Fietsflat

The Fietsflat is a 3-storey free-to-use public bicycle parking facility in Amsterdam. It is located on Stationseiland island next to Amsterdam Central Station and has place for 2500 bicycles. The name is derived from fiets (bicycle) and flat, an originally English word which the Dutch use to denote multi-level apartment complexes.

Fietsflat
General information
Architectural styleutilitarian
LocationStationseiland
Town or cityAmsterdam
CountryNetherlands
Opened2 April 2001
OwnerGemeente Amsterdam
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
ArchitectVMX Architecten

History

Alderman of Traffic and Transport of the City of Amsterdam Frank Köhler opened the Fietsflat on 5 April 2001. The bike parking facility was designed to be only temporary, needed during construction works around the Central Station area. It was to be closed in 2004, it is however currently still in use. New proposals to close the structure in 2009 failed as well. The newest intention is to close it after two big new underground bicycle parking garages have been construction on the front and IJ side of the station. In summer of 2017 the structure underwent renovations.

Design

The Fietsflat was designed by VMX Architecten. The structure is 100 metres long, 14 metres wide and 3 storeys tall. Because the facility is so long and high, bicycling is permitted throughout. During the design process the designers had to keep a couple of strict preconditions in mind. The structure could not damage or otherwise penetrate the then newly renovated quay on which is resides. Also the canal boats had to be able to still make their turns in the Open Havenfront basin. To meet security needs the structure has been designed as transparently as possible.[1] The floors are inclined, which helps to keep unwanted people out because it is not comfortable to stay in for a longer amount of time. To ensure safety there is security personnel on site 24/7. The design was nominated for the NAi Architectuurprijs award in 2001.[2]

Expansion

There were plans to build a second, identical, Fietsflat on the IJ side of Amsterdam Central Station due to open September 2006. In April of the same year, the City Council did not approve of the 4 million euro budget. They opted for more flexible, faster and cheaper solutions with temporary parking spots on several locations, including pontoons and ferries.[3]

In 2014 the City approved a large new underground bicycle parking facility underneath the Open Havenfront at Prins Hendrikkade, right opposite the Fietsflat. In 2017 the City approved a large new underground garage in the IJ at the backside of Centraal Station. The underwater bicycle parking station at Prins Hendrikkade will have 7.000 parking spots and in 2030 there will be 21.500 parking spots around Amsterdam Central Station.[4][5]

References
  1. In Dutch: Architectuur Centrum Amsterdam: Fietsflat Centraal Station, citing: Marlies Buurman, Maarten Kloos (red.), Amsterdam Architecture 2000-2002, Amsterdam 2003, p.54-55
  2. In Dutch: NewScientist: Nominaties voor Nederlandse architectuurprijs bekend, 14-5-2002
  3. In Dutch: Blik op Nieuws Noord Holland: Géén tweede fietsflat bij CS
  4. In Dutch: Gemeente Amsterdam, Bouw- en verkeersprojecten: De Entree: vernieuwing centrumzijde Amsterdam Centraal
  5. In Dutch: Centrum voor Ondergronds Bouwen en ondergronds ruimtegebruik: De Verdieping, september 2016: Onderwaterfietsenstalling bij Amsterdam CS

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