Omval

Omval
NeighbourhoodofAmsterdam
Omval seen from the Korte Ouderkerkerdijk on the other side of the Amstel
Location of Omval (green) in Amsterdam
Coordinates:52°20′02″N4°54′44″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Holland
Municipality	Amsterdam
Borough	Oost
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)

Omvalis a neighbourhood situated on apeninsulaon the eastern shore of theAmstelriver inAmsterdam,Netherlands.It is situated south of theWeesperzijdeneighbourhood and next to theAmsterdam Amstel railway stationin theboroughofAmsterdam-Oost.In the 1990s, it became the site of a major business district featuring theRembrandt Tower,the tallest skyscraper in Amsterdam.

History

De Omval aan de Amstel(1645) byRembrandt.

The Omval area became apeninsulain ameanderof theAmstelriver when theWatergraafsmeer,apolderin the east of the city, was drained and reclaimed in 1629. Originally, the Omval was part of theOuder-Amstelmunicipality, but in 1921 the peninsula was added to the city ofAmsterdam.The nameOmvalrefers to the sharp turn in the riverAmstel.In order to safely pass this turn,sailboatstransporting goods on the river in the 17th century had totacktheir sails (overstag gaanoromvallenin Dutch) to change direction.

AnetchingbyRembrandt,who was known to be working in the area, depicts the Omval area in the mid-1600s. The print shows a man standing on theAmstelembankment and two lovers sitting underneath an oldwillowtree, as well as a windmill used to pump water from thepolder.In Rembrandt's time, the Omval was a popular countryside recreation area.

In the 20th century, the Omval became a mixedcommercialandlight industryarea 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 nearbyAmsterdam Amstel railway station.Along the river bank, a number of luxury apartment buildings were constructed.

Notable buildings

The Omval business district as seen from the south.

Until 1964, the Omval was home to the formerBlookerfactory, well known in the Netherlands for producingcocoa solids.The factory'sguardhouse(1886) was reconstructed in 2003 and currently houses a bar and restaurant. Other former businesses at the Omval include thePuralimentofruit preservesfactory,Efa Produkavacuum cleaners,Erdalshoes polishes,theNetherlands Ministry of Defence,a postal and telecommunications school,Bertelsoil refineryandMaschmeijerAromatics.

In 1987, the Amsterdam municipal council approved plans to build three skyscrapers in the Omval district, to be named after Dutch painters.The first building to be completed was theRembrandt Tower(1995), modelled after theEmpire State BuildinginNew 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, theMondriaan Towerand Breitner Tower were completed. The Breitner Tower became the headquarters ofPhilipsElectronics and is therefore also known as the Philips Tower. The Mondriaan currently houses the headquarters ofDelta LloydInsurance Group andRabobankAmsterdam.

Next to theRembrandt Tower,on the site of the headquarters of the formerPostbank,is theLeeuwenburgbuilding of theHogeschool van Amsterdam(HvA), the city'suniversity of applied sciences.Covering a total of 65,000 square meters,Leeuwenburgis one of the largest campuses of HvA.