The buildings Castalia and Helicon are part of the larger complex "De Resident", which also includes several other office towers and housing. This assessment concerns the offices in the Castalia and Helicon buildings. Castalia and Helicon house two ministries (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment). In 2015, the buildings were connected by covering Parnassus Square. The entrance to both buildings is now located in the new atrium.

The Central Government Real Estate Agency had adapted the De Resident office building in The Hague. Until the beginning of 2013, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) was housed in De Resident. VWS was temporarily in De Hoftoren. In July 2015, VWS returned to De Resident together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).

Situation

In April 2014, the renovation of the De Resident office building in The Hague started. The renovation has now been completed and the transfer took place on April 24, 2015. By placing his signature on a work of art, HM King Willem-Alexander officially reopened the Resident on November 10.

Since the renovation, two ministries have been accommodated in the building: Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and Social Affairs and Employment (SZW). The current courtyard – Parnassusplein – has been covered over into an atrium. In addition to the construction of the atrium, the interior of De Resident has been adapted to create 2,400 workplaces for 2,700 civil servants.

Since July 2015, VWS and SZW have been housed in De Resident. Part of the new atrium is accessible to everyone during the day.

History

In the 1990s, an area in the city center of The Hague was developed with office towers, homes, shops and squares. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport was located in the characteristic pointed towers of De Resident: Helicon and Castalia. These buildings were still separated by Parnassus Square.

The cabinet wants to bring several ministries together under one roof. Housing SZW and VWS together in De Resident is part of this plan.