Photo: Dutch Cycling Assembly
Amsterdam takes bike parking underwater
26 January 2023
by Sarah Wray
The City of Amsterdam has unveiled two new bicycle parking facilities at its Central Station that can accommodate a total of 11,000 bikes – both built underwater. The project represents an investment of €85 million (US$93 million).
The Stationsplein bicycle garage was the first to open this week under the ‘Open Harbourfront’ in front of the station and can store 7,000 bicycles. It is the largest bicycle garage in Amsterdam, and connects to the metro hall and train station via moving walkways.
The city said the underwater facilities, which are the result of four years’ work involving pumping out water, will give pedestrians more space around the busy station.
A spokesperson told Cities Today: “Bike parking is now only allowed in the parking garages and not on the street, so the racks will be removed.”
De grootste fietsenstalling 🚲🚲🚲 van onze stad opent eind januari de deuren. Om de stalling te bouwen moest het water worden weggepompt uit het Open Havenfront. Bekijk 4️⃣ jaar werk in 6️⃣0️⃣ seconden. pic.twitter.com/J1GJM6PYmZ
— Gemeente Amsterdam (@AmsterdamNL) January 13, 2023
‘Open heart surgery’
Pieter Visser, bike project manager for the City of Amsterdam, highlighted the architecture and lighting of the new development as well as artwork showing the history of the city. Live information will display whether spaces are free, and shared bikes and bike repair facilities are available.
The Stationsplein garage cost €60 million, which Visser said was a lot, but added: “It’s a technical, very difficult bike park to build because it’s underwater so that took a long time planning and it took a long time [to realise]. Some call it like an open heart surgery of Amsterdam Central Station. It’s quite an achievement.”
Parking is free for the first 24 hours, then €1.35 per day after.
‘New era’
In February, a second underwater station for 4,000 bicycles, costing €25 million, will open on the IJboulevard behind the station.
A statement from the city said: “The opening of the new [garages] marks the beginning of a new era, in which Amsterdam Central Station becomes a bit like around 1900: accessible and enjoyable, without cars and bicycles parked everywhere and nowhere.”
The facilities are part of a wider renovation of the area, including maintenance work on jetties and bridges, the creation of wider footpaths and cycling paths and the replacement of tracks and cables.
The city is holding an event to mark the launch of the underwater cycling garages this weekend.
