Construction began in 1996 on the new Weidevenne residential area in Purmerend, a city situated in the Purmer polder north of Amsterdam. Its completion twelve years later brought the population of Purmerend up to 80,000 people, a fact that the infrastructure of Weidevenne was required to reflect.

The De Weidevenne shopping centre plays a key role in this respect, serving an important local function for the neighbourhood’s residences. In addition to the shops, MAB developed a large car park and various catering facilities. On the central square are two supermarkets, designed to ensure a constant flow of shoppers. The centre is then supported by a range of outlets that deliberately blends national chains with local and specialised shops. Further variety is provided by a greengrocer, a fishmonger, a pet shop, an estate agent, a travel agent and a bank.

The shopping centre is fully encompassed by water and looks very attractive. A striking triangular design by Roeleveld-Sikkes architects fits in perfectly with the modern and varied architecture in the Weidevenne neighbourhood.