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BOOK:  DAVID CARR-SMITH  -  IMPROVISED ARCHITECTURE IN AMSTERDAM INDUSTRIAL SQUATS & COLLECTIVES

"TETTERODE" SQUAT 1981-/COLLECTIVE 1986 to--   - p12(of 13)

BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APARTMENTS 

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BILDERDIJK: HOMES & STUDIO-APTS - cont ... 

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BILDERDIJK: bd-L3 ENCLAVE     ... in process
[written: 2006]

When I was first taken there in 1990, the top floor of the Bilderdijk block - the largest enclave in Tetterode - gave me a feeling of an anarchically independent realm: 'agressive' graffiti, 'loud' music, a reputation for huge parties and a disorienting plan of spaces, apts, corridors and corners flung around the central windowed hole of the Glazed-Court's light-well. Relatively isolated on the top of all the rest - up 'its own' narrow steep enclosed stair directly from the street - with no obligation to be aware of any of the rest of Tetterode except an optional passing glimpse of the Glazed-Court through the small windows of its landing door.  

BILDERDIJK OLD BUILDING: PLAN - LEVEL 3 ENCLAVE [bd-L3] (Architect-Drawing 1986 / top is EEN)	BILDERDIJK OLD BUILDING: PLAN - LEVEL 3 ENCLAVE [bd-L3]  (Plan: Mikel van Gelderen 2006 / info 2008 / top is EEN)

 

L3 BRIDGE: FROM dc-L3 TO THE bd-L3 ENCLAVE (vid-frame 8-93 / to WWS)	L3 BRIDGE: bd-L3 ENCLAVE ENTRY DOORS:  (vid-frame 8-93 / to WWS)
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: CORRIDOR FROM BRIDGE TO ENTRY HALL  (vid-frame 8-93 / to WWS)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: CORRIDOR FROM BRIDGE TO  ENTRY HALL (vid-frame 8-93 / to W)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL (vid-frame 8-93 / to NE) Looking back across the square hall towards its bridge entry; at the far left a corridor opens to apts and services at the north-end. Throughout this topmost enclave there are roof windows
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL (pic 8-93 / to NW) The Hall extends as a large square space to the west and as a wide corridor to the north-end.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: NORTH CORRIDOR - FROM ENTRY HALL (vid-frame 8-93 / to NNW) The corridor to the north end serves two east-side apts opposite a shared wc and wash-room, and round the far corner a workshop and finally a kitchen.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: NORTH CORRIDOR - SHARED WASH ROOM (vid-frame 8-93 / to SW
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: NORTH CORRIDOR - SHARED KITCHEN  (vid-frame 8-93 / to W)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL - DOORS TO N-STAIR  (pic 8-93 / to N)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL - TELEPHONE TABLES & NOTICE-BOARD (pic 8-93 / to NW
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL - DOORS TO N-STAIR & PARTY-DECOR (pic 8-93 / to NNW) Next to the enclave's N-stair doors a huge item of party-decor was propped against the telephone tables like a hearth complete with cat. (Coincidentally the ladder seems to channel a camera light-leak!)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL - SOUTH WALL (pic 8-8-93 / to SE) Behind the hall's south wall is the lightwell of the L2 Glazed-Court.  The Hall's wall paintings were for the 1986/87 annual party.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL SIT-PLACE (pic 8-93 / to S)
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL SIT PLACE SCREEN-WALL (pic 8-8-93 / to SE)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: ENTRY HALL (pic 8-93 / to WWS) The openings in the west wall access the main corridor. The whole west side of the Hall - at right the N-stair doors and in the far wall two entrys into the enclave's main corridor.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: MAIN CORRIDOR - FROM NEAR THE NORTH END (vid-frame 8-93 / to SSE) The left wall bounds the upper part of the Glazed-Court.
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: MAIN CORRIDOR - SOUTH CORNER. (vid-frame 8-93 / to SSE) Here the corridor turns to follow the south perimeter of the Glazed-Court. On the right is the entry to the enclave's intended common social space and guest room.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE LIVING-ROOM / 'GUEST ROOM' [W-side S-cntr - 1-bay] (pic 8-93 / to SSW) Intended as a shared living-room and/or guest-room, this had become more of a junk-room and the workshop of a TV-mending entrepreneur. In 2008, when this space was next visited, it was an apartment [ref below CHRIS BAATEN].	bd-L3 ENCLAVE LIVING-ROOM / 'GUEST ROOM' [W-side S-cntr - 1-bay] (pic 8-93 / to SE)
bd-L3 ENCLAVE: MAIN CORRIDOR - SOUTH SEGMENT. (vid-frame 8-93 / to EEN) The main corridor here skirts the south end of the Glazed-Court.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: MAIN CORRIDOR - SOUTH SEGMENT - WINDOW VIEW. (vid-frame 8-93 / to N)   Both north and south ends of the Glazed-Court are windowed - here we look towards its north end from the main corridor.	bd-L3 ENCLAVE: MAIN CORRIDOR - S STAIR & WEST BRANCH (vid-frame 8-93 / to WWS ) View from kitchen of S-stair's doored and glazed enclosure. Its adjoining corridor accesses two apts (Desirée, et al) and their shared kitchen.  The main corridor continues left to its termination at the south wash room/wc.
bd-L3 ENCLAVE KITCHEN [E-side S - 1 bay] (pic 8-93 / to EEN)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE KITCHEN [E-side S - 1 bay]: WATER-HEATER & SINK (pic 8-93 / to NNW)	bd-L3 ENCLAVE KITCHEN [E-side S - 1 bay]: WINDOW COURTYARD VIEW (vid-frame 8-93 / to NNE )
bd-L3 ENCLAVE KITCHEN [E-side S - 1 bay]: WINDOW COURTYARD VIEW (vid-frame 8-93 / to NE ) Kettle, coffee-filter, milk-saucepan: ubiquitous kitchen tool-set.

