Amsterdam has always being a city of change. Change to breathe life back into areas. The old industrial sites to the north of the city, along the harbour are a case in point. No longer in use factories, warehouses have been closed or demolished. But luckily some buildings have been renovated and reopen in a new exciting guise. The old staff canteen for the shipbuilders ia yet again open for business as a restaurant. A listed building previously used as a grain silo has been converted into apartments and office space (oh how I want to live in this building!)
On one wharf you now see trams parked up, going nowhere. These great old trams have been lovingly restored and are now the base for a charity running creative events for kids. Sometimes they also have things for big kids as well! Theatre shows, craft workshops, stories of past times on the wharf are among the many varied activities. It is a great initiative.
But what I love most are the trams themselves. This is Trammeland, with its own garden, post box and lots of quirky items in, on and around the trams.
Behind the trams is an old crane from the 1950’s. No longer lifting goods from far off lands from the incoming ships. It needed a new use and now it has one. It is a hotel. 3 rooms created out of the old cabins and on the very top a jacuzzi! Definitely a room with a view.
It is great to see new life for this area. Sometimes it just needs a little bit of creativity and voila! a place is alive again.
