Westerpark

This big green area with a theater, a cinema, an exhibition space and an events stage, bears the proud name of Culture Park Western Gas Factory (Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek). What originally was a small 19th century neighborhood park, has been united with the vast area of the defunct municipal gas installations.

History
The original park has been established in 1891. It served this quiet, working class area of Amsterdam, which bears the same name – Westerpark. Located behind the park was a gas factory built in 1883 by British Imperial Continental Gas Association. Both – the park and the factory were located at the straight road leading to Harlem – Haarlemmerweg.

It all started to change in 1960’s. Resources of the natural gas had been found in the North Sea. The gas factory became obsolete. Since then its buildings were used only for storage, or just stood empty. At the same time a strong anarchic movement of youth squatters (Dutch: krakers) by occupying some of the buildings saved them from demolition. The aesthetical values also changed - the old city installations started to look original, their architecture began to be valued. In 1989 old red brick buildings received the status of industrial monuments. The whole area of the municipal gas and water installations has been remodeled, trees planted and in 2003 Westergasfabriek has been opened to the public.

Westergasfabriek
The municipal large building divides two parts of the park – old one and new - that of the former gas factory. It is not much of the park yet, more a vast space with an art house cinema (Het Ketelhuis) two good cafés full of young people, many offices of starting up designers and fashion designers. At the back of Westergasfabriek there is a long rectangular pool for kids, perfect on a warm day.