Amovation in full swing at Amsterdam Central Station

Craftsmanship, timing and complete control

Amovation company Aalsmeer worked for a year and a half right through the layers of Amsterdam Central Station. Literally. The main structure had to be demolished in eight weeks. From removing the escalators on the platform to excavating the floor underneath, every step required craftsmanship, timing and complete control. More than 3,000 tons of debris and soil were removed by train - right in the middle of one of our country's busiest stations.

The Westknoop is an important piece of the puzzle in the large-scale renovation of Amsterdam Central Station. Rearranging tracks, installations and platforms creates more space for travelers and technology. Underground space was cleared for future facilities, above ground escalators, floor sections and structures disappeared to make way for the next phase of construction. Amovatiebedrijf Aalsmeer (AA Sloopwerken) was given responsibility for the complete amovation of the area: from preparatory demolition to groundwork.

Not demolish, but renovate

"What we do is slightly different from simply demolishing," says Laura Vijfhuizen, project manager at Amovation Company Aalsmeer. "Amovating is taking something away with policy. It's dismantling instead of breaking. Especially in a place like this, you have to take into account everything around it: monumental parts, passers-by, timetables, ... You can't just go in there with a demolition hammer." With nearly four decades of experience, the family business specializes in inner-city amovation. "The entire Randstad is our working area, but Amsterdam is special. That city requires finesse. You work on a postage stamp, but with machinery."

An escalator hole as a gateway

The project began with an escalator weekend: a tightly scheduled window in which the existing escalators had to be disconnected and removed. By train, the cranes and shovel were brought in and the escalators removed again. "We removed the entire staircase structure in one weekend," says Vijfhuizen. "Then, through that hole in the platform, we lifted down three cranes and five shovels - these remain on the platform." The set of equipment was used underground to remove concrete structures, excavate floors and remove debris.

What was loosened downstairs was picked up again upstairs. "We had a larger crane on the platform with a jib of size. That hauled the debris up. And everything that came out went on the train."

Clearing traces without leaving traces

For the first time in the company's history, Amovatiebedrijf Aalsmeer took care of the entire supply and removal by train. Normally the company arranges this by road, with its own container service. "But at this location that just wasn't possible," says Vijfhuizen. "So we made the most of every trip: if something was brought in, we immediately took something out as well. And vice versa. Efficiency was really the key." To make the work possible, there was intensive coordination with ProRail. At the same time, efforts were made to limit inconvenience. "The platform was literally 'cut' so that vibrations would not spread to the surrounding offices," explains Vijfhuizen. "And of course we worked a lot in the evening, night and weekends. For that, our team put in quite a few extra hours, but everything ran smoothly. The preparation was just good."

Along the monument, by hand

Perhaps the most delicate work took place along the monumental facade that borders the platform. "We sawed that completely off beforehand," says Vijfhuizen. "Then we could only start amalgamating and the edges were checked by hand. The natural stone on the inside had to remain. That requires craftsmanship and patience." This was also taken into account in the choice of equipment. "In the underground sections, we worked entirely electrically. Not only because of the fumes, but also because we like to work sustainably."

A start to be proud of

The biggest milestone? For Vijfhuizen, that was getting started. "The first weekend went SO well. The escalators out, the machines in, the debris up: everything was right. I really look back on that with pride. And on our people, because they worked really hard in an environment that is technically, logistically and structurally complex. You really have to do it together there."

Invisible visible work

Much of the work done by Amovation Company Aalsmeer has now been hidden from view again. The escalators are gone, the floor has been renewed and the debris has been removed. But those who look closely will see the traces of craftsmanship: in the meticulous workmanship, in the preservation of the monumental parts and in the fact that the station hardly stood still during the work. "It's an iconic building," says Vijfhuizen. "Everyone has a memory of it. That we were allowed to work on it makes it extra special."