Westerpark, Amsterdam
Posted by: 
Mirtilli
N 52° 23.177 E 004° 52.678
31U E 627805 N 5805662
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.
Waymark Code: WM8JTG
Location: Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 04/11/2010
Views: 35
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.
Info taken:
(
visit link)
Name: Westerpark, Amsterdam
Street Location: Haarlemmerweg 8-10, 1014 BE Amsterdam
Local Municipality: Amsterdam
State/Province, etc.: Nord Holland
Country: Netherlands
Web Site: [Web Link]
Memorial/Commemoration: No
Date Established: 1891
Picnic Facilities: There are picnic tables and a few location where you can drink something.
Recreational Facilities:
Children's Playground
Korfball
Monuments/Statues: Lots of earth globes
Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): yes
Fountains: Yes
Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: yes
Special Events: concerts, fairs
Traditional Geocaches:
Mystery cache
Zip:GC21X3F
Multi cache
Westerpark: GC1K5C1
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Visit Instructions:
One photo of the park that is a different view from the one on the page, and give the date and description your visit.
Add any additional information that you may have about this park. A GPSr photo is NOT required.