“We want to create a reconstruction of that area,” says Baudet. “On the one hand, we want to do that by creating stories based on interviews with people who have lived or worked at the Marineterrein. In addition, we want to make a 3D reconstruction of the site during different periods in history.”

To uncover these stories, Baudet is working on setting up a network. There is already a collaboration with the Maritime Museum, conversations are being held in the neighborhood, and there are plans to organize a reunion for former Navy personnel. “In addition, we’re offering a new elective course within the Master's program in Military History, focusing on society and the armed forces. This course will also focus on the Marineterrein, which means that students from the Master's program can help uncover and document these stories.”

Occupied territory and espionage hub

According to Baudet, there are still many stories waiting to be discovered. “The area has an incredibly rich military and economic history. In the seventeenth century, it was the designated location for the Republic’s shipyard. The island was also home to the warehouse of the Admiralty of Amsterdam, one of the predecessors of the Royal Navy. Over the centuries, the military aspect remained central to the site. For instance, in the twentieth century, it also served as an espionage hub. Some of the information about that is still classified.”

Moreover, a large part of the area’s history is still unknown. “During the Second World War, the site was occupied by the Germans, who turned it into a logistical support point for the distribution of food, mail, and other goods for the German troops in Amsterdam. There’s also very little known about the period afterward, when political prisoners were held at the site before being transported to Java Island. We hope to change that.”

Urban development

Unravelling the past is fitting for the new phase that the area has entered. The site is being redeveloped and is now partially open to Amsterdam residents. The city council has designated the area as an innovation hub, where experiments are being carried out in sustainability, housing and work. A total of 800 homes are planned, alongside space for start-ups, larger companies and educational institutions.

'The plans for the area actually align very well with the Marineterrein's historical role,' says Baudet. 'The Republic's shipbuilding industry was, for a time, state of the art and highly innovative — just as the municipality aims to be now.'