1 00:00:07,311 --> 00:00:10,468 Binnenhof is the home of the Dutch parliamentary democracy. 2 00:00:10,667 --> 00:00:11,947 And it’s open for everyone to visit. 3 00:00:11,947 --> 00:00:16,719 It’s a unique complex of buildings that has grown and been adapted over centuries. 4 00:00:17,075 --> 00:00:21,795 And now a new renovation is needed because the construction and technical infrastructure require serious attention. 5 00:00:21,795 --> 00:00:26,867 If they have to renovate, then they have to renovate. Otherwise it will be lost before long. 6 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:32,331 Judging by what I read in the papers it’s high time they did something about it. 7 00:00:32,215 --> 00:00:36,667 I can’t imagine they’d have to close is for so many years, or that it has to cost that much. 8 00:00:36,667 --> 00:00:40,467 As business owners on Lange Poten we’re worried 9 00:00:40,233 --> 00:00:43,757 the reconstruction work is going to have a very negative impact on our businesses. 10 00:00:47,434 --> 00:00:49,566 Binnenhof is leaky, 11 00:00:49,733 --> 00:00:57,340 the roofs are in bad shape, there are cracks, there’s flooding in the cellars, technical infrastructure is outdated, cable ducts are overflowing… 12 00:00:59,401 --> 00:01:04,530 Politicians work here but so do civil servants. Large numbers of tourists also visit Binnenhof. 13 00:01:04,353 --> 00:01:09,892 We really need to renovate now to enable all these people to continue doing their work. 14 00:01:09,611 --> 00:01:12,830 But also so that tourists can continue to visit Binnenhof. 15 00:01:13,383 --> 00:01:15,856 We’re going to renovate the entire Binnenhof in one go. 16 00:01:15,931 --> 00:01:19,563 We will work on all sections of the complex at the same time. 17 00:01:19,708 --> 00:01:23,194 It’s a huge project.We have to renew all the roofs, for example. 18 00:01:23,307 --> 00:01:28,136 That’s easily an area the size of five football pitches which we have to assemble. 19 00:01:28,199 --> 00:01:32,153 At peak times about 750 construction workers will be working here. 20 00:01:32,193 --> 00:01:34,319 We’re going to start renovations in 2020 21 00:01:34,585 --> 00:01:37,419 and the project will be finished in 2025. 22 00:01:37,419 --> 00:01:42,908 Unfortunately it’s impossible to complete the project without causing some local inconvenience. 23 00:01:42,586 --> 00:01:42,586 This inconvenience will mostly be caused by the delivery and removal of materials and by noise. 24 00:01:42,586 --> 00:01:52,551 Noise inconvenience might not be too bad because a lot of the work will take place inside the complex. 25 00:01:53,353 --> 00:01:55,779 We aim to limit any inconvenience as much as possible. 26 00:01:55,921 --> 00:02:01,339 During the renovation work local neighbourhoods such as Lange Poten and Plein will remain easily accessible. 27 00:02:01,339 --> 00:02:05,817 Nothing will change before the summer of 2020 when the renovation work starts. 28 00:02:05,817 --> 00:02:10,129 Binnenhof will function as normal, the lower and upper houses will continue to gather here. 29 00:02:10,129 --> 00:02:13,200 And that means people will still be able to visit like they can now. 30 00:02:13,787 --> 00:02:18,233 We are consulting with the Central Government Real Estate Agency, the municipality, ProDemos and local residents to work out how 31 00:02:18,233 --> 00:02:23,698 to keep Binnenhof as accessible as possible during the renovations. 32 00:02:23,698 --> 00:02:30,003 One suggestion is to build an aerial bridge over Binnenhof so you will be able to get a unique bird’s eye view of the complex. 33 00:02:30,003 --> 00:02:36,911 Another idea is ‘hard hat tours’, which is a fun and exciting way of still being able to view this beautiful historical complex while renovations are ongoing. 34 00:02:39,677 --> 00:02:43,587 The construction workers, the guys who will be working here, they will benefit us, of course. 35 00:02:43,587 --> 00:02:46,033 Because people who work also need to eat. 36 00:02:46,033 --> 00:02:52,262 I’m confident it will work out fine. Yes, why not? I assume there’s a plan and that it will be properly implemented. 37 00:02:52,262 --> 00:02:55,140 So in the summer of 2020 we’re all moving out. 38 00:02:55,140 --> 00:02:57,626 But hopefully we’ll be back as soon as possible!