Update on our move to Timorplein

The preparations for the move to our new premises in Timorplein are now well underway. The building was formally opened at a convivial event on March 5, at which ourselves and our partners in the new building were present. We should put the emphasis on "formally", because that just meant that the building was now empty and that work on restructuring it and re-equipping it from top to bottom could begin. The contracts have now been signed with the companies that are going to do the work and the architects are working on detailed drawings. However, as is often the case with work on this scale, there have been a few hitches and delays and we are now looking realistically at being fully operational in the new building in the early spring of 2007.Our collaboration with our partners is very positive: we have for example joint service agreements for gas and electricity, which will considerably reduce our costs and those of our partners. And we have excellent relations with the authorities of the borough of Zeeburg, where Timorplein is located. We are looking forward to having closer collaboration with the local community, with non-governmental organisations and migrant associations. A special web site has been opened to inform the population and potential users of the new complex. www.timorplein21.nl.
At the moment the site is in Dutch only but later on there will be material in English. We are hoping that in its new location the IIRE will have a higher profile at the local, national and international levels.