Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok Inspects Amsterdam Port Regeneration... Concrete Plans for 'Jemulpo Renaissance'

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is inspecting the port regeneration area in Amsterdam, Netherlands. [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok has concretized the 'Jemulpo Renaissance' plan, a key pledge of the 8th local government, through a globally successful case of port redevelopment.

While on a business trip to Europe, Mayor Yoo visited the Eastern Dockland (Eastern Dorkland) NDSM port regeneration area in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the 19th (local time), inspecting the artificial island residential complex created on the lake, houseboats, and canal cruises.

The NDSM port regeneration project in Amsterdam's Eastern Dockland is a representative success case of urban port redevelopment and has been a benchmarking target for many port cities worldwide.

NDSM was a large Dutch shipbuilding and ship repair company operating since the 1920s, but after bankruptcy in 1984, the area was neglected, leading to a decline in regional functions and deterioration of related buildings.

Subsequently, the Amsterdam city government completely abandoned the port functions of the area and instead developed it into a compact city with diverse functions such as housing, jobs, tourism, leisure, and education. A compact city is an urban model that simultaneously pursues land use efficiency and natural environment preservation through high-density mixed-use development within the city.

Amsterdam Port Regeneration Area [Provided by Incheon City]

Amsterdam city promoted the project by continuously consulting with citizens and artists to preserve the spatial characteristics and historicity of the port and reduce demolition costs, aiming to retain port facilities such as breakwaters and docks, symbols of the Eastern Dockland, as much as possible.

The old buildings and area where the shipyard was located were transformed into a complex art and cultural space. Currently, it is filled with various graffiti by diverse artists and has become a hot spot for young people with hotels converted from old cranes and ships.

Incheon City plans to seek creative and innovative urban regeneration activation measures by referring to the Dutch urban regeneration system case.

Mayor Yoo said, "The model that respects the city's value and develops flexibly while preserving rather than demolishing, like Amsterdam, has great implications for us," adding, "We will steadily prepare for Incheon to leap forward as a top-tier city where culture, industry, and tourism converge."

Amsterdam Dockside Crane Converted into a Hotel [Provided by Incheon City]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.