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The New Tax Office on Wibautstraat
Newspaper clipping from January 4, 1958 showing the newly built tax office on Wibautstraat
HistoryArchitectureTax Office

The New Tax Office on Wibautstraat

Wibautstraat, Amsterdam
January 4, 1958
66 years ago
Amsterdam City Archives
Historical Documentation

This historical newspaper clipping from January 4, 1958 shows the newly constructed tax office building on Wibautstraat in Amsterdam, which would later become the Theo Thijssenhuis, home to the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

The Dutch caption reads: 'Het nieuw gebouwde belastingkantoor aan de Wibautstraat te Amsterdam kan binnenkort in gebruik worden genomen. Het fraaie gebouw is 47 meter hoog, terwijl het breed is 96 meter. Het bestaat uit tien verdiepingen, waarvan enkele reeds in gebruik zijn genomen.'

Translation: 'The newly built tax office on Wibautstraat in Amsterdam will soon be put into use. The impressive building is 47 meters high and 96 meters wide. It consists of ten floors, some of which are already in use.'

This modernist structure was designed in the post-war reconstruction period and exemplifies the architectural style of government buildings from that era. Its imposing facade and grid-like window pattern were typical of administrative buildings designed for efficiency and functionality.

For decades, this building served as the Central Tax Authorities archive, housing countless documents and records. The large, open floor plans were ideal for the rows of filing cabinets and administrative workspaces needed for tax processing.

The building's location on Wibautstraat was strategic, as this area was developing into an important administrative and educational corridor in Amsterdam. Today, this same street hosts multiple university buildings and has transformed into a knowledge hub.

It's fascinating to see the building in its original context, with vintage cars and bicycles on the street, and to consider how both the structure and its surroundings have evolved over more than six decades. The transformation from tax office to educational institution represents the changing needs of society and the adaptive reuse of urban architecture.

Memory Connections

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Historical Context

This 1958 newspaper clipping captures a pivotal moment in the building's history - its original construction and purpose as a tax office. This predates its transformation into the Theo Thijssenhuis by several decades.

Location

This building on Wibautstraat was originally constructed as a tax office before being renovated and repurposed as the Theo Thijssenhuis for the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Time Period

This memory is from January 1958, during Amsterdam's post-war reconstruction period when many new administrative buildings were being constructed.

Themes

HistoryArchitectureTax Office