At the Marineterrein, groups have recently become active participating in the National Resilience Training. This Defense program focuses on civilians practicing teamwork and functioning under pressure in a short time. The training is voluntary and separate from professional military roles.
In mid-November, the first National Resilience Training started with 123 participants. Part of the ten-week program takes place at the Marine Establishment on the Marineterrein. This gives the site a function once again that aligns with the areas origins.
1655: The Admiralty Shipyard
The Marineterrein was established in 1655 as a shipyard for the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Craftsmen built and maintained warships there that were meant to protect commercial shipping. The shipyard was located on Kattenburg, one of the Eastern Islands, where many ship carpenters and navy personnel lived.
The shipyard consisted of slips, workshops, and warehouses and was an important employer in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Dock Warehouse, one of the oldest buildings on the site, recalls this period. Part of the site was known as the White Shipyard, where ships were fitted out before departing to, among others, the Mediterranean Sea.
There was also a boom clamp installation on the site for treating masts and beams. The elongated gate building on Kattenburgerstraat, now the entrance to the Marineterrein, marked the boundary between the city and the closed naval area for centuries.
19th and 20th centuries: closed military area
With the arrival of steel ships, shipbuilding moved to larger yards, including Den Helder. In 1915, the shipyard closed permanently and the complex continued under the name Marine Establishment Amsterdam. The site mainly served as a storage and training location for the navy. During this period, new buildings were constructed, such as training rooms, barracks, and service buildings. The site remained closed to the public and had a distinct internal function within Defense.
Second World War: use by the occupier
In the run-up to the Second World War, private tenants on the site had to make way for Defense. During the German occupation, between 1940 and 1945, the complex was used by the German army as a military and logistical support point. The area and surroundings still bear reminders of this period. For example, there is a monument for former students of the Naval College who died during the war.
After 2000: opening and new users
Since the beginning of this century, Defense largely withdrew. The site, approximately 14 hectares in size, was gradually opened to the public. The historic structure with straight lines and wide quays was preserved. Organizations from education, research, and innovation settled in the existing buildings. New walking and cycling routes along the water made the area accessible to visitors. The opening of the entrance gate on Kattenburgerstraat in 2015 made a direct passage possible after centuries from the city to the former naval area.
Resilience training in a historic environment
Where warships were once built and the area remained closed to the city, it is now an open space for innovation and public use. The civilian training gives the site an additional meaning. It connects to the history of the site and addresses current questions about security and preparedness.
