Rivierenbuurt (Amsterdam)
Rivierenbuurt is a neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The neighbourhood is situated in the eastern part of the borough of Amsterdam-Zuid, bordered by the river Amstel to the east, the Boerenwetering canal in the west, the Amstelkanaal in the north and the A10 motorway in the south. In 2013, the Rivierenbuurt had approximately 28,400 residents.[1]
Rivierenbuurt
The Rivierenbuurt was built in the 1920s as a primarily middle-class residential area, part of the Plan Zuid urban expansion programme designed by Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage.[2] The neighbourhood features many fine examples of Amsterdam School architecture. The Dutch word Rivierenbuurt translates as 'Rivers Neighbourhood'; most streets in the area are named after rivers in the Netherlands.
Until World War II the area had a sizable Jewish population[3] which included Anne Frank and her family, who lived at Merwedeplein square until they went into hiding in the secret annex located in the old city centre.[4]
The neighbourhood is served by tram routes 4 and 12, bus routes 62 and 65, as well as Amsterdam metro and national rail services from Amstel Station and Zuid Station.
After World War II[edit]
Both the invading Nazi army (in 1940) and the liberating Canadian army (in 1945) entered Amsterdam by the Berlagebrug.
Several local place and street names changed after World War II. Daniël Willinkplein became Victorieplein, and the three major avenues that met there (Amstellaan, Noorder Amstellaan and Zuider Amstellaan) were renamed for Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt respectively. After the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, Stalinlaan was renamed to Vrijheidlaan ('Freedom Lane'). Two additional place names honor American figures from the 20th century: President Kennedylaan (after John F. Kennedy; previously Rivierenlaan) and Martin Luther Kingpark (after Martin Luther King Jr.).
In 1954, the Utrechtsebrug was completed across the Amstel at the south end of the Rivierenbuurt.
With the creation of city districts in 1987, the Rivierenbuurt was designated a standalone district. In 1998, the Rivierenbuurt and Buitenveldert districts merged to form the Zuideramstel district; in 2010, Zuideramstel merged with Oud-Zuid to form the Zuid (South) district.