De Noordkade, magnificently situated along the waters of the Noord, will become the meeting place of Ambacht. Every 10 minutes, the fast ferry from Rotterdam to Dordrecht docks at the quay, connecting Ambacht over the water with the Urban Region. MTD landscape architects has developed a master plan and layout plan for the entire quay and the new city square on behalf of the municipality of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. The two distinctive white buildings guide the axis from land to water and from square to quay. This is marked by the restored, historic blue crane. Not as a relic of the past, but with a new meaning as a gateway to and from the Fast Ferry. The crane is an eye-catcher on the quay. Pedestrians and cyclists, residents and tourists will soon pass under the crane to board the Ferry. The water artwork on the square also refers to the history of the place; the 70-meter-long fountain bears the names of 120 ships that were dismantled in the shipbreaking yard, which was located here, over the past 100 years.

Majestic Dutch elms give the quay a green character and a pleasant living climate. The square and the quay form a welcoming and representative entrance to De Noordkade.

From maritime history to maritime future, The Noordkade!

Project Data

Landscape Architects: MTD landscape architects

Architecture: RoosRos Architects

Project location: Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands

Year completed: 2023

Photo credits: Lucas van der Wee (sunset drone photo over the water), all other photos: Joep Jacobs

Streetview may show the condition before the intervention.