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THE BILDERDIJK bd-L3 ENCLAVE APTS  ... in process
[NB: the apts are given the names of their occupiers who are not necessarily their makers]

[E-side] - LOES APT  - [recorded: 2008] 
[E-side] - SABINE DEN TOOM APT  - [recorded: 1993] 
[E-side] - THEO VERBOOM APT  - [recorded: 1993] 
[W-side] - TONY THISSEN APT  - [recorded: 1993]  /  INGE WILLEMS APT  - [recorded: 2008] 
[W-side] - HENK STEUNENBURG APT  - [recorded: 1993]  
[W-side] - CHRIS BAATEN APT - [recorded: 2008]
[W-side] - DESIRÉE VAN HOEK APT  - [recorded: 1993]  /  DIRK STELER APT  - [recorded: 2008]  
[W-side] - CORA BUIS APT  - [recorded: 1993 & 2008]  
[E-side] - ROEL ENDENDIJK APT  - [recorded: 1993]   

In 1993 the most amazing L3 home (at E-side centre) was barred to photography - it was filled with very original decorative 'kitsch' inventions, and its maker claimed that "photos take away something" - it has not been visited since.

Almost all of the apts shown below are of the most common Tetterode type: 1 to 1½ window-bay-wide rectangles, entered at their inner end and lit through tall windows at the other; their height of at least 4.3m hardly less than their (approx) 5m width, evoking and easily enabling a width-spanning bed-platform at their darker end. 

BILDERDIJK OLD BUILDING: PLAN - LEVEL 3 ENCLAVE [bd-L3] - APTS  (Architect-Drawing 1986 / top is EEN)	BILDERDIJK OLD BUILDING: PLAN - LEVEL 3 ENCLAVE [bd-L3] - APTS (Plan: Mikel van Gelderen 2006 / info 2008 / top is EEN)

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LOES APT (2006 - ) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / E-side N-end - 2 bays]  ... in process

This apt-space was not visited until 2008. 

This apt is is in one of the few wider-than-deep spaces - its orientation precluding the easy and ubiquitous entry-end-platform solution which in the usual narrow spaces seems inevitable and innate. Its small mezzanine is more like a large item of furniture squeezed across its south-east corner.

Loes began living in this already-formed apt in 2006 and made minor structural additions: she laid a wooden floor on the existing steel mezzanine structure, re-installed electricity cables/sockets, re-coloured the walls, and imposed on the existing space her own aesthetic style. 

LOES APT: VIEW FROM MEZZANINE (pic 21-4-08 / to NW)	LOES APT:  (pic 21-4-08 / to N)	LOES APT:  (pic 21-4-08 / to SSE)
LOES APT: KITCHEN AREA UNDER BED MEZZANINE (pic 21-4-08 / to EES)	LOES APT: WINDOW VIEW OF MERKELBACH (pic 21-4-08 / to NE)

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THEO VERBOOM APT (19## -) (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / E-side N-end - 1 bay]

 

THEO APT:  (pic 8-8-93 / to WWS)

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SABINE DEN TOOM APT  (19## -) (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / E-side cntr - 1 bay]

SABINE APT:  (pic 8-93 / to WWS)	SABINE APT:  (pic 8-93 / to E)	SABINE APT: BED-PLATFORM (pic 8-93 / to S)

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TONY THIJSSEN APT (19## -) (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / W-side N-cntr - 1 +1small bays] 

This apt-space was recorded in 1993 when occupied by Tony Thijssen and again in 2008 when occupied by Inge Willems - the latter version is shown below.

