Oude Noorden

Oude Noorden
—  Neighbourhood of Rotterdam  —
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
COROP	Rotterdam
Borough	Noord
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)

Oude Noorden (Old North) is an area of north Rotterdam, Netherlands and is part of the borough Noord. It has approximately 18,000 inhabitants. The district has much pre World War I and World War II architecture still in existence. It has a vibrant though somewhat discreet artistic community.

In 2009 Eberhard van der Laan, the Minister of Housing, referred to the neighbourhood as the third worst in his "40 problem neighbourhoods" list.^[1]

The construction of the district

Oude Noorden is a typical residential area which was destined for the crowded city of Rotterdam to relief. The first houses were built in 1870 around the Noordsingel, which was part of the single plan of city architect Willem Nicolaas Rose. However, it was stipulated that the workers' houses were not allowed to be built on the Noordsingel.

For the rest of the neighborhood were wide streets with large blocks provided. But the streets were narrow and the houses were built close together. Between 1870 and 1930 expanded the area further and further to the north, which in 1903 became necessary to annexing a part of the territory of Hillegersberg.

Architecture

Pijnackerplein

Oude Noorden is a mixture of architectural styles. Most notable are the styles of the 1900s and the urban renewal in the 1980s. The district is compact with a high number of inhabitants per square kilometer. Notable buildings are the bandstand at the Pijnackerplein, and the Convent of the Ruivenstraat. In the third Pijnackerstraat is the building in which the oldest neighbourhood library of the Netherlands was established.

Notable residents

Many notable Dutch people are from the Oude Noorden. Coen Moulijn, Willem de Kooning, Patricia Paay, Wim Jansen, Faas Wilkes, Yvonne Keeley and Rita Reys are born in the district. There is a monument for soccer player Coen Moulijn, the wall of Coen Moulijn. It is in the Bloklandstraat where he lived for years, the street where also Wim Jansen grew up.

References

1. ^ "Most problematic Dutch neighbourhoods made public." Expatica. 26 February 2009. Retrieved on 26 February 2009.

Coordinates: 51°56′9″N 4°28′40″E / 51.93583°N 4.47778°E / 51.93583; 4.47778