Sjoerd Soeters, from Soeters Van Eldonk Architects, is an architect and urban planner. Under his supervision, large-scale urban projects have been developed. Projects like the Java Island in Amsterdam and Haverleij, a complex of nine castles in Den Bosch.

Critics describe Soeters’ designs as populist, a notion that Soeters doesn’t contradict. He prefers to build for the general public rather than for his peers. This design mentality, and his continuous revolt against modernism, have earned him a reputation as the enfant terrible of the Dutch architecture world.

Soeters was asked to design a new city centre for Zaanstad, a town near Amsterdam. For this assignment he sought inspiration in the local Zaanstad architectural vernacular.

CREDITS Director: Lieza Röben, Camera: Hans Bouma, Sound: Bram Meindersma, Editing: Niels de Roos, Music Sound Design: Pastelle, Research: Kirsten Hannema, Commissioning editor Submarine: Geert van de Wetering, Producer Submarine: Olivia Sophie van Leeuwen, Production assist: Liselot Francken, Produced by Submarine, Commissioned by DutchDFA