As urban cities keep evolving, the need to address their complex challenges continues arising.
This is why in different parts of the world, communities are working together to create more sustainable and inclusive cities by their own means, respecting their cultures and contexts.
And in the case of Amsterdam? They choose to celebrate urban living by sponsoring the largest festival in Europe.
WeMakeThe.City is not only a festival, but a cultural experience with the goal of addressing the important urban issues in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam. The 5-day festival includes numerous programmes and activities about working together to make the Amsterdam metropolitan region better: fairer, more beautiful, sustainable and inclusive.
It counts with around 20 urban themes, over 100 events, 145 locations, over 180 nationalities (and 600 speakers), with an average of 30,000 participants per year.
Something peculiar about the festival is that it suggests various routes to follow across the city in the different districts of Amsterdam. This routes are addressed to all the publics, including kids, students, or seniors, and can be done following different topics. As a result, everybody can enjoy at their best all the events, exhibitions and activities available during the Festival.
The notion of co-creation as a mean to address complex urban challenges is here to stay. There is an increasing awareness of the fact that a collaborative approach to city-making, which considers knowledge institutions, businesses, civil society and the government to be equal partners, enhances social innovation.
This is one of the initiatives documented by Towards the Human City.
