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The policy document (Nota van Uitgangspunten (pdf, written in Dutch)) outlines the Council’s plans for redeveloping this important route. In addition to major road maintenance, the plans also include the landscaping of a new green area alongside the water. The form that this will take will be developed in consultation with stakeholders as part of the next phase of the project.

Comfortable and safe route

The policy document includes an overview of what we will and will not be doing with the central section of De Boelelaan. ‘We’re taking account of the relevant laws and regulations, but also considering what stakeholders want and how we can incorporate that into the redevelopment’, says project manager Anne Bijlmer. In order to provide enough space for traffic, a design has been drawn up for the avenue, the cycle paths, the service road and the pedestrian routes. ‘In addition to major maintenance, we also aim to provide a comfortable and safe route between Gershwinplein and Willem van Weldammelaan for cyclists and pedestrians. A key part of this route is the crossing at Willem van Weldammelaan. We intend to put a zebra crossing here and create a safe place – an ‘island’ – between the traffic lanes.’

The centre of De Boelelaan with the builders’ hut for The George residential complex in the foreground

More green areas, fewer parking spaces

We intend to create space for more green areas. This can be achieved by removing parking spaces and merging the cycle path and service road. ‘For people living in De Boelelaan, there will still be enough parking spaces even after the redevelopment, along the service road and on the side of Groningenstraat’, says Bijlmer. ‘We also want to combine the cycle path at the side of the buildings with the service road. These two changes will create a long and wide traffic-free strip on the northern side of the road, which leaves room for a lot of green space.’

Two motions

In the Amsterdam City Council’s discussion of the policy document, two motions were passed. The first motion calls for an additional alternative design without parking spaces along part of the service road. The second motion calls for the option of a city woodland or forest garden to be included in the further development of the green area. These will be taken on board as the project progresses.

The centre of De Boelelaan and De Boelegracht next to Lex van Deldenbrug

What next?

In the period ahead, the design will be further developed. We will have talks with stakeholders on the further details for the green area. We expect to have completed the design towards the end of the year. We will then present it to the City Council. After that, we will prepare for the work. This will start in late 2021 at the latest and will probably last more than a year.

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