Where are you from? What are you doing in Amsterdam? I am from Germany – where my parents are from and also where I was born – but have lived most of my life elsewhere, most prominently in Malaga, Spain, for the better part of 12 years. Recently, I moved here to Amsterdam to pursue the Bachelor’s degree ‘Liberal Arts and Sciences’ at Amsterdam University College, a unique programme that offers me the chance to explore several interests while still focusing on one ‘major’ path

The first STAR project was a two-year , EU-funded initiative running from 2019 to 2022. STAR (STreet ARt) aimed to promote social inclusion through street art in 14 European countries, including the Netherlands. Organized by ALDA and the Municipality of Arguinano (Italy), the project used street art to revitalize neglected urban areas and actively engage young people. With international events in Italy, Portugal, Kosovo, and the Netherlands, the STAR program has proven that

Het eerste STAR-project was een tweejarig , door de EU gefinancierd initiatief dat tussen 2019 en 2022. STAR (STreet ARt) was gericht op het bevorderen van sociale inclusie door middel van street art in 14 Europese landen, waaronder Nederland. Het project, georganiseerd door ALDA & gemeente Arguinano (IT), gebruikt street art om verwaarloosde stedelijke gebieden nieuw leven in te blazen en jongeren actief te betrekken. Met internationale evenementen in Italië, Portugal, Kosov

An end-of-year story from the Dichtersbuurt At the end of the year, the silence falls differently on the Dichtersbuurt. It gets dark early, the cold muffles the sounds of the street, and the pace slows. It's then that the gentle forces become visible: a greeting that lingers, a door open for coffee, a hand that lends a helping hand without being asked. It's these small gestures that make winter bearable—and that reveal what kind of neighborhood we are together. 2025 was a yea

A month ago, on September 13th and 14th, the very first edition of Urbanites United took place: the open-to-all street art weekend that transformed Amsterdam into one giant canvas for two days. Together with artists, residents, visitors, and partners, we transformed the city into a living museum, just as we at SAMA envision. The city as a stage Throughout Amsterdam, murals, live art sessions, open studios, and neighborhood activities were available to visit. Thanks to the d

Een maand geleden, op 13 en 14 september, vond de allereerste editie van Urbanites United plaats: het open-to-all street art-weekend dat Amsterdam twee dagen lang veranderde in één groot canvas. Samen met kunstenaars, bewoners, bezoekers en partners maakten we de stad tot een levend museum, precies zoals we bij SAMA graag zien. De stad als podium Door heel Amsterdam waren tijdens het weekend muurschilderingen, live art-sessies, open ateliers en buurtactiviteiten te bezoeken.

Reggio Emilia is a historic industrial city known as one of Italy's strongest communist and anti-fascist centers, the birthplace of the Tricolore flag, and the origin of the internationally influential Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Reggio Emilia, nestled in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, is a city steeped in history and a strong cultural identity. From Renaissance influences from nearby cities to the region's culinary traditions, such as Parmigiano Reggi

The BlueLightS conference took place on October 28 and was organised in collaboration with ALDA and numerous European partners. The conference brought together educational innovators, policymakers, environmental experts, and civil society organizations around a shared mission: integrating " blue education " into the European school and curriculum system. The project aims to connect students with the life and importance of aquatic ecosystems, from rivers and lakes to seas. T

In September 2025, Placemaking Week Europe took place in Reggio Emilia, Italy : one of the most important European gatherings on urban regeneration, community building, and public space. For four days, from September 23rd to 26th, more than seven hundred participants gathered: urban innovators, policymakers, artists, researchers, and residents. Together, they explored how cities can be designed more inclusively, humanely, and sustainably. The event, organized by the Placema

What happens when graffiti meets glitch, when pixels replace spray cans, and when anti-heroes are 3D-printed instead of hand-thrown onto...

With the sun finally peeking through the clouds and spring just around the corner, the workshops in the BuurtTuin van Verhalen are now...

De VrijeHeid Maaltijd in de Dichtersbuurt Since 2023, SAMA is located in Dichtersbuurt, Amsterdam Nieuw-West. This neighbourhood, built...

Focus Group STAR 2.0 Globalization has widened the gap between rich and poor, and recent challenges such as climate change, pandemics,...

Een Gemeenschappelijke Street Art Muurschildering voor Oekraïense vluchtelingen Street Art connecting people Sinds 2024 ontwikkeld (SAMA)...

De Vrije Bladen For some time now, we at SAMA have been working on the unique project "De Vrije Bladen" (The Free Sheets ). This initiative pays tribute to the 12 poets whose street names are in the Dichtersbuurt neighborhood and weaves their legacy with the stories of the residents. One of these poets is Jan Jacob Slauerhoff. J. J. Slauerhoff During his academic period, Slauerhoff wrote his first poems, making his debut as a poet in the communist magazine De Nieuwe Tijd. In

De Vrije Bladen Al geruime tijd werken we bij SAMA aan het bijzondere project De Vrije Bladen . Dit initiatief brengt een eerbetoon aan de 12 dichters van de straatnamen in de Dichtersbuurt en verweeft hun nalatenschap met verhalen van de bewoners. Een van deze dichters is Jan Jacob Slauerhoff. J. J. Slauerhoff Tijdens zijn academische periode schreef Slauerhoff zijn eerste gedichten, waarbij zijn debuut als dichter plaatsvond in het communistische tijdschrift De Nieuwe Tijd.

Wil jij bijdragen aan een groenere buurt en een hechtere gemeenschap? Kom dan op 15 maart van 11:00 tot 18:00 uur naar SAMA en steek...

Op vrijdagavond 8 november kwamen de verhalen van de Dichtersbuurt tot leven in De Honingraat, waar de tentoonstelling De Vrije Bladen werd gepresenteerd. Dit unieke project, geïnspireerd door het werk en leven van Jan Jacob Slauerhoff, bracht niet alleen een eerbetoon aan deze beroemde Friese dichter, maar ook aan de bewoners van de Dichtersbuurt. Het resultaat? Een inspirerende mix van literatuur, kunst en gemeenschap. Het thema van De Vrije Bladen verbindt Slauerhoff ideal

De tweede meet-up over street art als cultureel erfgoed vond op 11 november plaats in de Honingraat in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, waar ook het...

De Dichtersbuurt is een plek waar ik altijd even langsga als ik in Amsterdam ben.