TONY APT:  (pic 8-93 / to E) The apt's entry door from the common hall space is open (someone is phoning at the hall's telephone table).  At the inner end of the apt a bed-platform extends over the external corridor - under its small overhang is a kitchen and table area.	TONY APT:  (pic 8-93 / to SSW) The south wall displays a sequential art-object.	TONY APT:  (vid-frame 8-93 / to SW) Table and sit-place.
TONY APT:  (vid-frame 8-93 / to NNE) On the left of the apt's entry are double doors to a smaller work room, in a portion of one of the building's three narrower north-end bays.	TONY APT: WORK-ROOM (vid-frame 8-93 / to NNW) View into the adjoining work-room which has a complex stepped mezzanine whose 'riser' is glazed to admit light from the tall west window.	TONY APT: WORK-ROOM (vid-frame 8-93 / to W) The west window end with writing-desk and mezzanine over.
TONY APT: WORK-ROOM - SHELF (vid-frame 8-93 / to SW) A shelf suspended against the south wall.

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INGE WILLEMS APT (c. 2000 -) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / W-side N-cntr - 1 +1-small bays]  ... in process

When I re-recorded Tony Thijssen's apt-space [see above] in 2008 it was lived in by Inge Willems - her version of this space is shown below.

Inge has modified secondary, but left the primary structures of Tony's mezzanine platforms unchanged. The big south mezzanine (which extends back over the enclave passage) projected about 2m into Tony's living-room. She has made a new wall flush with its front edge enclosing the narrow space, resited his intrusive mezzanine stair inside it and made a new wc in its south end. The stair now rises next to the apt's entry door offering an immediate choice of destinations; however it is an awkward intrusion in the space it occupies, blocking a tempting storage volume!  The mezzanine is now a lavish bath place, its old facade replaced with a glass wall protecting the stair-top and a portholed wall screening the new bath.   

INGE APT: ENTRY FROM ENCLAVE'S HALL  (pic 1-5-08 / to SW)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE (paste-up 2-pics 1-5-08 / to NNE)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE (paste-up 2-pics 1-5-08 / to S) S)
INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE FROM MEZZANINE (pic 1-5-08 / to W)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE - EAST WALL AND MEZZANINE (paste-up 2-pics 1-5-08 / to EEN)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE - STAIR TO SOUTH MEZZANINE (pic 1-5-08 / to S)
INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 1-5-08 / to NNW)	INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE GLASS SCREEN WALL (pic 1-5-08 / to SSW)	INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE (pic 1-5-08 / to N)
INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE - BATH (pic 1-5-08 / to NNW)	INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE - BATH SCREEN WALL (pic 1-5-08 / to WWS)	INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE  (pic 1-5-08 / to E)
INGE APT: SOUTH MEZZANINE - DRESSING-TABLE (pic 1-5-08 / to EES)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE FROM MEZZANINE WITH STAIR (pic 1-5-08 / to WWN)	INGE APT: SOUTH SPACE TO NORTH SPACE (pic 1-5-08 / to W)
INGE APT: ORTH SPACE TO SOUTH SPACE (pic 1-5-08 / to SSW)	INGE APT: NORTH SPACE (pic 1-5-08 / to WWN)	INGE APT: NORTH MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 1-5-08 / to WWS)
INGE APT: NORTH SPACE FROM MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 1-5-08 / to EEN)	INGE APT: NORTH MEZZANINE WEST PLATFORM - CLOTHES-STORE/BED-SCREEN (pic 1-5-08 / to E)	INGE APT: NORTH MEZZANINE EAST PLATFORM - BED (paste-up 2-pics 1-5-08 / to E)

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HENK STEUNENBURG APT (19## -) (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / W-side cntr - 1 bay]

HENK APT:  (pic 8-93 / to NE)

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CHRIS BAATEN APT (10-2006 -) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / W-side S-cntr - 1 bay]   ... in process

This space is one of a row of four along the west facade's four central bays, each claiming one of their large windows. The space is identical to its three 5m-wide by 6.8m-deep companions except for an extra 3.4m-width which extends back 5m along the E-W arm of the enclave passage (it has a similarly proportioned plan to the ubiquitous 'ground floor with back-extension' of the UK's Victorian mass-built terrace houses).

