New mosque gets go ahead.

21 Feb, 2006

Construction of the Westermoskee in the predominantly Turkish and Moroccan district of de Baarsjes in West Amsterdam will begin on 28 February, after 12 years of decision reversals, delays and controversy. The building project, a joint effort between the Turkish Muslim community and a Dutch housing association, Het Oosten, is to be constructed on derelict land owned by the Turkish Milli Goris movement. Predominantly inspired by the Hagia Sofia mosque in Istanbul (now a museum), the Westermoskee was designed by a French-Jewish team of architects, Marc and Nada Breitman. Their project also includes over 100 units of rental housing, shops and office space in the area adjacent to the mosque, to be built in early 20th century Dutch style. The height of the minaret, which was one of the objects of controversy, has been fixed at 42 metres.