My City Tours: Baaibuurt-West – Stories of a Disappeared Neighborhood
April 2026 is dedicated to My City Tours, where personal stories, architecture, and urban issues come together in walking or cycling tours that not only inform, but also open up conversations about the future of the city.
My City Tour: Baaibuurt-West – Stories of a Disappearing Neighborhood
Baaibuurt-West: an organically grown neighborhood that had to make way for top-down urban planning
On this tour through Baaibuurt-West, you’ll discover one of the most fascinating chapters in Amsterdam’s urban development: a neighborhood that began to grow organically from the 1960s, with residential communities, craftspeople, artists, and nature. For years, it was a vibrant area that developed outside the drawing boards of city planners.
However, since 2025, demolition has begun to make way for new top-down plans for the city—plans that were drawn up long in advance, leaving no room for residents with dissenting voices. The neighborhood has now largely disappeared, but the stories remain. Join Jana and Marijn and explore their stories through photographs.
The guides
During this city tour, discover the lived experiences of the neighborhood through Marijn and Jana, former residents of Baaibuurt-West and active members of the Baaibuurt Collective. Can the emotional meaning of this neighborhood be translated into ingredients for the future architecture and urban planning of Amsterdam?
The tour
Starting from the Zuiderzeeweg bus stop, you will walk with the guides past the remains of what is often described as the last “rough edge” of Amsterdam. As former residents and active members of the Baaibuurt Collective, Marijn and Jana had hoped for a different outcome. Why does Baaibuurt-West remain such an important place for Amsterdam? Discover it during this tour.
My City Tours: Baaibuurt-West – Stories of a Disappearing Neighborhood
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Time: 14:00
Duration: 1.5 hours
Language: English
Meeting location: Tram stop Zuiderzeeweg
Tickets: A ticket costs €7.50 and includes admission to Arcam. The My City Tours are intended for all, which is why it is also possible to reserve a free ticket via the ticket button.
Questions? Please contact Sjaan van der Tol at sjaan@arcam.nl