How Amsterdam Became the City You Moved To: A Talk with Marcel van Engelen

➡️ Ever wonder why Amsterdam’s housing is so wild?

➡️ Curious how these "decaying" 80s neighborhoods became Europe’s hotspots?

➡️ Want to meet the author who literally wrote the book on it?

If you’ve chosen to live here, you deserve to know the story of how Amsterdam became the city it is today.

“AIC Presents: The Making of Amsterdam (1980–Today)” An evening of history, snacks, and "aha!" moments with acclaimed journalist and author Marcel van Engelen.

Marcel has lived in Amsterdam since 1990 and spent years interviewing the politicians, activists, architects, and residents who shaped the city firsthand. His Dutch book De stad (2024) was widely praised and is now in its 10th printing. The English edition, Amsterdam: The Making of a City, 1980–Today, has just been published by De Bezige Bij, making this story available for the first time to Amsterdam's growing international community.

We start the buzz early! Join us from 18:00 to grab a drink, some snacks at the bar, and start connecting with the community before the talk begins. 🍹🥨

• The Inside Scoop: Learn the transformation from 1980s squats to the 2026 global hub. 📈
• Visual Storytelling: Marcel uses rare photos and stories from his bestseller, now in its 10th printing, to bring history to life.
• Interactive Q&A: Get your burning questions about the city answered by a local expert.
• Win the Book: We’re hosting a mini-quiz at the end—the winner takes home a signed copy! 🎁

From the squatters who shaped the streets to the housing boom and the current overtourism crisis—this is the "manual" for the city you live in.

Meet Berlage Oudebrugsteeg 9, 1012 JN Amsterdam, Netherlands

Wednesday, April 15th

• 18:00 – 19:00: Pre-event drinks & networking (The fun starts here!) 🥂
• 19:00 – 20:00: Author Talk, Q&A, and Quiz.

No ticket fee is required for this event, and everyone is welcome to join us! Just book your free spot here so we can manage the capacity at the venue.

Want to support the community? Get the AIC CARD! 💳 Your membership helps us keep organizing these unique cultural gatherings and grants you great discounts at our partner events.

Whether you arrived last month or have been here for years, this is the story of the city you call home.More about the book: marcelvanengelen.nl/amsterdam-book

Let’s uncover the secrets of our favorite city together! 🧠

The AIC Team

IMPORTANT! The amount of attending people that you see on this website is not fully representing how busy the event will be. Since AIC events are promoted on several platforms, the attendance is the result of the combination of the bookings coming from each platform.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Meet Berlage, 9 Oudebrugsteeg, Amsterdam, Netherlands

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