De Vrijheidslaan
Vrijheidslaan is one of the important main roads in the famous Plan Zuid by architect Berlage. Together with the Berlage Bridge, the street forms the eastern access to the Rivierenbuurt. In the area on and around Vrijheidslaan you will find special architecture by big names from the Amsterdam School, such as Michel de Klerk, Piet Kramer and Margaret Staal-Kropholler, the first female architect to practice professionally in the Netherlands.
Name change
Vrijheidslaan is one of the Amsterdam streets that has changed its name several times. The avenue was originally called Amstellaan. The 2 large branching avenues were known as Noorder Amstellaan and Zuider Amstellaan. After WWII it was decided to name the avenues after leaders of the countries that defeated the Nazis, namely the US and Russia. This is how Churchill and Rooseveltlaan were created. The Amstellaan became Stalinlaan. After the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, on November 14 of that year, the avenue was renamed again and was named Vrijheidslaan.
Amsterdam School style
Although various architects have worked on Vrijheidslaan, the overall appearance certainly forms one whole. Although the architects were only allowed to design the facades, they were not free to determine everything themselves. A committee set far-reaching requirements regarding, for example, height and choice of materials. For example, the architects on Amstellaan were obliged to use the same yellow-colored stone, but requirements were also imposed on the color of the joints, the roof covering and the color of the paintwork.
For more information about the architecture of the Amsterdam School and Plan Berlage, visit the Museum het Schip website .
