Amsterdam backs controversial lakeside theatre plan, despite opposition

The Sloterplas lake in Amsterdan Nieuw West. Photo: DutchNews.nl
The Sloterplas lake in Amsterdan Nieuw West. Photo: DutchNews.nl

Amsterdam city council members have voted in favour of a controversial plan to build a new theatre on stilts in the Sloterplas lake in the west of the city, even though it is a protected green area.

Local support for the Meervaart theatre project is divided, with half wanting to keep the Sloterplas pristine and half in favour of giving the area a new iconic building.

GroenLinks, D66, PvdA and opposition party NIDA decided on Wednesday to build the new theatre in the water, ‘because it offers the best options,’ GroenLinks council member Nienke van Renssen said.

VVD, PvdD and SP voted against because, they said, local support is missing and that the new theatre could be built on the site of the old one.

The council also passed a motion to try to stop a new hotel being built on the old site. Amsterdam decided to put a stop to extending hotel capacity in the capital in 2016 but owners MDR Development have a legal right to build a hotel on the site dating from 2013.

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