Metro infrastructure planning in Amsterdam: how are social issues managed in the absence of environmental and social impact assessment?

Figures & data

Figure 1. Noord/Zuidlijn (Visser & Smit Bouw n.d.).

Table 1. Timeline of key events relating to the North-South Line (compiled from Faithful and Gould Consult 2005; Soetenhorst 2011; Schuurman and Sheerazi 2013; Valliant 2017; Gemeente Amsterdam 2018 and interview data).

Date	Event
1968	The Municipal Council of Amsterdam agrees to start work on the East line and made plans to build the NZL as part of the Plan Stadsspoor. The Plan Stadsspoor was proposed to phase a metro network, which connected all neighbourhoods in Amsterdam. Four lines were conceived with two East-West lines, a Ring Line and a North-South Line.
1971	Construction of one East-West Line (which later became the East line) started, using a cut-and-cover technique.
1975	Riots broke out in the Nieuwmarket neighbourhood. Protestors opposed city plans to demolish further housing. The proposal to build the NZL is removed and it is announced that the East line will be the only metro line in Amsterdam.
1980s	A ‘sneltram’ between Amstelveen and Amsterdam is investigated as an alternative to metro. A number of internal studies are conducted by the Municipality into the feasibility of constructing the NZL.
1988–1989	A metro line between the North and South of Amsterdam is publicly announced. A study is commissioned to investigate improvements in public transport.
1995	The NZL route is identified by the Municipal Council of Amsterdam and plans are released for public consultation. Project boundaries are defined in the landuse plan. Technical studies are undertaken to help the Municipality decide whether or not to proceed.
1996	The Municipal Council of Amsterdam decides to approve the project 27 November 1996 to request funding from the Dutch Ministry of Public Transport. Costs are estimated at 1.4 billion equivalent euros, with a delivery date of 2005. The Dutch Ministry of Public Transport (Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat) commits to financing the project.
1996–1997	The Municipality decides to hold a public referendum on the NZL. On 25 June 1997, 65% voting against the project. However, the poll was non-binding because the number of voters was insufficient.
1997–2001	Further consultancy studies are conducted to quantify the risks of the NZL. The procurement process begins and negotiations begin. A subsidy is added to the overall budget for the compensation of risks and accepted on 21 June 2000 by the Municipal Council. The budget and sub-contracts are amended several times to include contingency for risks.
9 October 2002	The Municipal Council of Amsterdam makes a definite decision to proceed with the project with a start budget of 1,461 million (excluding risks).
December 2002	Pre-construction activities commence.
22 April 2003	Construction commenced.
2003–2007	Problems arise with the NZL management team and delays and costs experienced.
19 June 2008	A leakage occurs in the west wall of the building pit of Vijzelgracht station resulting in major soil subsidence of adjacent houses.
2008, 9–10 September	Further leakages occur causing soil subsidence in adjacent buildings at Vijzelgracht. Construction is halted.
March 2009	The Veerman Committee is enacted to provide advice to the Amsterdam Municipal Council.
June 2009	The Veerman Committee presents its report, advising Amsterdam to complete the metro line. It concluded that the project will take another 8 years and cost up to 3.1 billion euros. The Committee made over 40 recommendations about progressing further with the project, including that the municipality must communicate more openly and transparently with the people of Amsterdam and provide more compensation for inconvenience and damage experienced by residents and businesses.
September 2009	Construction recommences on the NZL following the decision to proceed from the Veerman Committee and allocation of additional funds.
2010	Boring successfully completed. There are further delays and project costs increased. A change in communications strategy with the aim to rebuild trust with the people of Amsterdam was officially implemented.
22 July 2018	NZL begins operation.

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