Haerzathe Investments has commenced construction of 311 temporary social housing units for young people and urgent seekers on the Spinozacampus. New amenities such as hospitality venues, a supermarket, a gym, additional study spaces, and a common room for the neighborhood are being introduced to meet the needs of current residents. The existing 1,251 temporary student housing units can and will continue to be used. Consequently, DUWO and Haerzathe have extended the lease agreement until 2045.
The expansion and diversification of residents aim to strengthen the campus atmosphere and enhance social safety. The area will be redesigned with additional greenery, water retention features, and a central square, improving connections with surrounding neighborhoods. This extension is made possible with the cooperation of the Municipality of Amsterdam, which is working to improve the D-neighborhood where the Spinozacampus is located. New housing and facilities are being built, and public spaces are being renovated in the area.
Affordable Housing
The self-contained, furnished container units with private kitchens and sanitary facilities are rented out by DUWO below the quality discount threshold of €477.20. According to research from the National Student Housing Monitor, the student housing shortage in Amsterdam is projected to increase to between 8,900 and 11,700 units in the academic year 2031–2032. The extended availability of these flexible housing units by DUWO contributes to reducing this shortage.
Densification
The Spinozacampus was built in 2012 as a temporary development on part of the land made available by the large-scale demolition of several Bijlmer apartment blocks. In 2015, Haerzathe II (551 units) was added to Haerzathe I (700 units). Originally, the lease agreements with DUWO ran until 2028 and 2031 respectively. These have now been extended by approximately fifteen years.
There is a lot of open space between the fifteen existing buildings, making densification possible. Haerzathe Investments is constructing six new residential buildings using prefabricated CLT modules from housing manufacturer Plegt-Vos. These new units will not be rented out by DUWO, but directly by Haerzathe. The homes are expected to be available by the end of 2025.
