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{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Omval
|native_name =
|other_name =
|settlement_type = [[Neighbourhood]] of [[Amsterdam]]
|image_skyline = Omval_Amsterdam.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Omval seen from the Korte Ouderkerkerdijk on the other side of the Amstel
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|image_map = Map NL - Amsterdam - De Omval.png
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|map_caption = Location of Omval (green) in Amsterdam
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|coordinates = {{Coord|52|20|02|N|4|54|44|E|display=inline,title|region:NL_type:city}}
|subdivision_type = [[Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Netherlands]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[Boroughs of Amsterdam|Borough]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[North Holland]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Amsterdam]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Amsterdam-Oost|Oost]]
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|unit_pref =Imperial
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|postal_code = 1096
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|timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
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'''Omval''' is a neighbourhood situated on a [[peninsula]] on the eastern shore of the [[Amstel]] river in [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]. It is situated south of the [[Weesperzijde (Amsterdam)|Weesperzijde]] neighbourhood and next to the [[Amsterdam Amstel railway station]] in the [[Submunicipalities of Amsterdam|borough]] of [[Amsterdam-Oost]]. In the 1990s, it became the site of a major business district featuring the [[Rembrandt Tower]], the tallest skyscraper in Amsterdam.

==History==
[[File:B209 Rembrandt.jpg|thumb|left|''De Omval aan de Amstel'' (1645) by [[Rembrandt]].]]The Omval area became a [[peninsula]] in a [[meander]] of the [[Amstel]] river when the [[Watergraafsmeer]], a [[polder]] in the east of the city, was drained and reclaimed in 1629. Originally, the Omval was part of the [[Ouder-Amstel]] municipality, but in 1921 the peninsula was added to the city of [[Amsterdam]]. The name ''Omval'' refers to the sharp turn in the river [[Amstel]]. In order to safely pass this turn, [[sailboat]]s transporting goods on the river in the 17th century had to [[Tacking (sailing)|tack]] their sails (''overstag gaan'' or ''omvallen'' in Dutch) to change direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rembrandttower.nl/nl/timeline|title=Timeline|publisher=Rembrandt Tower|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2013-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610062250/http://www.rembrandttower.nl/nl/timeline|url-status=live}}</ref>

An [[etching]] by [[Rembrandt]], who was known to be working in the area, depicts the Omval area in the mid-1600s. The print shows a man standing on the [[Amstel]] embankment and two lovers sitting underneath an old [[willow]] tree, as well as a windmill used to pump water from the [[polder]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/collectie/etsen/landschappen/de-omval-aan-de-amstel-%281645%29|title=De Omval aan de Amstel (1645)|publisher=Rembrandthuis|language=nl|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2015-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918172733/http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/collectie/etsen/landschappen/de-omval-aan-de-amstel-(1645)|url-status=live}}</ref> In Rembrandt's time, the Omval was a popular countryside recreation area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/rembrandt/rembrandt-en-amsterdam/het-amsterdam-van-rembrandt|title=Rembrandt's Amsterdam|publisher=Rembrandthuis|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2014-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042348/http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/rembrandt/rembrandt-en-amsterdam/het-amsterdam-van-rembrandt|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 20th century, the Omval became a mixed [[commercial area|commercial]] and [[light industry]] area which was then on the edge of the city. In the 1990s, this area was redeveloped into a major business district, which was now firmly within the metropolitan area due to the city's expansion in southeastern direction and well-connected via train and metro because of the nearby [[Amsterdam Amstel railway station]]. Along the river bank, a number of luxury apartment buildings were constructed.

==Notable buildings==
[[File:River Amstel in Amsterdam near Omval.jpg|thumb|left|The Omval business district as seen from the south.]]Until 1964, the Omval was home to the former ''Blooker'' factory, well known in the Netherlands for producing [[cocoa solids]]. The factory's [[guardhouse]] (1886) was reconstructed in 2003 and currently houses a bar and restaurant. Other former businesses at the Omval include the ''Puralimento'' [[fruit preserves]] factory, ''Efa Produka'' vacuum cleaners, ''Erdal'' [[shoe polish|shoes polishes]], the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Netherlands Ministry of Defence]], a postal and telecommunications school, ''Bertels'' [[oil refinery]] and ''Maschmeijer'' Aromatics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geheugenvanoost.nl/search/68442/nl|title=Omval & Groene Staart|publisher=Amsterdam Museum|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2014-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811221852/http://www.geheugenvanoost.nl/search/68442/nl|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1987, the Amsterdam municipal council approved plans to build three skyscrapers in the Omval district, to be named after Dutch painters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.iamsterdam.com/explore_locations/view/200|title=Rembrandttoren (skyscraper)|publisher=Iamsterdam.com|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2014-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042211/http://m.iamsterdam.com/explore_locations/view/200|url-status=live}}</ref> The first building to be completed was the [[Rembrandt Tower]] (1995), modelled after the [[Empire State Building]] in [[New York City]], which became the tallest building in the city. With its 135 meters, it has become a notable landmark in the city's skyline. In 2001, the [[Mondriaan Tower]] and Breitner Tower were completed. The Breitner Tower became the headquarters of [[Philips]] Electronics and is therefore also known as the Philips Tower. The Mondriaan currently houses the headquarters of [[Delta Lloyd Group|Delta Lloyd]] Insurance Group and [[Rabobank]] Amsterdam.

Next to the [[Rembrandt Tower]], on the site of the headquarters of the former [[Postbank N.V.|Postbank]], is the ''Leeuwenburg'' building of the [[Hogeschool van Amsterdam]] (HvA), the city's [[Vocational university|university of applied sciences]]. Covering a total of 65,000 square meters, ''Leeuwenburg'' is one of the largest campuses of HvA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sybvanbreda.com/experience/architecture-for-the-mind/leeuwenburg-amsterdam/|title=Leeuwenburg, Amsterdam|language=nl|publisher=Syb van Breda & Co. Architects|access-date=2014-08-05|archive-date=2014-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808065412/http://www.sybvanbreda.com/experience/architecture-for-the-mind/leeuwenburg-amsterdam/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Neighborhoods of Amsterdam}}

[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Amsterdam-Oost]]