A wonderful workers’ wijk

Just past the Phoenixstraat’s ‘De Roos’ windmill and on the other side of the railway line, is a wonderful neighbourhood called ‘Agnetapark’. The ‘J.C. van Markenweg’ pathway leads the neighbourhood’s centre, an idyllic park and pond surrounded by birch, beech, oak and willow trees, the latter’s branches stretching out over the water. Although the oddly shaped pond seems to have been created by the unruly hand of nature, the park and pond were in fact designed by landscape architect Louis Zocher, who also designed Amsterdam’s ‘Vondelpark’. Occasionally, the sound of passing trains is heard and then fades, leaving only the chattering of ducks, coots and other aquatic birds. Agnetapark is a serene and surreal place.

At the intersection of the J.C. van Markenweg and Frederik Matthesstraat stands the statue of Agnetaparks’ founder, Jacob van Marken. Van Marken on his pedestal, surrounded by yellow tulips, forever gazes towards the entrance to the factory (today’s Calve factory) that he built in the 19th century. Van Marken however was no ordinary businessman; he had an intrinsic belief in humanistic values and became one of the pioneers of social entrepreneurship in Western industrial history, as can be deduced from one of his most famous sayings: “It seems to me that the duty of an employer is to aid his subordinates by every means at his command — his heart, his intellect, his wealth — to attain that highest stage which alone makes life worth living.”

The ‘Agnetapark’ was built as a neighbourhood for the factory’s workers and its name also expresses the affection Van Marken felt for his wife, after whom he named the park. Van Marken was a graduate of Delft’s Polytechnische School, the forerunner of TU Delft, and he established his business empire in the 1870s, building his ‘Gist en Spiritusfabriek’. Van Marken’s factories produced yeast, alcohol, oil, glue and gelatine, and he became one of the most influential figures of Holland’s industrial era.

TU Professor Dries Gisolf, who is charmed by Agnetapark’s beauty and lives only a few blocks away, says that the factories Van Marken built played a major role in the establishment of industry as it exists today. “In the 1950’s, as a part of our elementary school curriculum, we were taught about how significant these factories were and the social entrepreneurship behind them,’’ Gisolf says. ‘‘Back then, the factories were seen as role models for all Dutch industry.’’

From the start, Van Marken was very much concerned with the well-being of his employees. For example, he gave his employees the possibility of co-determination by forming a council, called ‘De Kern’ (The Core). This unique step, taken in 1875, later became one of the trademarks of the welfare state in industrialized economies. Van Marken’s employees were given a library, life insurance, a widow and orphan fund, and a health insurance fund. And on Agnetapark’s west side, a building called ‘De Tent’ was built as a place where factory workers and their families could relax and have fun. Today, this building is the party and conference centre, De Lindenhof, which, happily, still retains some of De Tent’s authentic features, such as an attractive theatre hall dating from 1914.

Party

Tim Albers, a TU student in applied physics, is one of the fortunate few students who live in Agnetapark. Albers lives in a student house that was once the residence of Wilhelmus van Leeuwen, a former director of Van Marken’s firm. Albers: “It’s a nice and spacious place to live, a peaceful neighbourhood with lots of children. We get along with everybody and every two years there’s even a small neighbourhood party.’’

Walking down the Wallerstraat, one immediately notices that all the homes have yellow-trimmed windows, a trademark of this section of the neighbourhood, which was built in the 1920’s and is called ‘Nieuwe Agnetapark’. The most prominent building here is the former ‘Building of Collective Property’, where all Agnetapark’s administrative work was done. In contrast to the surreal design of the original section of Agnetapark, completed in 1884, this new area is more sober, with a rectangular pond and parallel streets.

Gisolf praises Agnetapark’s intriguing architecture, which is known as the ‘Amsterdamse school’ style and was a successor to ‘Jugendstil’. Gisolf: ‘‘The factory buildings parallel to the ‘Nieuwe Plantage’ street are really wonderful, including the beautiful former main building of the factory. It’s a must see for anyone who’s interested in the architecture of the last two centuries.’’

