Rokin Plaza

Coordinates: 52°22′20″N 4°53′34″E / 52.37216°N 4.89268°E

The Rokin Plaza in 2012. The facade has since then been completely transformed.

The Rokin in 2003 with the Rokin Plaza in the middle.

Aftermath of the fire at Hotel Polen on 9 May 1977.

The Rokin Plaza is a large retail complex south of the Dam in Amsterdam which used to be an office building. The name refers to the Rokin on which the building lays.

Location and interior

The complex lies behind the Madame Tussauds building. Through the building lies the Papenbroeksteeg which connects the Kalverstraat with the Rokin and also gives access to the offices and the interior court. The building houses many offices.

Hotel Polen which burned down in 1977 (causing 33 deaths) stood on the location presently occupied by the Rokin Plaza.

As of 2010 Rokin Plaza was one of the largest office buildings in the centre of Amsterdam with an office space of 5,086 m² and a retail area of 1,308 m².^[1]

In that year the Rokin Plaza was sold to Emmes Group.^[1] In August 2012 it was announced that the American fashion chain Forever 21 would open a branch in the building in late 2013.^[2] This date wasn't met. After the facade was completely changed Forever 21 opened a branch in the building on 19 April 2014.^[3] In another part of the building the Spanish fashion chain Pull & Bear opened a branch.^[4]

References

1. "Rokin Plaza in Amsterdam". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg. July 12, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
2. (Dutch) Modeketen Forever 21 opent eind 2013 deuren in Amsterdam, Het Parool, 10 August 2012.
3. (Dutch) Forever 21 Amsterdam: nog drie dagen, www.dichtbij.nl, 16 April 2014.
4. (Dutch) Pull & Bear opent in Amsterdam, www.retailnieuws.nl, 23 October 2013.