Amsterdam, the largest startup ecosystem in Europe, totals up to 64,000+ square feet in workspaces, hosting 300+ companies as tenants and over 2,000 entrepreneurs as an initiative to bring startups, creatives, and corporates together.
A distinctive ‘black cube’ on the Johan Huizingalaan, the location of the first B. Amsterdam building, was originally built as IBM’s headquarters. The adjacent hall served as a typewriter factory. After IBM left its premises, several developers prepared large-scale area development with office space as its main focus. The plan was to build an “extension of the Zuidas” (a major business district along the A10 highway) in this spot.
These plans were eventually discarded, and the area (known as ‘Riekerpolder’) became one of the prime examples of a mono-functional office district like so many others that have emerged in recent years in the Netherlands. An unattractive proposition as it turned out, and “For Rent” signs disfigured many offices in this area, without any tangible result.
Founders Guus, Ricardo and Bas decided to take action. The office building, with its excesses – large floors, accessibility, and robustness – afforded an opportunity to do things differently. Today, it is the lively center of B. where innovative entrepreneurs meet. ‘B.1’ houses 350 pioneering companies, rooftop restaurant Bureau, a rooftop park, coffee lounges, a cinema, and gym.
After two years – and a completely filled building – B. opened a second building on 5-minute walking distance from the first building: B.2. Since the completion, the building has been empty for 11 years. At B.2 there are photo/film studio’s, creative agencies, incubators, and the B. Startup School Amsterdam.
One year after opening B.2, it was completely leased and we opened our third building: B.3. This building was once built by Nissan and former Mexx headquarters, also on walking distance of the other two buildings. By adding this building, B. Amsterdam became the largest startup ecosystem in Europe today, with 40,000 m2.
Like the other B. locations, the primary focus is on accelerating the pace of innovation and growth of startups and corporates. What is unique about B.3 is that it’s the physical center for corporate innovators in the Netherlands, granting organizations such as Akzo Nobel, BAM and IBM access to new talent for the development of innovative solutions. PostNL, a company that attaches paramount importance to innovation, has also opted for an innovation studio at B. Amsterdam