How a crumbling city became one of Europe’s most desired and contested places.
Around 1980, Amsterdam was a city that people were leaving: impoverished, run-down, and facing an uncertain future. Today, it’s so desirable that many can no longer afford to live there. This book traces the people, ideas, and forces that shaped the city you see today, telling a story that resonates beyond the Netherlands.
Published by De Bezige Bij, March 2026.
Based on more than 70 interviews and years of research, this is the story of Amsterdam’s transformation through the people who lived it, fought over it, and shaped it.
A grounded case study of urban change in contemporary Europe.
Available worldwide through major online bookstores and ebook platforms, including Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books and Google Play.
About the book
Amsterdam in the late 1970s and early 1980s seemed to have lost its way. Scarred by decay, addiction, and widespread squatting, the city faced rising unemployment, an exodus of residents, and offices abandoning the historic center. Few would have predicted the transformation that was to follow.
Within a decade, the tide had turned. Economic recovery opened the door to renewal. Neighborhoods improved, former factories became creative spaces, young urban professionals moved in, and families chose to stay. Amsterdam reinvented itself, not overnight, but street by street, district by district.
This success, however, has proved double-edged. In recent years, Amsterdam has attracted so many people, businesses, and capital that a new crisis has emerged – one of success. Housing shortages, mass tourism, and widening inequality are once again reshaping the city, making it increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible.
This English edition is a revised and updated version of the Dutch original De stad (2024), translated by the author.
Critical acclaim for the Dutch edition
‘A critical book about the contemporary history of Amsterdam. Compelling characters bring this argument to life. Highly convincing.’ — NRC
‘A remarkable, fluently written book. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Amsterdam.’ — Het Parool
‘Vivid and urgent.’ — Trouw
‘One of the best books about a city. Van Engelen paints a picture of the Netherlands as a whole — a country that transformed from a manufacturing nation into an office economy.’ — Het Financieele Dagblad (FD)
‘In this fascinating book, Marcel van Engelen describes how Amsterdam has swung between extremes. He shows how it became the wealthy, bustling, tourist-packed city it is today.’ De Volkskrant
About the author
Marcel van Engelen (1971) is a journalist and author. He wrote for the Amsterdam daily Het Parool for many years and has contributed to various Dutch newspapers and magazines. His previous book, Het kasteel van Elmina (Elmina Castle,2013), won the Brusse Prize, the award for the best Dutch-language work of narrative nonfiction.
Marcel van Engelen is available for talks, interviews, and guided walks through Amsterdam. Contact: mail@marcelvanengelen.nl