Funding for OBA Next has been secured. This brings the construction of a new central library in Kraaiennest closer. The opening is planned for 2030. Until then, we are already investing in additional facilities for youth and local residents.

This concerns a new Community Center, a youth center, and permanent rehearsal spaces for brass bands. Residents and organizations from the K-neighborhood are involved in the planning.

More Space for Youth

“The K-neighborhood is full of energy, but especially for young people there are still too few places to develop themselves,” says alderman Sofyan Mbarki (Education). “With the plans, including OBA Next, we will add much-needed facilities in the coming years that strengthen the culture. Moreover, this ensures that in a district where we invest unevenly for equal opportunities, iconic buildings will also appear.”

More Than a Library

OBA Next is deliberately located in Kraaiennest. In Southeast, many young people grow up with talent and ideas, while places to learn, create, and practice after school are scarce. Therefore, OBA Next will be more than a library.

Learning, Working, Creating, and Meeting Each Other

The building will have an area of approximately 7,500 square meters. Visitors can learn, work, create, and meet each other there. Thanks to an additional national subsidy of 3 million euros, the plan can be executed.

OBA Next Lab

The youth programming is already being tested in the OBA Next Lab. Young people can participate in the free after-school TUMO program and work on animation, game design, robotics, and music.

New Facilities in the Neighborhood

Besides OBA Next, there will be a new youth center of 335 square meters. There is also a plan for a youth talent center by the residents group Hart voor de K-buurt. The financial feasibility of this is still being investigated.

Brass bands are important for the cultural identity of Amsterdam Southeast. In the coming years, they will still play in a temporary rehearsal space. Later, a permanent location of 440 square meters with 2 halls will follow.

Finally, the community center De Bonte Kraai will be demolished and replaced by a new, larger, and modern community center with a larger hall capacity. This will create additional places for youth, culture, and neighborhood activities in Kraaiennest.

Want to Know More?

On the page Kavel A in Kraaiennest you can find more information about the plans.