View source for Embassy of the Netherlands, Berlin

{{Infobox diplomatic mission
| name         = Embassy of the Netherlands, Berlin
| image        = Be Dutch Embassy 01.JPG
| caption      = The Embassy in Berlin
| coordinates  = <!-- {{coord|52.515278|13.411944|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} -->
| location     = [[Berlin]], Germany
| address      = Klosterstraße 50
| opened       = 2 March 2004
| ambassador   = Wepke Kingma
| charge       = Dr. Henk Voskamp
| website      = <!-- {{URL|https://www.niederlandeweltweit.nl/laender/deutschland}} -->
}}
The '''Embassy of the Netherlands in Berlin''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''Nederlandse ambassade te Berlijn'', [[German language|German]]: ''Niederländische Botschaft in Deutschland'') is the [[Netherlands]]'s diplomatic mission in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]]. Designed by [[Rem Koolhaas]] of [[Office for Metropolitan Architecture|OMA]], the building was opened in 2004.<ref>Detail: [http://detail-online.com/inspiration/netherlands-embassy-in-berlin-103777.html "Netherlands Embassy in Berlin"], 2004</ref>

== History ==
In the wake of the reunification the German government decided to relocate the capital to [[Mitte]], Berlin. The Netherlands, having sold their former embassy site after the War, was free to choose a new location and preferred Roland Ufer in Mitte, the oldest Berlin settlement, next to the (new) government district of their main trade partner.

[[Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands]] opened the Embassy on 2 March 2004<ref>ARUP: [http://www.arup.com/Projects/Dutch_Embassy_Berlin.aspx Dutch Embassy Berlin], retrieved 24 February 2013</ref> together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs [[Ben Bot]] of the Netherlands and [[Joschka Fischer]] of Germany.

== Concept ==
{{Unreferencedsect|date=July 2024}}
A solitary building, integrating requirements of conventional civil service security with Dutch openness was needed. Traditional (former West Berlin) city planning guidelines demanded the new building to complete the city block in 19th century fashion, the (former East Berlin) city planning officials had an open mind towards the OMA proposal for a freestanding cube on a - block completing - podium. The office in the end realized the building in a combination of obedience (fulfilling the block’s perimeter) and disobedience (building a solitary cube).

As the diplomats used the hallway in the old embassy building a lot for informal meetings OMA gave them a building with an enormous hallway as centre:  a continuous trajectory reaching all eight stories of the embassy shapes the building’s internal communication. The workspaces are the ‘leftover areas’ after the trajectory was ‘carved’ out of the cube and are situated along the facade. Reception spaces are activated inside the cube. Other semi-public spaces are located closer to the facade and at one point cantilever out over the drop-off area. From the entry, the trajectory leads on via the library, meeting rooms, fitness area and restaurant to the roof terrace. The trajectory exploits the relationship with the context, river Spree, Television Tower (''[[Fernsehturm Berlin|Fernsehturm]]''), park and wall of embassy residences; part of it is a ‘diagonal void’ through the building that allows to see the TV Tower from the park.

The (slightly over pressurized) trajectory works as a main airduct from which fresh air percolates to the offices to be drawn off via the double (plenum) facade. This ventilation concept is part of a strategy to integrate more functions into one element.

== Awards ==
Koolhaas's design won the Architekturpreis Berlin in 2003 and the [[European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture|Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture]] in 2005.<ref>Mies van der Rohe Award 2005: [http://www.miesbcn.com/recursos/documentos/Dossier%20English.pdf "Press Dossier"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524170648/http://www.miesbcn.com/recursos/documentos/Dossier%20English.pdf |date=2006-05-24 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{Commons category|Dutch Embassy, Berlin}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231451/http://www.niederlandeweb.de/ Royal Netherlands Embassy in Berlin, Germany]
*[http://www.oma.nl/projects/2003/netherlands-embassy Office for Metropolitan Architecture]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080229004455/http://www.architecture-page.com/go/projects/netherlands-embassy-berlin__all Royal Netherlands Embassy in Berlin, Germany on Architecture-Page]

{{coord|52|30|55|N|13|24|43|E|type:landmark_region:DE-BE_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{Diplomatic missions of the Netherlands}}
{{Diplomatic missions in Germany}}
{{Works by OMA}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Germany–Netherlands relations]]
[[Category:Diplomatic missions of the Netherlands|Berlin]]
[[Category:Diplomatic missions in Berlin|Netherlands]]
[[Category:Rem Koolhaas buildings]]