NBD Biblion; Zoetermeer, the cool city depicted

by Ton Van Zeijl

As a resident since 1984, I find Zoetermeer a lovely city to live in. There are many beautiful and quiet places and has lots of greenery for recreation. Westerpark, Balijbos, Nieuwe Driemanspolder, Bendwoud and Meerpolder are green oases around Zoetermeer. There are many cycle paths separated from fast traffic that take you where you want in a short time. Since 2001, I have been photographing regularly in the city to capture the architectural and urban developments. I often choose graphic forms, elements and colour accents. The NBD Biblion building, designed by LIAG architects, is one of the architectural icons of Zoetermeer and is located in the Oosterheem district. The colourful elements and white facade bands give the building its appeal. About the project Zoetermeer, a Cool City: Cool, because it is a fun, vibrant and interesting city for young and old to live, work and recreate in. But also cool, because the city was built in accordance with the original plans of the early 1960s. Zoetermeer grew from a rural municipality of 7,000 inhabitants to a city of more than 125,000 in just 60 years. This development has given Zoetermeer a beautiful sample of post-war architecture and urban planning. The NBD Biblion building is a wonderful example of what Dutch architects are capable of, and fits in perfectly with a modern and sleek interior.