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In the upper floors of the warehouses of the Entrepot-dok, there used to be hoist wheels on the quay side with which the loads were hoisted up. The rope guides of some dismantled hoist wheels served as material for this object with the title ‘Ontframed 1986’ by artist: André Thijssen, living and working since 1985 on the upper floor of this warehouse.
In the upper floors of the warehouses of the Entrepot-dok, there used to be hoist wheels on the quay side with which the loads were hoisted up.
The rope guides of some dismantled hoist wheels served as material for this object with the title ‘Ontframed 1986’ by artist: André Thijssen, living and working since 1985 on the upper floor of this warehouse.
The Entrepotdok is a canal with a complex of warehouses of the same name in Amsterdam, between the Kadijksplein and the Sarphatistraat, parallel to the Hoogte en Laagte Kadijk and the Plantagekade and Artis zoo. It is the largest inhabited warehouse complex in Amsterdam.
Halfway, the Entrepotdok is intersected by the Entrepotdok lock. A little further to the east lies the "Geschutswerf". The Nijlpaardenbrug (bridge no. 1907; drawbridge for bicycles and pedestrians from 1987) connects the Entrepotdok in a southern direction with the Plantage Kerklaan and the Plantage Doklaan. From the west, it is accessible for cyclists and pedestrians via the gate in the former main building on the Kadijkseiland. From the north, from the Wittenburgergracht, it can be reached via the Pelikaanbrug. In 2018/2019, the statue Het duikstertje by Street Art Frankey was placed on a dolphin in the water. History Warehouses
The oldest warehouses in the complex were built after 1708. In 1827, the warehouses came into the possession of the state and were thoroughly renovated and expanded by city architect Jan de Greef. This is how the still existing gatehouse came into being. Before the French period in the Netherlands, both import and export duties had to be paid for goods in transit on the Amsterdam market. When Amsterdam experienced a lot of competition in the subsequent period, the General State Warehouse was set up here in 1827 to stimulate transit trade.
Until 1895, goods could be temporarily stored in this warehouse without having to pay import duties. Excise duties only had to be paid when the goods were brought to the market. The complex was completely closed off for this purpose. A wall was built on Laagte Kadijk and a gatehouse was built on Kadijksplein. Warehouses were also added: the middle section of the warehouse (in the photo next to it) was built between 1830 and 1840. The Entrepotdok includes 84 monumental warehouses, named after Dutch and Belgian cities. These names are still on the facades. The establishment of the Rijksentrepot also caused the bridge over the Rapenburgergracht (now: Entrepotdok) and the connection between the Korte Kerkstraat (now: Tussen Kadijken) and the Nieuwe Kerkstraat to disappear.
After the dock lost its function as a storage place for uncleared goods around 1890 due to the construction of Het Nieuwe Entrepotdok on the Cruquiusweg, the buildings stood empty for a long time. The complex came into the hands of the municipality. There were still a few companies on the lowest floors, but the complex deteriorated rapidly and several warehouses were in a poor state. Much was demolished in the area, especially on Kattenburg, Wittenburg and Oostenburg, but the Entrepotdok had been declared a national monument, so demolition was not possible there. Reconstruction into apartments, for social housing
After decades of financial tug-of-war in the early eighties, when Jan Schaefer was alderman, a plan for reuse was developed by the municipality of Amsterdam (land development company), housing association De Dageraad and architectural firm Van Stigt. Architect Joop van Stigt came up with the idea of hollowing out / cores of the floors, so that apartments could be situated in the very long, dark warehouse spaces at the front and back around a communal courtyard. This way, the homes still get enough sunlight. New commercial spaces are situated on the ground floor and first floor. The cellars are used as storage, after number 52 also as a parking garage and commercial space. The first homes were completed in 1984, in warehouses 79 to 84 (still from 1708) and in the last warehouse, number 13 (also from 1708) in 1989. Quite unique for social housing was that residents could have a say in matters such as the design of the kitchen and bathroom. The courtyards were given the street name Binnenkadijk. The first homes cost between 300 and 400 guilders in rent in 1984