The VVD stands for a good social climate for all residents and entrepreneurs in Amsterdam South. Following is a description of the VVD’s most important Amsterdam South proposals per policy area:
Economy
The Zuidas will become a first class international business centre, whereby many small companies in the services sector will be created around the large companies. All the lower floors will have a public function, ensuring the area is also lively and attractive to residents and visitors after 18.00 o’clock;
The Beethovenstraat will become a 30 km zone, whereby the street design will immediately be given a facelift;
The program whereby damage as a result of shop thefts are immediately recovered from the criminal, will be expanded;
The Albert Cuypmarkt (market) and the area surrounding the Gelderlandplein (square) will be given a quality impulse, expansion of the Gelderlandplein must be possible;
Shopping areas will always remain accessible by car.
Work and income
Agreements will be entered into with entrepreneurs regarding making work experience placements available and offering learn and work projects for young people;
Entrepreneurship will be stimulated and facilitated and there will be one counter for all entrepreneurs’ questions and licences.
Safety
Junctions which suffer frequent traffic accidents must be tackled quickly;
Private security, security cameras and preventative body searching are instruments which can be used if it benefits safety;
An extra 15 supervisors will be appointed and increased surveillance will take place on school grounds and playing areas;
Damage caused by children will be actively recovered from the parents;
Squatting represents a fire hazard and is a nuisance to the neighbouring residents and will therefore be proactively dealt with.
Parking and accessibility
Underground community car parks are being built, whereby approximately 2.500 extra spaces for licence holders and visitors will be realised;
Extra spaces will be realised for residents on a waiting list in car parks along the Ring A10 or on the Schinkel industrial estate;
It will continue to be possible to have two parking permits per household in communities where the parking pressure allows for this;
Tram line 25 will continue, line 4 will be extended to De Boelelaan and line 5 will be extended to the Gelderlandplein;
Evening parking charges in the Rivierenbuurt (river area) South will be reversed;
The Irenebuurt’s extraordinary character may not be lost as a result of the Zuidas.
Homes and Communities
The percentage of purchased homes continues to rise, partly as a result of an extensive division policy and the selling of social housing properties;
The supply for the middle classes is rising both in the rental as well as the owner-occupied segment;
Elderly people from the district will be given priority with new housing for the elderly, ensuring older people can stay and become old in their own neighbourhood;
At least 1.000 permanent student homes will be built;
Joining houses together will become easier and cheaper.
Public areas and green
1.500 extra trees will be planted and at least 5 extra small green parks will be added;
More small playgrounds will be built;
Stricter enforcement will be introduced regarding the incorrect offering of household waste, nuisance behaviour, street litter and graffiti;
The second part of the Rijnstraat will be redesigned, in good consultation with the residents and entrepreneurs, whereby the local parking pressure will be tackled.
The environment and sustainability
A 0-rate will apply to building fees when making homes sustainable;
The solar panel area will be expanded;
The positioning of loading points for electronic transport will be stimulated;
Animal wellbeing must be safeguarded.
Integration and diversity
Subsidies for activities or organisations which hinder integration or which are at right angles with integration objectives will be terminated;
Any houses of prayer which preach hatred will be stringently dealt with;
Extra attention will be devoted to Amsterdam South’s Jewish history and the consequences of intolerance around 4th and 5th May.
Education
Free choice of school is always important;
Schools in the South set themselves apart as a result of their diversity and educational provisions; bilingual education, custom made programmes for excellent students, art and technology profiles. School swimming, school gardens and cultural education are all par for the course;
There is a sufficient and suitable supply of before and after school care and the waiting lists for childcare must be reduced.
Care and wellbeing
Nursing homes also offer accommodation for couples, whereby 1 person is in need of assistance and the other can function as a voluntary carer;
We are investing in home service communities, ensuring elderly people can stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
Liveliness and nightlife
The catering policy will only be extended if this can go hand in hand with enforcement against nuisances. Heated terraces and being able to enjoy a drink whilst standing on the terrace will become possible again;
The event budget will be increased and extra events will be brought to the South, like Amsterdam Culinair.
Sports and recreation
Running routes and stretching equipment will be placed in, for example, the Vondelpark;
Extra-curricular and after school care at sports clubs will be actively stimulated;
A target group pool will be introduced;
AFC will have a fully fledged new location;
The district will organise good mooring facilities for residents’ boats and the reduction in the number of mooring places will be reversed.
Art and culture
The art project from the Hilton to Station South will become permanent and will be continued in the Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark and the Amstelpark;
The Bachzaal will once again have a cultural function with the emphasis on classical music and/or jazz;
Empty buildings will be given a temporary cultural function wherever possible.
Finance, taxes and organisation
The budget is balanced and conservative, whereby expected bonuses will be carefully estimated and not spent before they have been realised, whilst also taking any possible setbacks into account;
Subsidies will only be granted based on concrete plans and intended results and one-off subsidies will not automatically be turned into structural subsidies;
The parking revenue will mainly be used for solving the parking problem;
The district’s services will be improved by good evening opening hours, a complaints counter for complaints regarding the district’s rules. Any agreements entered into between the district and the residents and entrepreneurs will be fulfilled.
