelings Riedijk, Dobbelaar de Kovel de Vroom (DKV), Meyer en Van Schooten, and Liesbeth van der Pol (DOK architecten)
• Monthly VvE (Homeowners Association) service costs of €xxx-xx
• Separate storage unit in the basement
• Well-functioning and financially sound VvE
De Wester
In 2020, I sold this property to its current residents, who were working in the Netherlands at the time. He was born in Zeeland, and she in Copenhagen. As life sometimes goes, their plans changed when they had a child. They decided to return to her home country, Denmark, in search of more space and a larger garden as their primary reasons. They are now enjoying their time there so much that they have decided to sell the apartment and settle there permanently.
I know from a question on the real estate agent exam that this apartment is located in a well-known car-free neighborhood, which happens to be the first eco-friendly neighborhood in the Netherlands. There is even a dedicated website: www.GWL-terrein.nl. This apartment is situated in residential block 2A, on the top floor, the seventh floor. The residents fully appreciate the neighborhood, Westerpark, and all the amenities the area has to offer.
Architecture
This building, designed as terraced houses, takes the task of creating ground-level homes with individual front doors quite seriously. The result is a structure with numerous staircases and a façade adorned with doors. Each residence boasts its own staircase, with the stairwell as its central feature. As a result, the rooms within these homes are spread across various levels. The lower four levels are accessible from the ground floor, while the upper four floors are reached via a rooftop pathway on the eighth floor. Elevators are strategically placed at the building’s turning points.
For a considerable period, a municipal waterworks pumping station stood along the Haarlemmerweg. Originally, this site was used for storing materials such as pipes by the Duinwater-Maatschappij starting in 1851. In 1896, the city took over the company and renamed it Gemeentewaterleidingen, constructing a pumping station and large underground water reservoirs on the site in 1897.
Plans for residential development emerged in 1994 when Gemeentewaterleidingen was slated to relocate. The urban design was conceived by Kees Christiaanse, characterized by clean lines and distinctive red brick architecture. The final homes were completed in 1998, and the neighborhood now boasts around 1,800 residents.
The community features a car-free central area and abundant green spaces, including play areas and shared allotment gardens. Virtually all residences offer outdoor spaces, such as gardens, terraces, or balconies. Sustainability and energy efficiency were paramount, with the reuse of materials from demolished GWL buildings, green roofs on the residential blocks, and rainwater collection for toilet flushing in the building basements.
Living room and kitchen
The living room boasts a striking feature in the form of its robust pine floor and four large windows offering views of the courtyard, complete with the iconic water tower. The kitchen seamlessly integrates with the living area, featuring a spacious countertop and a range of Zanussi built-in appliances. Terracotta-colored tiles grace the kitchen floor, adding a touch of warmth and character.
Bedrooms and bathroom
Towards the rear, you’ll discover three generously proportioned bedrooms, one of which grants access to the sunny balcony, providing panoramic views to the west. The bathroom exudes spacious simplicity. Its walls are fully tiled up to the ceiling, and there’s ample space for a washing machine. The shower is flush with the floor, and a bathroom vanity with a mirror above completes the functional yet elegant ensemble.
Outdoor space
From the sunny southwest-facing balcony, on beautiful days, you can enjoy views of the Schiphol control tower and the water supply dunes near Zandvoort. It’s also an ideal spot to witness spectacular sunsets.
Location
This apartment is situated in the Waterwijk, across from the Westerpark, and in close proximity to the popular Hugo de Grootplein, all within walking distance of the Jordaan neighborhood. Located in the West district, it’s near the Frederik Hendrikplantsoen and the Hugo de Grootplein, home to several charming restaurants and delicatessen shops. You can also walk to the Jordaan neighborhood and the Hallen in Oud-West. In the Jordaan, there are markets every Monday and Saturday on streets like Westerstraat, Lindengracht, and Noordermarkt. Conveniently connected to public transportation and accessible via the s103 highway leading to the Ring A10.
