Who are you and what do you do?
The University of Amsterdam’s Placemaking team organises educational programmes centred around the Roeterseiland Campus, in which students work to improve the quality of life in the surrounding neighbourhood. Each project focuses on a specific location, such as a street, park or square. Students might explore ways to improve social and physical safety, introduce more greenery or create more opportunities for people to meet.
What makes your work special or unique?
Students always work on real-life challenges presented by local community partners, in collaboration with residents and the people who use the location. They research the stories behind a place, work with the neighbourhood to develop possible interventions and then put those ideas into practice. In this way, students apply their academic knowledge in the real world while contributing to society.
Why are you a member of Buurtnetwerk De Plantage?
As the UvA Placemaking team, we would like to contribute to a lively neighbourhood where people can easily find and engage with one another.
What kinds of collaboration with other organisations are you open to?
We are always looking for partners for student projects. These can range from a smaller challenge for a group of students to a complete thesis project involving in-depth research by an individual student. Do you have an issue that you rarely have time to address, or one that could benefit from a fresh student perspective? Please get in touch!
What would you like to contribute to the neighbourhood?
We want to help create attractive, greener and safer places where people feel at home. We would also like to strengthen ties between the neighbourhood and the university. The academic world and the local community are often quite separate, and it would be valuable to create more interaction between them. Students may only spend a limited amount of time here, but through Placemaking they can contribute to lasting improvements in the neighbourhood.
What might neighbourhood enthusiasts enjoy knowing about you?
You do not need to be an institution or foundation to become a partner. Businesses and homeowners’ associations can also collaborate with Placemaking students. For example, student projects on Roetersstraat helped to create small pavement gardens along the façades. This had long been a wish of local residents and was also supported by nearby businesses. It is wonderful to see students making a practical contribution in this way.
Email: placemaking@uva.nl
Website: https://placemakingamsterdam.nl/
LinkedIn: Placemaking UvA
Instagram: @placemakinguva