In the second half of the 19th century, the city of Amsterdam grew quickly as a result of the industrial revolution taking place in the Netherlands.
Between 1870 and 1900, the city's population almost doubled and at the turn of the century, the number of 500,000 inhabitants was reached.
Many of the old innercity neighbourhoods had become overcrowded and were suffering from poor living conditions and a lack of sanitary facilities.
The last major development had been the construction of the Amsterdam canal belt in the 17th century.
To allow the city to expand beyond the canal ring, the wall surrounding it was taken down in stages during the second half of the 19th century.
Several new residential areas were being developed, with upscale residences being built around the just-opened Rijksmuseum and workers' and middle-class homes the west and east of the old city, for example in areas now called Oud-West and Oud-Oost.

The city's initial expansion beyond the former city wall was in the hands of private developers, without much public involvement in the neighbourhood planning.
In addition, the more affordable housing projects were often of poor construction quality.
Therefore, the Amsterdam city council decided to design a more comprehensive plan for further expansion into the rural area south of the city.
After several plans by city planners were rejected, the city commissioned Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage in 1899 to design a masterplan.
Berlage's plan, called Plan Zuid, was approved by the city council in 1905.
In the second half of the 19th century, the city of Amsterdam grew quickly as a result of the industrial revolution taking place in the Netherlands. Between 1870 and 1900, the city's population almost doubled and at the turn of the century, the number of 500,000 inhabitants was reached. Many of the old innercity neighbourhoods had become overcrowded and were suffering from poor living conditions and a lack of sanitary facilities. The last major development had been the construction of the Amsterdam canal belt in the 17th century. To allow the city to expand beyond the canal ring, the wall surrounding it was taken down in stages during the second half of the 19th century. Several new residential areas were being developed, with upscale residences being built around the just-opened Rijksmuseum and workers' and middle-class homes the west and east of the old city, for example in areas now called Oud-West and Oud-Oost.
The city's initial expansion beyond the former city wall was in the hands of private developers, without much public involvement in the neighbourhood planning. In addition, the more affordable housing projects were often of poor construction quality. Therefore, the Amsterdam city council decided to design a more comprehensive plan for further expansion into the rural area south of the city. After several plans by city planners were rejected, the city commissioned Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage in 1899 to design a masterplan. Berlage's plan, called Plan Zuid, was approved by the city council in 1905.
Rivierenbuurt (Amsterdam)