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There are strong ties to the neighbourhood, but not to the stones

Els and Elly are friends and ‘active’ neighbourhood residents. They often visit the neighbourhood centre in the Hoogkwartier district. It’s a closely knit community.

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Mrs Van der Horst and Mrs Dunk are two friends, both of whom live in the city centre. Mrs Dunk lives on Groenendaal, in a new building named De Laurensveste. Mrs Van der Horst lives on Haagseveer. The friends frequently visit the community centre in the Hoogkwartier area; they are truly active members of the community.

Memories

Mrs Dunk talks about her memories of the former Emporium building, which was torn down to build the current community centre with the senior flats above it. Before the Emporium building - a cube-shaped multifunctional building on Kipstraat that dates from the reconstruction period - was converted into a community centre, a car dealer occupied the space. The community centre plays a pivotal role in the neighbourhood. The Hoogkwartier area is a whole lot like a village, according to the ladies, since they know so many people through the community centre.

The Hoogkwartier area is a whole lot like a village

Nostalgia alongside progress

The people who live here, especially the older locals, feel very close ties to the neighbourhood. From their experience organising activities in the neighbourhood, the ladies know that the local residents are not all that interested in the architecture in Hoogkwartier. “There are strong ties to the neighbourhood, but not to the stones”, according to Mrs Van der Horst. Locals are very curious about the history of their neighbourhood, however. Historic photo evenings are popular in the community centre. It evokes a great deal of nostalgia. But people would have no particular inclination to regret the destruction of a building, or to try to prevent it. The people here like seeing progress. It feels important in a neighbourhood that emerged from the reconstruction efforts. The ladies do feel that the Hoogkwartier area is truly a coherent entity in terms of architecture: “It’s the way it should be.”

But people would have no particular inclination to regret the destruction of a building, or to try to prevent it. The people here like seeing progress. It feels important in a neighbourhood that emerged from the reconstruction efforts.

Staying in the area (or) A pleasant home

The eventual demolition of the Emporium building did not bother anyone, the ladies explain. That’s because it was replaced by a very convenient new building that was a perfect response to a major lack. Many locals who were advancing in years wanted to keep living nearby, but needed housing more suitable to their current needs than their small reconstruction-era apartment. The new building that rose where the Emporium once stood consisted mainly of senior flats, which met the neighbourhood’s needs. It’s not strange that the neighbourhood’s older residents prefer to stay: they have their roots here, and it is a pleasant, green area to live in while offering a central location.

It’s not strange that the neighbourhood’s older residents prefer to stay: they have their roots here, and it is a pleasant, green area to live in while offering a central location.

New, young entrepreneurs

The many service alleys behind the shopping streets are an extraordinary feature of the neighbourhood. It is pleasant to have a balcony overlooking the alleys, but they are strange streets to walk down. It’s not very pleasant, especially in the evening. The neighbourhood has changed a great deal over the years. The shopkeepers who once ran shops along Hoogstraat, the butcher and the baker, have slowly moved out of the neighbourhood. The ladies admire the new, young entrepreneurs who have taken their place. As these young business owners move in, the ladies have seen a new, younger crowd come into the street. More and more young people are moving into the neighbourhood, too. They never stay very long, though; once they start having children, they move on. That used to be different.

The ladies admire the new, young entrepreneurs who have taken their place. As these young business owners move in, the ladies have seen a new, younger crowd come into the street.
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Els van der Horst en Elly Dunk
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