Hello Amsterdam Smart City Community! I'm an American living in Amsterdam for a few months, and while I'm here, I'm writing a weekly blog for the John Adams Institute. This week, I wrote about the economic and cultural impact of tourism in cities. I'd welcome any feedback you might have!
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PhD translation: Capturing change in the energy transition and beyond (with Tessa de Geus)

(this event is in Dutch)
De actie-onderzoekers van DRIFT werken jarenlang aan hun proefschrift en ontwikkelen daarmee state-of-the-art kennis en tools. Traditioneel gezien wordt deze kennis echter alleen ontsloten in boekvorm en overgedragen aan hun commissie van (hoog)leraren. Daarom organiseren we naast een PhD-verdediging een PhD-vertaling.
Op 11 april is de beurt aan Tessa de Geus. We duiken in haar proefschrift ‘Capturing change’ (<em>verandering vatten).</em> Het onderwerp: verschillende vormen van ‘capture’ in de energietransitie – krijgen radicale nieuwe initiatieven of ideeën de wind eronder zodra ze zich op een groter speelveld begeven of raken ze vleugellam?
Hoewel de term buiten de transitiewetenschap (nog) niet zo bekend is, is ‘capture’ een heet hangijzer voor wie werkt aan fundamentele maatschappelijke verandering. Denk aan een overheid die een burgerinitiatief ondersteunt of eigen innovatieve praktijken opschaalt – in grote veranderingsprocessen als de energietransitie is veel hoop gevestigd op zulke nieuwe bestuursvormen, maar is weinig bekend over de schaduwzijde ervan, stelt Tessa.
Net als bij de PhD-verdediging beginnen we met een ‘lekenpraatje’ — Tessa legt in begrijpelijke taal uit wat ze heeft onderzocht en welke conclusies en aanbevelingen daaruit volgen.
Daarna openen we het gesprek. Onze drie panelleden stellen zich kort voor en dan gaan met de promovendus in gesprek over vragen als: wat betekenen jouw uitkomsten voor mijn beleid, bedrijf of activisme? Wat herken ik en wat zie ik toch anders? En hoe zouden we opgedane lessen en methodes kunnen toepassen in ons (werk)veld?
Op 11 april kun je van 10:00-11:00 via YouTube live meekijken met dit evenement. Meer informatie vind je op onze website:
Online course Just Sustainability Transitions

Across six interactive online sessions, this course offers the tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to support just and sustainable transformations – grounded in action research, critical reflection, and peer learning.
We are offering the course for the third time, this year in collaboration with Dina Lupin from University of Southampton.
We have made the programme a bit more compact to make it more affordable, and as always offer it at a variable rate (€1,775.00 for well-paid professionals and €1,245.00 for those with more limited financial means) to make it as accessible as possible.
Stream the Amsterdam Forever Young Programme on Eye Film Player

Discover the Amsterdam Forever Young program on the Eye Film Player, a diverse programme that explores the dynamic, ever-evolving spirit of Amsterdam. This collection of films highlights how the city’s unique identity has been shaped by its past, present, and future. Hence, we place a special focus on the intersection of urban development and planning, offering a look at how the city’s architectural and cultural transformations have intertwined in, both, historical films, as well as more contemporary filmic undertakings. Thus, our collection of films, such as Where the Rats are King, A Photographer Films Amsterdam and Amsterdam Global Village, shed light on the living conditions in Amsterdam, the urban communities witihin Amsterdam and, even, films as Jenny and Amsterdam on Film that shed light on how the canals have shaped Amsterdam more than aesthetically e.g., with its focus on ecology and care for our climate. Through, both, monetized and free to watch films, we aim to share the rich history of our city, whilst aiming for a dynamic space for creativity, inclusivity, and sustainability in the future, too that we hope this knowledge and collection will inspire.
All in all, Amsterdam Forever Young invites you to reflect on the city's evolution and its commitment to being a centre of modernity, without losing the essence of its heritage. Available on the Eye Film Player, to watch from your bedroom, this "digital" exhibition celebrates Amsterdam as the city of urban transformation that, at the same time, stay true to its historical roots.
Hi @rosstilchin , nice blog about our Venice of the North! You're putting your finger on the sore spot. So let me point out a positive thing too: isn't tourism also showing that worldwide the middle class is getting stronger and stronger? More and more people have the ability to travel and to visit interesting places and ultimately, to meet with strangers. (although this last bit may be something for the more adventurous who dart part Venice or Amsterdam).
Hi @melihgezer ! Thanks very much for your comment. Indeed, in writing this piece, I'd also come across Barcelona's effort to limit the impact of tourism. Such an interesting issue--yet another instance of globalization totally changing the context in which cities operate.
Thanks for the great post. I had come across the same issue in Barcelona, here is a link to the article. Probably above 10% of Amsterdam's GDP also comes from Tourism. While many cities admire Amsterdam, Barcelona and the likes, too much of tourism (everything) is likely to be an issue:)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/27/barcelona-cracks-down-on-tourist-numbers-with-accommodation-law