WILLEMSTAD - With the visit this week by Sylvia Pijnenborg, deputy director of BOEi - a social enterprise committed to preserving and reusing cultural heritage - at the Sint Elisabeth Hospital (Sehos), a start has been made with preparations for the Sint Elisabeth District.
The Board of Directors has already announced the plans for this at the beginning of September 2019. BOEi will support Sehos in the development and re-use of the hospital building.
The Sint Elisabeth Hospital has played a central role in the Otrobanda city district for more than 160 years. After the patient move from Sehos to CMC, and after restoration and re-use, the Sint Elisabeth District - with new functionalities - will again have to play a central, connecting role in Otrobanda. With regard to new functionalities, one might think of care hotel, (small) hospitality, education and (assisted) living.
Sehos seeks the connection with the neighborhood for the development of the Sint Elisabeth District. Good coordination with the needs of the Otrobanda city district, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is essential. In that context, a first consultation took place on Tuesday 8 October 2019 between Sehos, BOEi and the representatives of all interest groups in Otrobanda, in which they responded with great enthusiasm to the intended redevelopment of the real estate.
The interest groups have indicated that it is important that the history of the Sint Elisabeth Hospital is not lost. Vacancy, loss of buildings and demolition must be prevented. The focus must also be on increasing the quality of life in Otrobanda, so there must be good integration with the neighborhood. Sint Elisabeth District must be designed in close collaboration with the neighborhood.
Following this first meeting with the interest groups, an information meeting will also be planned in the short term for all residents of Otrobanda, in which they will be involved in thinking about how the old hospital building can be developed and re-used.