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Nieuw en Meer is one of the largest living and working communities in Amsterdam. The expansive 3.7-hectare site is located on a peninsula in the far southwest corner of Nieuw West, nestled between the Nieuwe Meer and the Haarlemmermeer Ringvaart. Situated in a dynamic area between the Zuidas and Schiphol, Nieuw en Meer, as a professional studio (residences) complex, is a substantial part of Amsterdam’s creative artistic cityscape. The ecological management plan is one of the pillars of the area.
The site is located in an important natural and ecological area, part of the Green Axis, and borders the Amsterdam Forest. For this reason, the terrain has been managed ecologically since its inception. In recent years, the area has also been officially designated as part of Amsterdam's Main Green Structure (Hoofdgroenstructuur, HGS).
The former munitions storage site of Rijks Domeinen was squatted on June 25, 1988, and was soon legalized. From the outset, the goal was to achieve as much diversity as possible in professions within creative or artisanal fields (60% artists). Virtually all disciplines in visual and applied arts and various crafts are represented (from painting to web design and from guitar making to steel constructions). The complex is exceptional, not least because it is still managed and governed entirely independently without any form of subsidy.
The goal includes demonstrating that a living-working community offers great potential economically, socially, and culturally over time. The composition of the community consists of at least 60% artists, supplemented by service-oriented professions. Its character is rooted in anarchism, activism, the Provo movement, Rietveld alumni, individuality, and autonomy, with room to experiment still present.
Currently, one board position is vacant, and the secretary is also seeking a successor.
About the Role of General Board Member
As a general board member of Foundation Nieuw en Meer, you are one of five external members of the nine-member board. The other four board seats are held by “internal” members who belong to the Association of Tenants' Interests Niks Minder.
The "economic" ownership of the terrain and buildings is held by the Foundation Nieuw en Meer. The leasehold runs until 2041 or 2042. The foundation is responsible for the site's maintenance, in collaboration with the Allocation Committee, Terrain Maintenance Committee, Building Committee, and Energy Team.
The current community consists of 115 users and 96 spaces. A significant majority are over the age of 55. The board has nine members: five external members and four internal members (tenants of the Nieuw en Meer site). These internal members are nominated by the tenants' association Niks Minder and are chairs of the aforementioned committees.
External board members are appointed by the board itself. These members are sought outside Nieuw en Meer and are appointed based on their expertise in technical building management, legal or financial expertise, and their affinity for the arts. To ensure necessary independence, they form a majority on the board.
One of the foundation’s key objectives is the rental of affordable studios and workspaces to artists and related small businesses. Additionally, the foundation promotes the management and maintenance of the complex based on the self-reliance of its members and aims to demonstrate the significant value of such management to society and the City of Amsterdam.
As the fifth external board member, you will not only be responsible for the technical and business aspects of this domain but also for the community's atmosphere and character.
About the Role of Secretary
Responsibilities:
Taking minutes and preparing agendas.
Profile
- Aged between 35 and 45.
- Preferably female or non-binary.
- We aim for a diverse and inclusive board and welcome members with a variety of backgrounds.
- You have an affinity for art and culture.
- You have an affinity for nature conservation.
- You embrace the differences among board members and the users of Nieuw en Meer and handle them well as a board member.
- You are patient and open to discussion.
- What Does It Require?
- Six board meetings per year (Tuesdays, afternoon or evening).
- One "Pre-Plenary Meeting" annually around October.
Attendance and involvement.
- Ideally, we are looking for two board members aged between 35 and 45.
- Familiarity With:
- Some experience in board work.
- Community building.
- Commons (shared resources or collectives).
- Governance Code, Fair Practice Code, Code of Inclusion and Diversity.
- Secretariat responsibilities.
What’s in It for You?
- A meeting fee of €90 per session.
- Access to creative thinking.
- Reward: … one artwork from a community member.
- Contribution to your personal and spiritual growth.
- Involvement in regenerative governance and making a difference.
- The opportunity to contribute to the current art and culture climate in Amsterdam.
- Active engagement with a vibrant artist community.
- Invitations to all openings, gatherings, and outings organized by the tenants' association Niks Minder.
- A wealth of new connections and access to a world of craftsmanship, from goldsmithing to woodworking.
Send your motivation letter to: vereniging@nieuwenmeer.nl and stichting@nieuwenmeer.nl.
