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

Become part of a vibrant network of people! Whether you are an expat, Dutch who’s internationally oriented, or a visitor—everybody is welcome!We organize expat events of every shape and form—parties, after-work drinks, boat trips, networking, housing services, expat sporting activities, cinema, language exchange, expat meetup, food workshops, and more.We are inclusive and open to people of different nationalities and backgrounds.Follow AIC and become part of a vibrant network of people! Our community shares common passions, pursues similar interests, and contributes with their knowledge and experience to create valuable connections and foster new friendships.WATCH OUR TRAILERVISIT OUR WEBSITE

AIC - Amsterdam International Commnunity - Expats

An evening of history, snacks, and "aha!" moments with acclaimed journalist and author Marcel van Engelen.

Meet Berlage

➡️ 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.<h2> </h2><h4>🍻 Come early, stay late:</h4>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. 🍹🥨 <h4>Here’s what’s in it for you:</h4><ul><li>The Inside Scoop: Learn the transformation from 1980s squats to the 2026 global hub. 📈</li><li>Visual Storytelling: Marcel uses rare photos and stories from his bestseller, now in its 10th printing, to bring history to life.</li><li>Interactive Q&amp;A: Get your burning questions about the city answered by a local expert.</li><li>Win the Book: We’re hosting a mini-quiz at the end—the winner takes home a signed copy! 🎁</li></ul><h2> </h2><h4>Real history, no boring lectures</h4>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. <h4>📍 WHERE</h4>Meet Berlage Oudebrugsteeg 9, 1012 JN Amsterdam, Netherlands <h4>📅 WHEN</h4>Wednesday, April 15th<ul><li>18:00 – 19:00: Pre-event drinks &amp; networking (The fun starts here!) 🥂</li><li>19:00 – 20:00: Author Talk, Q&amp;A, and Quiz.</li></ul><h3> </h3><h4>TICKETS &amp; AIC Card</h4>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: <a href="http://marcelvanengelen.nl/amsterdam-book" title="http://marcelvanengelen.nl/amsterdam-book" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">marcelvanengelen.nl/amsterdam-book</a> 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.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

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

More events from AIC - Amsterdam International Commnunity - Expats

Discover more events from AIC - Amsterdam International Commnunity - Expats, from Community to other experiences you might love.

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

More events from AIC - Amsterdam International Commnunity - Expats

Discover more events from AIC - Amsterdam International Commnunity - Expats, from Community to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.