Rembrandtplein to get a new look

Work has commended on the redesign of Rembrandtplein, one of Amsterdam’s favorite entertainment spots.

The popular square, named after Holland’s most famous painter, is lined with bars and nightclubs, eateries and small hotels — ranging from high brow to low brow and in places leaning heavily toward the worst end of tacky.

Artist’s conception redesigned Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam

Prime example: the façade of nightclub Escape sports Europe’s largest digital screen, flooding the square with a steady stream of commercials. When its arrival was first announced Stadsdeel Centrum, the borough that oversees downtown Amsterdam, claimed the permit for the screen was handed out ‘by mistake.’

The same borough is now responsible for — in its terms — giving the square an international allure. If you’ve seen the redesigned Dam square, also located within the boundaries of the central city borough, you may be forgiven a certain measure of scepticism. However, the artist’s conception of the new Rembrandtplein does look quite nice.

The purpose of the make-over is to make the square — which aside from being a center of nightlife provides an important link between the heart of Amsterdam and the rapidly developing oastern part of the city — safer, cleaner, and more beautiful.

To this end, the bushes and fences will disappear — as will the group of 22 life-size bronze statues depicting Rembrandt’s painting The Nightwatch.

The statue of Rembrandt, the oldest statue in Amsterdam, will get a more prominent position near the center of the square.

The statue was placed in 1852 when the square was still called Reguliersmarkt (Regulators’ market — after the then nearby Regulators’ convent).

In 1876 the square was renamed in honor of the painter. Before then it was known as Reguliersmarkt, and was the scene of the city’s butter market.

The €3.5 million make-over project is scheduled for completion by December, 2009.

Original content © Copyright DutchAmsterdam.nl
    Do not republish or repost.

Share | Email | Print | Bookmark

Read More About Amsterdam

Amsterdam houseboats to be connected to sewer system; project Clean Ship has started
Hydrofoil passenger ferry has accident; captains unskilled, former captains claim

More About This Topic

Subscribe (free) for more Amsterdam news and info

DutchAmsterdam.nl's Twitter Stream
Get the goods on Amsterdam via email
Get Amsterdam News & Information via 'RSS' News Readers
Subscribe to this topic only: Amsterdam News, Old City Center

What else would you like to know about Amsterdam?