In 2015, the Student Experience Ravel Residence building was developed between the AFC sports fields and the De Boelegracht. Since then, thousands of students have found a home in one of the 800 temporary student apartments. As previously agreed, the building is set to be dismantled from 31 August 2026 to enable the development of the new Ravel residential district.
Student Experience wins the tender
In the development plans for the new residential district, the east side of the area included a large section of undeveloped land, available from 2024 until early 2027. Zuidas launched a competitive tender for the temporary use of this land during this period. The winning idea came from Student Experience, which was allowed to set up and operate student flats for a period of more than twelve years. The result was the Ravel Residence building.
Space for housing, offices and amenities
By 31 August 2026, all tenants will have moved out of the building and it can then be dismantled, to enable the vacant site to be returned to the City of Amsterdam by the end of March 2027. The dismantling of the building will free up plots I and J. This space will initially be used as a work site for several years (further details below) after which, by around 2033, two buildings with housing, offices and amenities will be developed on the plots. In the Ravel district, around 135 of the total of 1,350 homes will be intended for students. However, the main focus in the new residential district will be on families and amenities, supplemented by office accommodation. Housing for students will mainly be developed in the Kenniskwartier innovation district.
Widening of De Boelegracht
Ravel Residence also needs to move in order to widen the De Boelegracht canal in that area. This is necessary in order to maintain the water balance in Zuidas; by adding water in this location, we can remove water (i.e. add paved surfaces) to enable development elsewhere.
Work site
From March 2027, we will initially use the freed up plots as a work site, for logistical routes, the storage of materials and a construction hut. This is essential, because the west side of the residential district is rapidly transforming from a work site into a residential area – in the autumn of 2025, the new Kindercampus Zuidas is scheduled for completion, for example. The dismantling of Ravel Residence gives us the opportunity to move the work site to the east side of the area.
Future of tenants and flexible housing
Ravel Residence features a modular construction that enables it to be (partly) relocated at the end of its period of use. The organisation that manages the building, Student Experience, is holding talks with a range of parties to explore all of the options for partial or complete relocation. Existing tenants may possibly be housed at other Student Experience sites. New tenants will be given temporary contracts until 31 August 2026. For the latest news, keep a close eye on the Student Experience website.
Realisation
- Commissioning authority: Student Experience
- Architect: OZ (previously OeverZaaijer)
- Contractor: Jan Snel
- Completed: September 2014
- Dismantling: from 31 August 2026
Extension not possible
There is no possibility of the temporary student accommodation remaining at Ravel Residence for longer. The end date of early 2027 was stipulated in the rules for the original tender. For legal reasons, no deviation from this is possible. In any case, we need the space from early 2027 to enable the development of the Ravel residential district to be completed.
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