Parking under the canals

"Underground" parking provides beautification of canals

Ecological Management Institute has been calling for Underground Parking in Amsterdam for many years. Underground parking is an excellent solution for the car problem in the old city of Amsterdam.

In February 2006 we were given the opportunity to present our plans for the pilot project under the Herengracht for the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Amsterdam city council. Almost all parties were positive about our plans. In March 2006 there was another composition within the college of Amsterdam and the plans were unfortunately off track.

Underground parking will give the canals back to the residents and visitors of the city. Much of the car traffic can take place under water. Since 2006, the city center has been put on the list of cultural heritage. According to some politicians you can not change anything about the cityscape, nothing is less true. They have experienced this in Bruges (Belgium). When the historic city center undergoes a serious improvement, this does not stand in the way of the Unesco rules.

Amsterdam has had serious parking problems in the city center for years. There is also too much air pollution and car traffic, this can be solved underwater. A big plus is that it does not have to cost money for the city and its inhabitants. These Underground parking garages are built with private money, profit is made and the municipality gets a part of the income. This prevents some residents from receiving a subsidy on parking spaces and not others.

Also at Chinatown we have launched a plan for a parking garage under the Gelderse Kade, despite the resistance of a local entrepreneur. Not only can the parking problem be resolved, Chinatown has its own parking garages. This is for the many Chinese visitors from all over Europe who see Amsterdam as their “home port.” The big advantage of this plan is that the many diesels go off the streets, resulting in less air pollution.

Amsterdam has many square meters that are used for parking and driving. In this time of economic developments and enormous increase in visitors, space can be created in the old city center. This in the form of parking places and roads under water. The advantage of installing these facilities under water is that you do not have any inconvenience during construction. The work is within the canal walls, so there are no costs for the municipalities and citizens.

Another advantage of installing these facilities under water is the lower tariffs for parking, cleaner air and a quieter environment. Looking to the future, the car that runs on hydrogen gas and is an energy plant. With 400 parked cars under the water of the canals of Amsterdam, we have a power plant of 36,000 kWh.