Christmas on the building site

On 21 December 2012, the UvA and BAM Utiliteitsbouw organised a Christmas event on the Roeterseilandcampus building site. Students, employees, local residents – if fact everyone – was welcome. It was an opportunity to find out how the work was progressing while enjoying a drink and a snack. A number of information stalls were set up and there was a tour of the building site for anyone interested. An activity corner, supervised by students of the Education Theory department, was set up for the little ones to show off their creative talents. A ‘topping-out’ ceremony was also held to mark the highest point of the structure having been reached. All in all, a great afternoon.

Paul Doop, Vice-President of the Executive Board UvA- The deans of the faculties ride the topping-out beer to Roeterseilandcampus HvA thanks the construction workers. the construction workers. ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 2013 ‘Stories from my law office

Something of a white Christmas at the building site. Domain managers of the Amstel campus Miriam BAM employees in festive mood. The start of the tours was announced in true Leeflang (l) and Roeterseilandcampus Carin Bosboom. Christmas fashion. are the basis’

Professor by Special Appointment of the Legal Profes- sion at the UvA’s Faculty of Law Britta Böhler has also co-authored the first volume of a crime thriller set in Amsterdam, titled Heldhaftig (‘Heroic’), with Rodney Bolt. We caught up with her to talk about writing and her activities as professor.

In 2010, Böhler took a sabbati- to do it on my own, so I asked Tour through Building B. Kids decorate their own hard hats. Students sing Christmas carols. Just one more bite then. cal. ‘After 15 years in the legal a good friend of mine, Rodney practice, I was no longer the Bolt, if he was interested. It pioneer I wanted to be, so I turned out he’d been wanting to took a step back to reconsider write a detective novel for ages, Roeterseiland back then my options for the years ahead. but found it difficult to come up I went to Tenerife for a while, with a good plot.’ Collaborating and but found myself bored beyond Roeters and Sarphati belief; there were no bookshops Author duo or anything. Fortunately, there The author duo Britta Bolt com- being there was one small kiosk that sold bines their respective strengths: The Roeterseiland has a rich a doubt one of 19th-century ‘Sarphati makes detective novels, so I began Böhler’s ability to construct history, which we will be Amsterdam’s most ­colourful reading those.’ Böhler had long a plot and Rodney’s storytell- exploring over the coming figures. He came from a poor the city bloom’ toyed with the idea of writing a ing talent. ‘Our collaboration period. We will be doing Jewish family. It was the finan- novel herself, but her busy law is a totally organic process. We so with the help of local cial support of friends, who office never left enough time. have so much fun writing and residents, employees and noticed his gifts early on, into slowly moving gutters.’ ‘On Tenerife I hit on the idea of coming up with ideas.’ What students that have studied that enabled Samuel to study The stench of the city must writing a detective novel. I have inspired their unusual protago- this historical period. In this medicine. He developed into a have been unbearable. But this so many stories from my job to nist? ‘We heard about a situation part: Roeters and Sarphati, liberal and idealist. The flourish- all changed thanks to Sarphati.’ draw on. But I wasn’t so keen at Amsterdam’s municipal > a story from the book by two ing of the city after 1850 was Also the street named after him, residents Ko van Geemert largely thanks to his efforts. which before then was known Named Professor by Special Appointment of the Legal Profession at the UvA as from 1 January 2012, and Karel Warmenhoven He established the commercial as Schans, was turned into a Britta Böhler is also half of the author duo Britta Bolt. Currently, Böhler has her office in one of the Britta Böhler and Rodney Bolt are the two halves of ‘Van Artis tot Zeeman, de school, the first bread ­factory, boulevard with, for the time, UvA’s oldest buildings, but that will change when she moves to Roeterseiland. ‘The UvA should never author duo Britta Bolt. Their novel (Heldhaftig) centres on ­Amsterdamse Plantage en the Agricultural Society, the sunny and airy residences thanks have given me the best office at Oudemanhuispoort. It will be hard to leave. But the plans for the Pieter Posthumus, who works at Amsterdam’s municipal Weesperbuurt van A tot Z’. National Mortgage Bank, the to Sarphati’s efforts in 1870. The Roeterseilandcampus look fantastic, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store.’ undertaker’s office and is responsible for arranging Amstel Hotel, the Palace for Oranje Nassau barracks, built anonymous burials. Plagued by misgivings about two Edward Loos has been enforce guidelines if they’re While we know so much about Industry and an improved in the Sarphatistraat in 1814, ­Roeterseiland project mana- ignored.’ Samuel Sarphati (1813 – 1866), system for the collection of now houses 180 rented homes such burials, Posthumus is convinced he’s on the trail of a ger for the City Centre urban Since 1 September, the urban we know virtually nothing the city’s rubbish. The latter, and small businesses. Another murderer – even if the police believe otherwise. district since September 2012. district has had teams working­ about Hendrick Roeters (1617 – in ­particular, must have rep- former barracks, located in Launch of REC A renovation He is a regular at neigh- on area management, the 1699), the scion of a reformed/ resented a huge leap forward. Sarphatistraat 470, now houses Volume two of the Posthumus trilogy will be published in bourhood meetings and calls members of which collaborate Mennonite Amsterdam fam- A contemporary: ‘In the best the Royal Academy of Visual autumn 2013 by Arbeiderspers. himself ‘the central contact closely in the development, ily. In the 1660s Roeters was a neighbourhoods, on street Arts. In addition to the street, request. Riccardo Hartsink, can only be done by experts’, for the UvA, local residents management and maintenance city sheriff (alderman, ed.) and corners and near churches, were a park, quay and a nursing home construction manager at Hartsink explains. After that, and businesspeople.’ of the public space. This has from 1673 until 1680 he held piles of excrement and trash; were also named in honour of BAM Utiliteitsbouw, explains. the demolition begins. ‘Only the resulted in greater coordination. the position of chief bailiff walls were eroded by urine; Samuel Sarphati. shell of Building A will remain, ‘Working closely with the UvA, Loos: ‘For example, I will attend (mayor, ed.) of Amsterdam. chamber pots were emptied ‘When the UvA asked if we plus the foundation and con- we aim to steer the develop- a neighbourhood meeting on Roetersstraat and Roeterseiland could move up the REC A crete structure. We’ll start with Further information ments in the neighbourhood demolition and the construction were both named after him. In demolition and construction the interior, leaving the existing At the Roeterseiland location, a number of existing university in the right direction and to be of REC A (development) while the 17th century, Roeterseiland works schedule, BAM reviewed façade intact as long as possible buildings are being renovated and the outdoor space there for people when we’re the domain managers in our was a centre of brandy produc- the options and was able to to limit noise levels. Only when redeveloped over the next few years to accommodate the needed. As an Amsterdam team attend a residents’ meeting­ tion. In 1671, Roeters, acting start preparing the building site we’ve finished with the build- urban district, we of course on subsidence in the street as city sheriff, sold seven- before the Christmas holiday. ing interior will we demolish Faculty of Economics and Business, the Faculty of Social and have public-law tasks such as (management and maintenance).’ teen plots of land to brandy That done, we could get to the external wall.’ The cleanup Behavioural Sciences and the Faculty of Law. The facility is issuing licences for construc- Loos can see that the UvA is distillers, including two to work. As the UvA wishes to and demolition will take 9-12 set to become a lively urban campus with study facilities, tion, business and catering as taking area management very himself. The parcel of land minimise the noise disturbance months, with the number of research labs and catering facilities. The latest information well as amending zoning plans. seriously. ‘For example, the between Weesperplein, Nieuwe of these activities for area users workers onsite to be gradually on the construction activities is available on www.uva.nl/ I approach the ­neighbourhood university is being a lot clearer Achtergracht, Dwarsgracht (now and residents, our goal is to have scaled up over time, to 150-200 roeterseiland or via Twitter @roeterseiland. from that perspective. If some- and more transparent about the Roetersstraat) and Baangracht the new REC A façade up in when the actual construction thing needs to be arranged or is potential nuisance caused by the (now Sarphatistraat) ­therefore Riccardo Hartsink summer 2014.’ work gets underway. ‘The faster Visitors are also welcome to drop by the Roeterseiland­ in danger of going wrong, I am work. All studies into vibrations soon acquired the name we work, the earlier the build- ­campus Information Point in the foyer of Building E the person to see for both the and noise can now be consulted Roeterseiland. Nowadays, the Demolition and construction Demolition and cleanup ing can be completed and the UvA as well as local residents on the Internet. That fosters a entire area is occupied by the 2013 works at REC A were ushered ‘On 7 January we started the sooner the disturbance ends.’ (Roetersstraat 11) on Wednesday afternoons between and businesspeople,’ says Loos. sense of confidence, I’m told University of Amsterdam. in with the new year – ahead cleanup and removal of asbes- 15:00 and 17:00. ‘In addition, we also have to by the local residents.’ Samuel Sarphati was without Corner of Sarphatistraat – Roetersstraat of schedule, at the UvA’s tos. This is exacting work that board to direct the class, with ‘Can’t we Construction information Classroom of the future their instructions appearing simultaneously on students’ have more of laptop screens. ‘This setup motivates students facilitates more active forms of these rooms? Activities for the coming months teaching’, Veugelers explains. ‘Students work in groups and They’re brilliant.’ can put together a ­presentation © UvA-Kaartenmakers 2012 Buildings B and C run from January up to around Roeterseilandcampus in no time, and everything ARTIS In the first half of 2013, activi- the start of summer 2013. the group does is immediately put in their best effort. Plus the ties at the Buildings B and C Demolition activities will con- ­visible onscreen. It’s no longer a chairs are more comfortable and Plantage Middenlaan towers will mainly comprise tinue until autumn 2013, after Situation in winter 2012/2013 one-way flow from the lecturer.’ the tables larger, so, all in all, finishing work. which the building’s new outer M the whole space works better. Renovation/construction project walls will go up. The aim is to Follow-up They’ve already asked if we can Construction site Work on Nieuwe have all of these completed by ‘Though we’re just three months set up more of these spaces.’ Construction completed and Plantage Muidergracht Achtergracht bridge the summer of 2014. into the pilot, it’s already a suc- The project is set to be rolled commissioned Roetersstraat The façade will be erected cess,’ says Veugelers. Lecturers out over the years ahead, not No construction activities between January and May 2013, are happy with the space and only at the Roeterseilandcampus to be followed by finishing work. For more information Nieuwe Prinsengracht Nieuwe Prinsen g N appreciate the new technolo- but also in university buildings ra At present, a section of the old c about the construction h t gies. Students say they can get in the city centre and at Science Plantage Muidergracht building is still visible in the activities, please visit a lot more creative with their Park. G ­cut-out. This last section is slated E www.uva.nl/roeterseiland assignments, and the fact that for demolition from the second everyone can see what everyone Lecturers can reserve these classrooms Roetersstraat quarter and will afford an even H Plantage Lepellaan If you have any questions else is doing motivates them to as from February 2013. D P better impression of the view about the construction over the Nieuwe Achtergracht. activities, please call: Nieuwe C Achtergracht 020 525 7704 Nieuwe Achtergracht Nieuwe Achtergracht Lecture halls Erection of the façades of the Need a flexspace away from the noise? I or send an email to: A low-rise sections of Building B Gebiedsregisseur- Students working in the classroom of the future J K (the lecture halls between CREA B and BAM’s current site office) [email protected] While the UvA is taking all possible steps to minimise any Valckenierstraat ‘Space age it’s not, but the new lecture hall is fully that felt “homey”. To achieve disturbance from the construction work, they cannot be Roetersstraat will begin in January 2013, to be Valckenierstraat Visitors are also welcome to equipped with modern furniture and the latest that, we abandoned the standard eliminated completely. For anyone living or working near the followed by additional finishing drop by the Roeterseiland­ study group room setup and work. ­technologies. It’s about functionality’, emphasises construction site whose activities are being disrupted by the ­campus Information Point brought in different colours, N Marij Veugelers, leader of the Classroom of the works, the UvA has a solution. Since summer 2012, the UvA Weesperplein better chairs and patterned Sarphatistraat REC A in the foyer of building E Future ­project at Building D. carpeting.’ can offer several flex workspaces in Building P on Plantage 0 100 m A pontoon will be installed (Roetersstraat 11) on Muidergracht, including a consultation room, an open work in the Nieuwe Achtergracht Wednesday afternoons An ICTO consultant, Veugelers of desirable features, we got SMART board area with printing facilities and two offices for those wishing to facilitate work at REC A. between 15:00 and 17:00. was commissioned by the together with students, lectur- The new space is organised into to work quietly. Asbestos removal works will Teaching Logistics Office ers and suppliers and compiled five clusters of six tables that jan. feb. mAR. apr. may jun. jul. aug. sept. oCt. nov. dec. 2013 (Bureau Onderwijs Logistiek) to their needs and wishes. We can be sectioned off with acous- If you would like to use one of the flexspaces, Building A The neighbourhood develop a pilot study group asked them to think realistic tic curtains. There is a screen contact our new domain manager, Carin Bosboom: room. ‘To get an idea of what rather than fancy. Students said for each group, to which stu- [email protected] asbestos removal would be required of the they wanted to be able to work dents can plug in their laptops. classroom of the future, and in groups more and in a space Lecturers can use the SMART demolition activities ‘Our focus is on sales, assembly of facades Building B repairs and fast service’ > VERVOLG van pagina 1 the facts using certain ethical finishing work on podium anonymous burials office and frameworks. It’s crucial to think Law students give free legal aid Who doesn’t know them? immediately agreed that we about where students get their rough finishing and installations The bikes of De Fietsfabriek: would have our main character ethics and what tools we can placement of dividing walls good-quality handmade work there. We fleshed him out give them. In my lectures, I do Imagine you’ve just bought bikes. Brothers Erkan and as we went along, and thus the a lot with cases and discussing a TV that doesn’t do what final fitting out and finishing Hakan Aypek sell these bikes, character was born.’ the different considerations that it says on the box or you testing and delivery along with a wide range of factored in. No case has just one want to cancel the purchase bike accessories, in their Renewal right solution. That can be con- of a scooter that was never Building C ­franchise store at Sarphati­ ‘Writing and teaching comple- fusing for students. I show them delivered – what do you do? straat 141. assembly of facades ment each other wonderfully’, which professional ethics can be ‘At the Wetwinkel (or ‘Law says Böhler. ‘The renewal I was taken into account in practice. Shop’), we can tell you exactly rough finishing and installations The Fietsfabriek store, which after in my legal practice I’ve And I encourage students to what your options are’, says placement of dividing walls has been at this address for now found in challenging my venture beyond the mandatory volunteer and Law student around five years, was acquired students. Teaching is so fun and subject matter. If you want to ­Frederique Hanselaar. final fitting out and finishing by the Aypek brothers two years inspiring. Ethics and the evo- aim high, you need to develop testing and delivery ago. The brothers also run a lution of the legal profession breadth.’ ‘Aside from consumer law, we scooter store in Haarlemmerweg. in the 21st century are a core also advise on rent, labour and The above planning schedule merely serves as a guideline. For the latest information, please consult the website and our ‘Of course, we also do bike Erkan Aypek in front of the bike shop in focus of both my teaching and administrative law. You can neighbourhood news updates. repairs,’ says Hakan Aypek. Sarphatistraat research. What makes a good come to us if you object to your ‘For example, we can patch your lawyer? That’s not something Win a book! neighbour’s building a dormer, tyre in either one hour or one for free; it’s right in front of that can be ruled in absolutes. for instance, or if you’ve been Introducing… day. The choice is yours. We the store. We notice that people 1. Britta Böhler previously You have to learn to weigh up laid off without a decent sever- Frederique Hanselaar working in the Wetwinkel always repair broken bikes on appreciate the service and keep authored two non-fiction ance package.’ An Amsterdam- the same day unless we need to coming back. We’re sometimes books; name the title of based foundation, the Wetwinkel their services on a voluntary for a while yet, we’re holding The new domain manager Carin Bosboom order a part from the supplier. asked if we rent bikes or carrier one. is staffed by 14 Law students basis. ‘When you study Law, you special consultation hours for In that case, customers can pick cycles. Unfortunately we just Credits 2. Böhler served as an MP who supply free legal aid to study theory’, says Hanselaar. local residents as from 2013. ‘I started work on 3 December for example by inviting local up their repaired bikes the next don’t have the room in the store The Roeterseilandcampus until 2011. For which fellow students, small business ‘We need to learn about the The dates and locations will be 2012 and immediately intro- residents or businesspeople to day.’ That’s still fast service. And for that. Our focus is on sales, newsletter is a quarterly UvA party? owners and private individuals. important issues in society, posted on our website. Naturally, duced myself to local residents a meeting with the contractors fast service makes for a happy repairs and fast service.’ publication that provides if what we’re learning holds people are also welcome to during a neighbourhood meet- and builders where the topic cyclist. Aypek regularly speaks to cus- 3. Name two famous cases background information and Consultation true in practice and whether visit our current address at ing. I’m happy that I already of noise disturbance may be ‘Most of our customers live in tomers who complain about the details of the construction­ that Böhler represented. ‘If you don’t know how the legal practices can be improved. Oudemanhuispoort.’ knew a few of the locals from discussed. It’s important that the neighbourhood, but we are building work, although he him- planning schedule. For the system works, it can take a lot This real-world experience is my previous job as domain people see what you do. People getting more and more students. self is not bothered that much ­latest information, please Send your answers to: of time to navigate’, explains extremely valuable.’ When the The Wetwinkel holds open consul­ manager for the city centre at a are ­entitled to honesty and open- For minor repairs, we try to by it. ‘I can certainly understand consult the website and the huisvestingsontwikkeling@ Hanselaar. We help people with Faculty of Law relocates to tation hours from 19:00 until housing cooperation. I think it’s ness. I myself am a rather direct apply simple but smart solutions that all the construction work neighbourhood news updates. uva.nl everything from advice and ref- the Roeterseilandcampus, the 21:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. important to approach people person. I do what I say and I’m and we often do them free of annoys people, but I know they erences to issuing summons and Wetwinkel will be moving with An appointment is not necessary. directly and find out what’s not afraid of bearing bad news.’ charge. And anyone with a flat are turning Roeterseiland into Editors: UvA Correct answers will be initiating lawsuits.’ The students it. At the end of November, For further information, please see important to them personally, tyre can use our bicycle pump a top location that will benefit Text: Frederieke Genevace entered to win one of ten are supported by a team of ten the Wetwinkel presented itself www.wetwinkelamsterdam.nl. what motivates them. That way We bade farewell to Marianne de the neighbourhood.’ According Photography: Dirk Gillissen, copies of Heldhaftig by lawyers specialised in commer- to its future neighbours during you can cooperate on a basis of Wal in early December. As domain to Aypek, students are not that 31pictures, Jeroen Oerlemans Britta Bolt. cial law and legal aid, who moni- the Plantage Roundtable for mutual understanding. My aim manager, a position she held for ‘Have your tyre much of a nuisance and ‘it’s Design: Designyard tor how the cases are handled. area residents. ‘Since we won’t Carin Bosboom stepped into Marianne is to involve the area even more over a year, she was a familiar face good to invest in them as they Like the students, they provide actually be at the new premises de Wal’s shoes in early December 2012 intensively with the process, around the Roeterseilandcampus. patched in one hour’ are our future.’