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Campus Development Campus Development

About the University Quarter

The University of Amsterdam and the City of Amsterdam are working on the development of the Universiteitskwartier in the vibrant heart of Amsterdam. This area is undergoing significant change: from the conversion, renovation and preservation of the monumental buildings into usable university buildings to the - final - design of the outdoor space. The aim is to make the area a place where the various users - students, employees of university and knowledge institutions, residents and businesses - meet and collaborate on ideas.
Development University Quarter

The location: a square kilometre of knowledge and culture

The Universiteitskwartier is the historical birthplace of the University of Amsterdam. It is located in the centre of Amsterdam, between Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Oude Hoogstraat, Kloveniersburgwal, Oude Turfmarkt and Nieuwe Doelenstraat. It belongs to the central city centre and therefore has various types of users. Students and employees who use the UvA locations. Residents, tourists and passers-by who use the outdoor space, businesses and facilities in the area.    

It is home to the Faculty of Humanities, but also to the Allard Pierson, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), the University Theatre, VOX-POP and Venture Lab, among others.

Connection with Society

The University Quarter is a place where science meets everyday life. After all, the major challenges of our time call for human-centred answers – the domain of the humanities.

The Amsterdam Humanities Hub brings together partners from the cultural sector, government, and business with researchers and emerging talent, to collaboratively seek innovative and unexpected solutions to pressing questions.

Throughout the year, the UvA venues – including Allard Pierson, SPUI25, the University Library, and VOX-POP – organise activities that are often free of charge and open to a broad public audience.

Spatial Development of the University Quarter

Strategic Master Plan
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the City of Amsterdam have jointly developed a 'Strategic Master Plan' for the University Quarter's development. This plan forms the foundation for various sub-projects, such as the design of university buildings and public spaces, and also addresses themes such as mobility, logistics, sustainability, liveability, and safety. It was created with input from a wide range of stakeholders. The Amsterdam City Council adopted the plan in the summer of 2021.

Go to the page of the Strategic Masterplan 

The University Quarter

University Quarter Projects

In close collaboration with the City of Amsterdam, the UvA is working on several (sub)projects within the University Quarter. These include the renovation of the former Binnengasthuis Hospital into the new University Library (UB), the refurbishment of BG5, the Oudemanhuispoort (OMHP), and the (temporary) development of the surrounding public space. You can also explore the project pages for the ATES network University Quarter and the restoration of the Grimburgwal quay wall.

Contact
If you have questions about the development of the University Quarter, please contact us.

Reconstruction of the surgical theatre in 1901 and an artist impression of the collegeroom in the new UB (© 4D Research Lab)
Reconstruction: The History of the University Quarter

The University Quarter has a long and remarkable history, having served many different purposes over the centuries. It has housed, among other things, an almshouse for elderly men and women, a monastery, a hospital, and a museum.

To make this history tangible and bring it to life, the 4D Research Lab of the University of Amsterdam created a unique mapping of the area.