Duivendrecht is a somewhat weird train/metro station. It is built around the late 80′s or very early 90′s. It is modern, but nowadays it feels a bit dated. The design team was/is really proud of it (of course!), and I do know these guys. Why do they think so? Because it was the first station in NL that had two levels of tracks. The tracks cross each other but on different level. Both levels are above ground. On the top level, the ‘island’ platform are sandwich between the train tracks and the metro lines (in the middle). The station is the major transfer point for people going to Schiphol Airport or the center of Amsterdam. Blah blah…etc..etc…I personally think that it is time to remodel the whole think and the NS/goverment should put more money on maintenance.
My simple sketch shows what is on one side of the station as seen from platform 8 on the upper level. I believe it is the side of downtown Duivendrecht. My effort on the tree failed horribly. Now I hate it because I think it attracks too much attention. But it’s just a sketch, I had fun doing it. I will draw what’s on the other sides of the station sometimes. I believe I did one which shows the Amsterdam Arena stadium, but I might just give that one another try as well.
The view on the opposite side of the church is really quite mind boggling….a huge flyover (for the train again) built right on top of a golf course. Just imagine your own golf course with humongous concrete pillars that makes the players look like dwarfs. It’s enough to ruin anybody’s attemp on relaxation, I say. Not too mention the train and the dB level of the sound it produces when ‘flying’ top speed above the players’ head. It’s amazing that I still see people play there. It makes me wonder what attracts them to this particular golf course.