History of Tolhuistuin

Tolhuistuin has a special history. The Tolhuistuin Garden is one of Amsterdam's oldest city parks, a place for recreation and relaxation. For centuries, it has been there, on the other side of the IJ, facing the centre of Amsterdam. It was the place where travellers could wait to cross by boat to the city centre when the city gates opened in the morning.
In 1770, a tea dome was built with a large garden: the Tolhuistuin. That garden is a popular outing for Amsterdam residents, with a beautiful view of the city. Tolhuistuin becomes one of the city's most popular entertainment venues, especially among the well-to-do, with stunning views of the IJ and Amsterdam city centre. From 1870, there are also open-air concerts. There is a dance floor, a bowling alley, a shooting range, a playground and swimming competitions are organised.

When Noord becomes more and more a place for heavy industry in the late 19th century, Tolhuistuin stops concerts. However, major manifestations on innovation and technology do take place, such as the first Dutch shipping exhibition in 1913 and the first aviation exhibition Amsterdam in 1919. In 1919, Tolhuistuin is adapted by the municipality with the aim of making it suitable for all walks of life. The Garden will have a lawn and playground, a novelty at the time.

Place for research and innovation

In the late 1930s, it was decided to transfer the site to the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij/ Shell. With Shell's arrival, Tolhuistuin becomes part of Lab Amsterdam, the oil giant's research centre. For almost a hundred years, Lab Amsterdam has been the heart of the fossil industry. The site houses offices, laboratories and halls with numerous test facilities, such as the Polymer Centre, the Pilot Plant, the Shell Tower and the Biological Department. Shell conducts scientific and technical research there on petrol, asphalt, paraffin, pesticides, cracker gas, chemistry and more. In 1954, the Netherlands' first electronic calculator, the Miracle, a forerunner of the computer, is installed in Noord.

New buildings are erected on the Tolhuistuin site, a building for the Company Medical Service (1955, now: the Staalvilla), a Porter's House (1938, now: Villa Abspoel), a Canteen for Personnel with Weekly Salary (1938, now: the Poortgebouw) and two service houses (now: the Reserve). The largest building on the Tollhouse grounds is the company canteen, which we now call the Pavilion. It was built in the years 1971-1974 to the design of architect Arthur Staal (1907-1993). The building is a municipal monument.
Tolhuistuin has been hermetically sealed to the public all this time, tucked away behind a fence.

Tolhuistuin, place for art and culture

In 2009, Shell sells the site to Gemeente Amsterdam. The municipality launched a competition looking for good ideas to make Tolhuistuin a meeting place for Amsterdam residents.

The competition is won by Chris Keulemans with Stichting Tolhuistuin (then Culture on the IJ). Tolhuistuin will become a unique place for art and culture for the residents of Amsterdam, and for Stadsdeel Noord in particular. While the Pavilion is being thoroughly renovated together with Paradiso and THT Horeca B.V., programming will start in the Garden and cultural organisations will move into the various buildings on the site: the Staalvilla, the Poortgebouw, the Reservaat, the Brughuis and Villa Abspoel.

In 2014, the renovation of the Pavilion will be over and the entire Tolhuist Garden site will be festively opened to the public. Hip-hop dance school Solid Ground Movement and TIP Amsterdam Noord open and the Reading House also opens its doors.

In a short time, Tolhuistuin has grown into a vibrant cultural hotspot on the IJ bank of Amsterdam Noord, a place for music, images, stories and delicious food. From intimate theatre performances to major concerts and events. From outdoor exhibitions to high-profile podcast programmes. From approachable village hall to vibrant festival. A place for imagination and for change.