ABSTRACT
In the second half of the nineteenth century, Paris became the role model for European capitals. Many cities followed its example. Amsterdammers – who were equally impressed by the monumental townscape of the French capital – did not succeed in emulating Paris, mainly because of political, legal, and financial reasons. Laissez-faire politics and the consequent absence of public interventions in its townscape were compensated for by an outburst of civic pride between 1870 and 1914, providing Amsterdam with the facilities that still ensure its leading role as a cultural and intellectual center. In 1918, Amsterdam and the Netherlands adopted a collectivist approach to society. Health care, education, and solving the city’s housing problems began playing dominant roles in the “welfare capital.” In this egalitarian climate, there was no room for monumental townscapes.
