A history of migration and segregation in a modern city
Mijn Stad Tours
Personal stories, architecture and urban issues come together in walks that not only inform, but also spark conversation about the future of the city.
Amsterdam Nieuw-West: a history of migration and segregation in a modern city
While many Dutch families moved to new towns like Almere and Lelystad in the late 1980s and 1990s, it was primarily the families of former migrant workers who relocated to Nieuw-West. Here, they had the opportunity to exchange their small and often outdated social housing in the inner city for larger and better-quality homes beyond the Ring road.
In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, the separation between residents with and without a migration background grew over time, leading to tensions with authorities – including the so-called ‘Moroccan riots’ of 1998. Further clashes between police and local youth followed in 1999 and 2007. Media coverage, both local and national, often relied on stereotypes, using terms like ‘intifada’ and ‘020-Gaza’ – labels that cast a long shadow over Nieuw-West and its residents.
Amidst all this negativity, a new generation of Amsterdammers grew up in these neighbourhoods beyond the Ring road. Caught between prejudice and poverty in districts now rapidly gentrifying, they continue to carve out their own paths – resilient, resourceful, and determined to make something out of their lives.
The guide: Tayfun
Historian and journalist Tayfun Balçik, active in the residents’ action group ‘Nieuw-West in Verzet’, has dedicated a full year as curator to Arcam’s 2024 annual theme: Retellings. He invites you to join him on a bike tour titled ‘Back to the Future’, where personal life stories form the basis for a collective retelling of the housing history of Amsterdam Nieuw-West.
During this ride, you’ll discover how Nieuw-West serves as a living illustration of how a modernist urban design was reshaped by its residents into a layered and diverse city district.
The tour
The tour starts in Amsterdam West, where Tayfun was born. From there, you’ll cycle together toward Amsterdam Nieuw-West. The tour ends at August Allebéplein, at the housing cooperative De Bundel, a project cofounded by Tayfun as a grassroots response to the housing crisis.
Visitor info & groups
This tour will be offered once, free of charge, to the public. The date will be announced via the Arcam agenda and newsletter.
All Mijn Stad Tours are also available for group bookings upon request.
Mijn Stad Tour: Tayfun, Back to the Future
Tour duration: 1,5 hours
Meeting point: before the OBA at Mercatorplein
Group rates:
To keep the tours as accessible as possible, we offer two fixed rates:
- Standard rate: €15 per person (minimum group size: 10)
- Cultural rate: €10 per person (minimum group size: 10)
For reservations and pricing information: please contact Sjaan van Tol at sjaan@arcam.nl