Cities such as Amsterdam are densely populated and heterogeneous. On one hand, they are characterised by tolerance, diversity, and vibrancy, as people flock to urban areas for a sense of openness and opportunity. On the other hand, there are inevitable tensions and challenges that play out differently between time, space and population groups. These raise questions over how cities should be designed, governed and lived in to accommodate the diversity of residents that make them, and address the pressing social and environmental challenges they face.

This three-week programme is designed through three modules. In week one, we will look at urban justice and governance, going back to examine the transformation of Amsterdam to modern city. We address its historical issues and colonial past, and discuss some of the contemporary challenges it faces in terms of housing justice, spatial justice, and policing, crime and surveillance. In week two we will delve into urban diversity, inclusivity and tolerance, interrogating the complexities of Dutch sex policy, drug policy, and exploring how the city is experienced by different population groups according to sexuality, race and migration background. In week three we will turn to the city of the future, tackling issues including sustainability, circularity and mobility justice. From community building to bottom up initiatives, we address the challenges and opportunities of achieving meaningful change in the complex systems that make up modern cities.

Amber Howard is a researcher in Social Policy at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Her research centers around housing and inequality, with a particular focus on generational and socio-economic divides. She recently completed a joint PhD from the University of Melbourne (Department of Health Policy) and the University of Amsterdam (Department of Geography, Planning, and International Development Studies), exploring these themes. Before her doctoral studies, Amber earned a Masters degree in Urban Planning at the University of Amsterdam (cum laude) and began her career conducting research for an architectural firm focused on sustainable community development. Amber has taught and co-coordinated in Masters programs Urban Planning and Public Health at the University of Melbourne, engaging with interdisciplinary perspectives on urban policy, planning, and justice. She is now the coordinator of the Winter School program Key Topics in Urban Studies, and academic director of the Summer School programs Urban Changemakers and Urban Studies: Planning and Living in Cities

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