A wide avenue as green entrance to Amstelveen

Anyone who enters Amstelveen from the south via the Bovenkerkerweg does so by passing through an avenue with striking, iconic poplars. Unfortunately these trees cause problems in the road construction, because they absorb a great deal of water from the core of the dike, resulting in subsidence and sinking. Research led to the recommendation to remove the poplars from the roadside. Strootman Landschapsarchitecten has drawn up a design plan for the local authority that provides a new, iconic and green entrance without harming the road construction and the dike.

The entrance harmonises with the adjacent districts of Legmeer and Middenhoven.  The local authority of Amstelveen – also known as the greenest city in the central western conurbation – has a number of eye-catching green avenues. There is the Keizer Karelweg, a historic and dignified thoroughfare, with a broad central reservation with tree sculptures. And there is the Oranjebaan, where the dimensions of the trees on the broad central reservation form a counterweight to the traffic. To retain the green character of the Bovenkerkerweg and to prevent problems caused by the poplars at the moment from returning in the future, our plan is based on the following framework:

1. Tree species with sufficient room to grow.

2. Tree species that can be placed on peaty soil with a lower demand for water.

3. Trees size 1 can be placed on the roadside near the water or in the direction of the bottom of the embankment.

4. Smaller trees size 2 or 3 can be placed in the central reservations.

Besides solving the problems described above, our place aims for a natural appearance and identity with respect to the other roads. The iconic Italian poplars return, but this time as two screens at some distance from the road. The area in between will be filled with four rows of birch trees, resulting in a good balance with the stony construction of the road. In the present situation there are 87 Italian poplars, 31 Canadian poplars and 80 forest trees (198 trees in total). Our plan assumes 87 Italian poplars and 185 trees in the intermediate area (330 trees in total). A wide, green entrance for the Bovenkerkerweg!

The trees in our proposal thrive in dry conditions, absorb little moisture from the groundwater and can be placed on locations with a lot of metalling. Moreover they have a relatively narrow crown so that they will not hinder the traffic. The birch trees go well together with the Italian poplars and with the flowers and grasses in the roadsides. Our plan – on which a decision has yet to be taken – creates a clear and recognisable identity for the Bovenkerkerweg.