The Westergasfabriek was built in 1883 by a British company, the Imperial Continental Gas Association. At the time, it was the largest coal-fired gas factory in Amsterdam. In the 1990s, the city authorities of Amsterdam decided to redevelop the site and to convert the existing buildings into, among other things, a concert hall and a theatre. A town park was planned for the surrounding area, with ponds, bridges and a large festival location. However, there was one obstacle to the ambitious development plan: the former factory site was contaminated, severely in some places, and a clean-up operation was necessary.