When first recorded in 1993 this space was intended to be the enclave's shared living-room and guest-room, in fact it had already devolved into a junk-room and TV repair-shop [pics]; "several people have lived in here since the TV era" [Chris B].

The next time I visited this space was in 2008. Chris Baaten had taken it over in october 2006 and made major additions and improvements. He plastered walls and ceiling, replaced the furniture and fittings of the kitchen, and because of the exceptional depth of the (existing) mezzanine was able to convert its front portion into a sound-proofed music-studio and use its narrower rear portion as a bedroom. 

CHRIS APT: FROM APT ENTRY (pic 21-4-08 / to WWS)	CHRIS APT: FROM NW CORNER (pic 21-4-08 / to EES)	CHRIS APT: FROM SW CORNER (pic 21-4-08 / to NE)
CHRIS APT: SW CORNER (pic 21-4-08 / to NNW) The strange cupboard is street-found, the wall-hung art-work is a unit from a 1990 installation (plastic-foam/-basket/-bowl/-belt).	CHRIS APT: KITCHEN (pic 21-4-08 / to S)	CHRIS APT: EAST END - KITCHEN / BATH-WC ENTRY / APT ENTRY  (pic 21-4-08 / to E) The sliding door of the wash/wc-room is open against the rear (east) wall. On the left is the apt entry-door.
CHRIS APT: BATH-WC  (pic 21-4-08 / to EES)	CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE WITH MUSIC STUDIO FACADE (pic 21-4-08 / to E) The music studio is a 'box' isolated from platform and walls.	CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 21-4-08 / to W)
CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE MUSIC-STUDIO (pic 21-4-08 / to NW)	CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE MUSIC-STUDIO WINDOW VIEW (pic 21-4-08 / to SW)	CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE-EXIT FROM BED SPACE (pic 21-4-08 / to SW) From the bedroom to the mezzanine stair, past store-shelves and the rear wall of the music-studio.
CHRIS APT: MEZZANINE BED SPACE (pic 21-4-08 / to EEN)

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DESIRÉE VAN HOEK APT (19## -)  (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / W-side S - 1½ (small) bays] 

This apt-space was recorded in 1993 when occupied by Desirée van Hoek and again in 2008 when occupied by Dirk Steler - the latter version is shown below.

DESIRÉE APT:  (pic 8-93 / to EEN) The 70²m 3-bay square space at the enclave's SW corner is eccentrically divided into two apts. Desiree's portion has 2-bays of windows but loses width at its inner end, which shelters a small bed-platform over the apt's entry.	DESIRÉE APT:  (pic 8-93 / to EEN)

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DIRK STELER APT (#### -) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / W-side S - 1½ (small) bays]  ... in process

When I re-recorded Desirée van Hoek's apt-space [see above] in 2008 it was lived in by Dirk Steler - his version of this space is shown below:

The building's large square SW corner has three window bays - its awkward division into two L-shaped apts has resulted in an unequal apportioning of windows. Dirk's apt is the wider, its boundry captures two, squeezing much of Cora's into the width of the remaining one. Their right-angular dividing wall is one solution to the division of these large square north-/south-end spaces that 'butress' Bilderdijks grand 4-bay central show-room. An alternative diagonal wall divides L-2's analogous (north end) space [ref: Bd-L2 "Glazed-Court" enclave].

DIRK APT: PASSAGE, FORECOURT, ENTRY (pic 1-5-08 / to WWS) Beside the enclosure of Bilderdijk's S-stair is a short passage to the two apts that share the square space at the building's south-west corner; this is now fenced and gated at its furthest end, defining a small forecourt to their entry doors. Dirk's door is straight ahead, to its left is their shared kitchen's door, also used by Cora as the entry to her apt. Though Dirk must exit from his apt to use this kitchen, the flimsy forecourt confines it with his apt, defining it as also 'his'.  When I visited this location in 1993 there was no gated forecourt, walls peeled grey paint, a cat tray stank the passage, the apts' entries were exposed; comfort and domesticy began inside their doors - now, like much of this 'renewed' Tetterode, they claim and furnish space beyond their doors.	DIRK APT: ENTRY SPACE (pic 28-4-08 / to WWS)	DIRK APT:  (paste-up 2-pics 28-4-08 / to EES)
DIRK APT:  (pic 28-4-08 / to SW)	DIRK APT:  (pic 28-4-08 / to NW)	DIRK APT:  (pic 28-4-08 / to N)