Accessibility
This apartment offers excellent accessibility. Amsterdam Central is just a 10-minute bike ride away, and the A10 highway is a mere 5-minute drive. Supermarkets are within a 5-minute walk, and charming cafes and restaurants are located on Van Limburg Stirumplein, just a stone’s throw away. Additionally, Westerpark, a few minutes away, hosts an organic market and numerous delightful restaurants and cafes.
Parking
Parking is possible through a permit system on the public roads (permit area West-10.1 GWL terrein). With a residential parking permit for West-10.1 GWL terrein, you can park in West-10. The cost for a resident parking permit is €177.08 every 6 months. Currently, there is a waiting period of 17 months for permits in this area, and second permits are not available.
In addition to street parking, it’s also possible to park for free with a parking permit in the Westergasfabriek garage. (Source: Municipality of Amsterdam, May 2023).
Wat de bewoners gaan missen
Toen wij met een kind in verwachting voor het eerst het huis binnen gingen, wisten we meteen dat dit het perfecte appartement zou zijn waar we met ons kind wilden leven. De zonnige kamers, het uitzicht over Amsterdam vanuit de woonkamer, de fenomenale zonsopgangen in onze woonkamer en zonsondergangen vanaf het balkon. Het rustige en groene GWL terrein met moestuintjes en veel grote speelplaatsen, Cradam, het Westerpark, en de Jordaan om de hoek, we genieten elke dag van dit fijne huis. We hebben voor deze heerlijke plek gekozen omdat het zo fijn centraal ligt en goed bereikbaar is.
Overdag zitten we het liefst in de ruime woonkamer omdat het uitzicht vanaf de bovenste verdieping prachtig en rustgevend is. Je kijkt uit op de watertoren van het GWL terrein die omgeven is door veel groen en bomen, en daarachter kun je over de hele Jordaan uitkijken, helemaal tot Amsterdam Noord, en als je goed kijkt zie je zelfs de Johan Cruijff Arena in Zuid liggen.
‘s Avonds zitten we het liefst op het balkon, waar je kan genieten van ruimte en rust midden in Amsterdam met prachtige zonsondergangen.
Het GWL terrein is echt een hele fijne rustige plek. Omdat het volledig autoluw is, is het onwerkelijk rustig, je realiseert je niet dat je midden in Amsterdam bent. Er worden ook veel dingen georganiseerd, zoals een voetbaltoernooi voor alle leeftijden op het pleintje (dit heeft Marc zelf een keer helpen organiseren), boomsnoeidag, een buurtbarbecue, vrijdagmiddagborrel op de stoep, enzovoorts.
Cradam is een geweldige plek om uit eten te gaan, zowel voor ontbijt, lunch als avondeten. Zowel binnen in de oude machineruimte, als buiten onder de grote planten. De Staatsliederenbuurt heeft talloze leuke cafés, koffieplekjes, enzovoorts. Pendergast is een fantastisch restaurant voor Amerikaans gemaakte steaks van hoge kwaliteit, Restaurant Bella Storia vinden wij de beste Italiaan van Amsterdam. Direct aan ons huis zit viswinkel Alecante, wat een geweldige viswinkel is. Het Westerpark heeft ook heel veel leuke plekken: Bakkerwinkel, een hele goede bakkerij, Rainarai, geweldige eten, het stadse leven met een dorpsgevoel, eigenlijk is er te veel om op te noemen. De Staatsliederenbuurt heeft ook een paar geweldig authentiek Amsterdamse cafés zoals café Brel en de Piano bar.
De combinatie van het Amsterdamse leven, met alle sociale en leuke plekken zullen we het meeste gaan missen. En de rust van het GWL terrein, dat gezond en rustig voelt.
We gaan de buren in onze gang ook missen, ze waren erg vriendelijk en behulpzaam, we hadden een gedeelde Whatsapp groep en gingen regelmatig een biertje met ze drinken.
Tenslotte de zonsopgang vanuit de woonkamer. Het kan heel zwaar zijn als je kind om 5 uur ‘s ochtends wakker wordt, maar als je woonkamer dan helemaal roze/oranje is en je de zon langzaam ziet opkomen, maakt dat veel goed.