Baaibuurt-West: a disappearing neighbourhood
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.
Baaibuurt-West: a neighbourhood that grew organically, but had to make way for top-down urban planning
This tour through Baaibuurt-West reveals one of the most fascinating chapters in Amsterdam’s urban development. A neighbourhood that began to grow organicallyin the 1960s, home to housing collectives, craftspeople, artists and nature. For decades it was a vibrant district that evolved outside the drawing boards of city planners.
But starting in 2025, the area is being demolished to make way for top-down plans for the city. These plans were drafted long in advance, leaving no room for dissenting voices from residents. Parts of the neighbourhood have already disappeared; others are still inhabited, but await eviction.
The Baaibuurt Collective was founded in 2023 in an effort to align the neighbourhood’s development with the city’s goals, such as the creation of 1800 new homes. Yet for now, it seems that the history of this Amsterdam district, along with its rich natural environment, will be buried beneath a seven-meter layer of sand.
The guides: Marijn and Jana
During this city tour, you’ll explore the lived experiences of Baaibuurt-West through Marijn and Jana, former residents and active members of the Baaibuurt Collective. Together, they share personal stories from a neighbourhood shaped outside the boundaries of conventional planning. As you walk through its fading edges, a question arises: Can we translate the emotional meaning of this place into ingredients for the future architecture and urban design of Amsterdam?
The tour
From the Zuiderzeeweg bus stop, you’ll walk with the guides through the hidden paths of what remains of Amsterdam’s last urban fringe. As former residents and active members of the Baaibuurt Collective, Marijn and Jana would have envisioned a different future for this place. Why does Baaibuurt-West remain such a vital part of Amsterdam’s story? Discover it during this tour.
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: Marijn, Jana and the Baaibuurt-West
Tour duration: 1,5 hours
Meeting point: tram stop Zuiderzeeweg
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