Just past the Phoenixstraat’s ‘De Roos’ windmill and on the other side of the railway line, is a wonderful neighbourhood called ‘Agnetapark’. The ‘J.C. van Markenweg’ pathway leads the neighbourhood’s centre, an idyllic park and pond surrounded by birch, beech, oak and willow trees, the latter’s branches stretching out over the water. Although the oddly shaped pond seems to have been created by the unruly hand of nature, the park and pond were in fact designed by landscape architect Louis Zocher, who also designed Amsterdam’s ‘Vondelpark’. Occasionally, the sound of passing trains is heard and then fades, leaving only the chattering of ducks, coots and other aquatic birds. Agnetapark is a serene and surreal place.

At the intersection of the J.C. van Markenweg and Frederik Matthesstraat stands the statue of Agnetaparks’ founder, Jacob van Marken. Van Marken on his pedestal, surrounded by yellow tulips, forever gazes towards the entrance to the factory (today’s Calve factory) that he built in the 19th century. Van Marken however was no ordinary businessman; he had an intrinsic belief in humanistic values and became one of the pioneers of social entrepreneurship in Western industrial history, as can be deduced from one of his most famous sayings: “It seems to me that the duty of an employer is to aid his subordinates by every means at his command — his heart, his intellect, his wealth — to attain that highest stage which alone makes life worth living.”

The ‘Agnetapark’ was built as a neighbourhood for the factory’s workers and its name also expresses the affection Van Marken felt for his wife, after whom he named the park. Van Marken was a graduate of Delft’s Polytechnische School, the forerunner of TU Delft, and he established his business empire in the 1870s, building his ‘Gist en Spiritusfabriek’. Van Marken’s factories produced yeast, alcohol, oil, glue and gelatine, and he became one of the most influential figures of Holland’s industrial era.

TU Professor Dries Gisolf, who is charmed by Agnetapark’s beauty and lives only a few blocks away, says that the factories Van Marken built played a major role in the establishment of industry as it exists today. “In the 1950’s, as a part of our elementary school curriculum, we were taught about how significant these factories were and the social entrepreneurship behind them,’’ Gisolf says. ‘‘Back then, the factories were seen as role models for all Dutch industry.’’

From the start, Van Marken was very much concerned with the well-being of his employees. For example, he gave his employees the possibility of co-determination by forming a council, called ‘De Kern’ (The Core). This unique step, taken in 1875, later became one of the trademarks of the welfare state in industrialized economies. Van Marken’s employees were given a library, life insurance, a widow and orphan fund, and a health insurance fund. And on Agnetapark’s west side, a building called ‘De Tent’ was built as a place where factory workers and their families could relax and have fun. Today, this building is the party and conference centre, De Lindenhof, which, happily, still retains some of De Tent’s authentic features, such as an attractive theatre hall dating from 1914.

Party

Tim Albers, a TU student in applied physics, is one of the fortunate few students who live in Agnetapark. Albers lives in a student house that was once the residence of Wilhelmus van Leeuwen, a former director of Van Marken’s firm. Albers: “It’s a nice and spacious place to live, a peaceful neighbourhood with lots of children. We get along with everybody and every two years there’s even a small neighbourhood party.’’

Walking down the Wallerstraat, one immediately notices that all the homes have yellow-trimmed windows, a trademark of this section of the neighbourhood, which was built in the 1920’s and is called ‘Nieuwe Agnetapark’. The most prominent building here is the former ‘Building of Collective Property’, where all Agnetapark’s administrative work was done. In contrast to the surreal design of the original section of Agnetapark, completed in 1884, this new area is more sober, with a rectangular pond and parallel streets.

Gisolf praises Agnetapark’s intriguing architecture, which is known as the ‘Amsterdamse school’ style and was a successor to ‘Jugendstil’. Gisolf: ‘‘The factory buildings parallel to the ‘Nieuwe Plantage’ street are really wonderful, including the beautiful former main building of the factory. It’s a must see for anyone who’s interested in the architecture of the last two centuries.’’