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CORA BUIS APT (1994 -) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / W-side S-end - 1 +½ small bays]  ... in process

Cora's apt is confined in a uniquely narrow L-shaped space whose long axis is fronted with one tall window. The narrow length of this main space imparts a directionality towards this window like a trip through a tunnel. The small mezzanine projects beyond the apt space and partly ceilings the shared kitchen, its main bed-portion is across the apt's NE extension and is (strangly) reached via a walkway across the apt's east end to a complex stair at the centre of its south wall.

CORA APT: ENTRY  (pic 28-4-08 / to SSW) Inside the same enclosure as Dirk's, Cora enters her apt through their joint kitchen: the left door.	CORA APT: APT ENTRY FROM SHARED KITCHEN (pic 28-4-08 / to NNE) Cora's private living-space is accessed through the (open) door at the kitchen's SW corner.	CORA APT: NE END WIDENING WITH EXIT DOOR INTO SHARED KITCHEN (pic 28-4-08 / to NNE) The green-panelled door opens into the kitchen. This alcove-like space that widens the apt's inner end is bridged by its bed-mezzanine.
CORA APT: WALKWAY & STAIR FROM THE BED-MEZZANINE (pic 28-4-08 / to E) A walkway from the bed-mezzanine encircles the east end and debouches via a stair against the south wall.	CORA APT: (pic 28-4-08 / to SSW)	CORA APT: MAIN SPACE FROM THE MEZZANINE WALKWAY (pic 28-4-08 / to WWS)
CORA APT: MAIN SPACE FROM THE FOOT OF THE MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 28-4-08 / to WWS)	CORA APT: WINDOW VIEW (pic 28-4-08 / to WWS)	CORA APT: NORTH WALL DESK SPACE (pic 28-4-08 / to WWN)
CORA APT: MAIN SPACE FROM TOP OF MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 28-4-08 / to WWN)	CORA APT: MAIN SPACE FROM THE MEZZANINE WALKWAY  (pic 28-4-08 / to SW)	CORA APT: MEZZANINE - BED-PLATFORM (paste-up 2-pics 28-4-08 / to WWN) Cora designed and welded the steel bed.

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DESIRÉE & #### APTS' SHARED KITCHEN (19## -) (in 1993)  [bd-L3 / S-end cntr] 

 

DESIRÉE & #### APTS' SHARED KITCHEN (pic 8-93 / to SE) [NB: at present (11-06) I have no info on the second apt that opens into & shares this kitchen]. Beside the door into the second apt is a vertical 'ladder' that ascends to a small bed-platform sometimes used by guests.

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DIRK & CORA APTS' SHARED KITCHEN (c 1996 -) (in 2008)  [bd-L3 / S-end cntr]  ... in process

DIRK & CORA APTS' SHARED KITCHEN (pic 28-4-08 / to NNE)	DIRK & CORA APTS' SHARED KITCHEN (pic 28-4-08 / to SE)

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ROEL ENDENDIJK APT (19## -)   [bd-L3 / E-side - 3 (small) bays]

 

ROEL APT:  (pic 8-93 / to SW) Looking under the platform to the kitchen alcove.	ROEL APT:  (pic 8-93 / to NW) At the far corner is the apt entry-door.	ROEL APT:  (pic 8-93 / to NNW) From the unfinished bed-platform.

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< TETTERODE - p1:  INTRODUCTION <
< TETTERODE - p2:  PUBLIC-USE & WORK-SPACES <

< TETTERODE - p3:  DACOSTAKADE BUILDINGS: MERKELBACH & HARTCAMP <  

< TETTERODE - p4:  DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

< TETTERODE - p5:  DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <  

< TETTERODE - p5-1:  DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

< TETTERODE - p6:  DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

< TETTERODE - p7:  DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS <

< TETTERODE - p7-1:  DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS <

< TETTERODE - p8:  DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS <

< TETTERODE - p8-1:  DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS < 

< TETTERODE - p8-2:  DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS <

< TETTERODE - p9:  BILDERDIJKSTRAAT BUILDINGS <

< TETTERODE - p11:  BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS <

   TETTERODE - p12:  BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS  

> TETTERODE - p13:  BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS >