Waste matters: tackling trash in the Molenwijk, Amsterdam Noord
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.
Waste matters: tackling trash in the Molenwijk, a modernist high-rise district in Amsterdam Noord
Built in the late 1960s, the Molenwijk in Amsterdam Noord was designed as a model of modernist living: high-rise flats in a park-like setting, separated traffic flows and all basic amenities within easy reach. The layout reflected international ideals of urban living at the time: light, air and space.
Today, this 1960s high-rise neighbourhood has a diverse population and, combined with its distinctive urban design, forms a unique and somewhat hidden corner of Amsterdam on the city’s edge. In the past, the Molenwijk struggled with waste management. Garbage was collected less frequently than in other neighbourhoods, leading to visible problems. So how is the Molenwijk managing to stay clean today?
The guide: Freek
Freek van Raam has lived in Amsterdam his entire life and feels deeply connected to his neighbourhood: the Molenwijk. Over the years, Freek has built a strong network of active residents and local organizations, with whom he tackles the waste issues in his community head-on.
The tour
Walk with Freek through the Molenwijk and contribute to his project ‘Molenwijk Schoon’. Everyone receives a litter picker to help clean up the neighbourhood while walking. Along the way, you’ll discover how this district was once designed as a ‘city of the future’, and what challenges arise when such large scale plans begin to age and shift.
This tour reveals how the Molenwijk is not only an architectural monument of post-war reconstruction, but also a mirror for today’s urban questions: how do we create a livable, clean, and future-proof neighbourhood together?
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: Freek en de Molenwijk
Tour duration: 1,5 hours
Meeting point: the Molenwijkkamer, Molenaarsweg 5
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