The City of Santa Monica wants its residents to think about the urban development and launches the app Cityswipe. People can find pictures of possible new buildings or art pieces for the city and click the ones they like most. A great inspiration for city makers! This article is in Dutch, the app in English.
Klaar met je afhankelijkheid van big tech’s social mediaplatforms? Ben je op zoek naar een alternatief waar sociale interactie en verbinding weer centraal staan? Waag Futurelab helpt je op weg!
Tijdens deze Waag Open gaan we samen aan de slag met de (on)mogelijkheden van social media en speuren we nieuwe alternatieven af. Want hoewel sociale media niet meer weg te denken zijn uit ons dagelijks leven, hebben we geen regie over de platformen die we zo intensief gebruiken. Het verdienmodel van big tech zet bewust in op verslaving en polarisatie, waarbij hun algoritmen desinformatie verspreiden en zo onze democratie ondermijnen. Met eindeloze, verslavende feeds zetten ze bovendien onze mentale gezondheid onder druk.
Dat moet anders. En gelukkig: dat kán ook anders.
In deze workshop leer je meer over de fediverse: een open netwerk van sociale media gebaseerd op publieke waarden en open protocollen. Ondanks deze idealen zijn ze nog veelal onder de radar, maar daar brengen we graag verandering in. Tijdens deze avond zal je praktische ervaring opdoen, zodat je ook na de workshop kunt gaan experimenteren op de fediverse.
| 19:30 - 19:45 uur | Welkom & introductie |
|---|---|
| 19:45 - 21:15 uur | Workshop |
| 21:15 - 21:30 uur | Afsluiting & borrel |
Om 19:30 uur start het programma met een korte introductie van een van Waags experts. Daarna is er een workshop waarin je verschillende platforms ontdekt en je wordt geholpen om je weg te vinden op het fediverse. Een andere interassante case of vraag? Gooi ‘m in de groep!
Elke eerste donderdagavond van de maand opent Waag haar deuren! Kom langs om te discussiëren en te doen. Want we gaan niet alleen in discussie over maatschappelijke thema's en de toekomst – je leert daarnaast ook altijd iets praktisch. Iets dat je altijd al hebt willen uitproberen, zoals de 3D-printer in het FabLab, of juist iets dat je nooit had verwacht, zoals uitpluizen hoe DNA in elkaar zit in ons biotech-lab. Waag Open vindt plaats in de maakplaatsen op de eerste en tweede verdieping van het historische Waaggebouw op de Nieuwmarkt.
Mocht je krap bij kas zitten en wel graag aan dit evenement willen deelnemen, neem dan contact op met sanna [@] waag [punt] org.
Join us to learn to understand the concept of Meshtastic, an open source, off grid, decentralized, mesh network build to run on affordable low-power devices!
Prepare and configure your own device as to contribute to Amsterdam wide coverage, or just for fun / to chat:-)
It starts at 19h in the OBA in the Makerspace on level minus 1 (Junior department). You can rsvp via meetup or by sending an email to sensemakersams@protonmail.com. But our meetings are open to all so feel also free to just walk in.
https://www.meetup.com/sensemakersams/events/305263631/
As the world grapples with massive challenges—climate change, rapid urbanisation, digital disruption, and growing inequality—some cities are not waiting for top-down solutions. They are rolling up their sleeves and experimenting with new ways to improve life for everyone, block by block. Amsterdam is one of those cities.
That’s why I was proud to share Amsterdam InChanges approach to smart, inclusive urban innovation at the #CIPPCD2025 conference in Aveiro.
Through our open innovation platform, <strong>Amsterdam InChange</strong>, the city has become a global leader in turning lofty global ambitions into practical, local action. But Amsterdam’s model isn’t built around flashy tech or utopian blueprints. Instead, it’s grounded in an essential question: How can we use innovation to improve people’s everyday lives?
Local Action for Global Challenges
Amsterdam understands that the climate crisis, digital transition, and social inequality can’t be solved by government alone—or by technology alone. That’s why it launched Amsterdam Smart City in 2009 as a public-private partnership. What began as small-scale energy-saving pilots has grown into a community of over 8,500 members, coordinating more than 300 projects across the city and beyond.
The approach is rooted in co-creation. Citizens, companies, knowledge institutions, and government actors come together to design, test, and scale solutions that serve the public good. The values that guide the network are clear: people first, openness, transparency, learning by doing, and public value.
The Doughnut as a Compass
Amsterdam was the first city in the world to embrace Doughnut Economics as a guiding framework. The “City Doughnut,” developed with economist Kate Raworth, helps policymakers balance the city’s ecological footprint with the social foundations that all citizens need: housing, education, health, equity, and more. It’s a tool to align every local decision with both planetary boundaries and human dignity.
This framework has inspired circular construction strategies, neighbourhood energy co-ops, and more inclusive procurement policies. It shows that global concepts can become real when grounded in local practice.
Making Innovation Inclusive
One of Amsterdam’s core beliefs is that smart cities must be <strong>inclusive cities</strong>. That means tackling issues like <strong>mobility poverty</strong>, where rising transport costs and digital-only services make it harder for low-income or elderly residents to get around.
Through the <strong>Mobility Poverty Challenge</strong>, Amsterdam partnered with the Province of North Holland and researchers from DRIFT to understand where and how exclusion occurs—and to design better public mobility systems. Pilot ideas like a “Mobility Wallet” (a subsidy for essential travel) and more inclusive digital apps emerged from real conversations with affected residents.
The same inclusive mindset guides Amsterdam’s digital transformation. In the suburb of Haarlemmermeer, officials flipped the script on e-government. Instead of asking citizens to become “digitally skilled,” they asked how government systems could become more <strong>humane</strong>. This led to simplified interfaces, better access to services, and ultimately more trust.
Responsible Tech and Energy from the Ground Up
Tech transparency is another pillar of the Amsterdam model. The city runs the world’s first <strong>Algorithm Register</strong>, giving the public insight into how AI and automated systems are used in services—from traffic enforcement to housing applications. Anyone can access this register, offer feedback, and better understand how digital decisions are made.
In the energy space, the city supports both bold innovation and careful upscaling. At the <strong>Johan Cruijff ArenA</strong>, used electric vehicle batteries store solar energy, powering concerts and matches with clean backup power. At the same time, a coalition of partners led by Amsterdam InChange is working to scale up Local Energy Systems by collecting lessons learned and creating a toolkit for community-led energy.
What Makes It Work?
If there’s one secret to Amsterdam’s success, it’s the governance model: small, neutral facilitation teams guiding large multi-stakeholder coalitions, anchored by public trust and shared purpose. Regular Demo Days allow project teams to showcase progress, get feedback, and adapt. This culture of transparency and iteration helps avoid the so-called “innovation graveyard,” where pilot projects go to die.
The city also embraces failure—as long as it’s shared and learned from. Reports like “Organising Smart City Projects” openly list lessons, from the importance of strong leadership to the need for viable business models and continuous user involvement.
An Invitation to Other Cities
Amsterdam’s smart city is not a blueprint—it’s a mindset. Start with your biggest local challenge. Bring the right people together. Make space for experimentation. Build bridges between local and global. And, above all, put citizens at the centre.
As international smart city ambassador Frans-Anton Vermast puts it: “We’re not just creating technology for cities—we’re creating better cities for people.”
The III International Conference on Public Policies and Data Science
