Metal Quarter: “de Metaalbuurt”
Please note: this is a Dutch garden city. So, you won’t see many flowers and flower beds, but it is a simple neighborhood with a lot of green and, of course, some beautiful flowers now and then!
This charming working-class neighborhood from 1917 has a lively history. The area was threatened with demolition a few times, but after strong protests from the people, it was completely restored. Now, it is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful garden villages in the Netherlands.
At the start of the 20th century, Apeldoorn grew quickly. Medium-sized companies moved here. There was a lot of housing for workers in factories and construction.
The foundation for the houses of the housing association “the Good House (de Goede Woning)” is built here. The houses had fallen apart because of their damaged windows, old walls, large floors, and problems on the road.
everal times, De Goede Woning planned to tear down the Metaalbuurt completely and build new houses. Because of strong protests from the people living there, they decided to restore it instead. The result is amazing: a unique area with special buildings, which has been protected as part of the city’s landscape for many years.
Take a walk through this lovely neighborhood with the AGC Guide and learn about the history of the beautiful Green Quarter. Where does the name “Houtjesdorp” come from, and what is the “addresstree”? The guide will show you everything with photos and maps along the way.