ABSTRACT
Amsterdam Noord has transformed from an industrial, working-class district into one of the trendiest and greenest parts of the city. This chapter discusses the processes leading up to this urban transformation—including policies aimed at addressing post-industrial decline, the spatial concentration of low-income dwellings and an outdated housing stock in a shrinking city—and argues that it exemplifies a case of state-led gentrification made possible by a neoliberal restructuring of the housing system. Today, Amsterdam Noord is an attractive destination for real estate capital investment, high-income residents, leisure and tourism. At the same time, the socio-economic position of many households has deteriorated over the last decade. A housing crisis and the perils of hyper-segregation, gentrification and (exclusionary) displacement are emerging. Although a relatively great deal of social equality is maintained thanks to the residuals of a strong institutional social architecture, Amsterdam’s status as a just city is being challenged by this new strategy of urban renewal.
Keywords
the urban development pattern of the city and neighborhood: fast recent growing; recovering post-industrial; creative industry/class; touristification; income inequality; health inequality; large-scale urban renewal
the urban greening of the neighborhood: waterfront redevelopment; green space; circular city
the inequalities at stake: private capture of public investment; stigmatization/dismantling of social housing system; insufficient affordable housing for middle class; (green) gentrification; exclusionary displacement; lack of right to the city for low-income and racialized residents
