Amsterdam Autostad: Uncovering the Automobile's Impact on Urban Development in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Autostad' is the inaugural exhibition of the museum's year focused on cars. Despite Amsterdam's fame as a cycling city, the automobile has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on its urban development, history, and future. This exhibition explores this dynamic relationship over the past 125 years, showcasing ideas, designs, and the car itself.

Amsterdam Autostad' serves as the opening exhibition for the Van Eesteren Museum's year dedicated to the automobile. While Amsterdam is globally recognized as a leading cycling city, the car has played a substantial, and often transformative, role in its history, urban planning, and ongoing development. This exhibition delves into the complex relationship between the city and the automobile over more than 125 years. Originally symbolizing progress and freedom, the car increasingly influenced Amsterdam's design, leading to challenges such as traffic congestion, accidents, parking issues, and air pollution. Consequently, various stakeholders, from residents to designers and the municipality, have strived to redefine the car's role in the city. 'Amsterdam Auto Stad' presents a compelling narrative through ideas, sketches, drawings, designs, photographs, and models, not omitting the presence of the car itself. It invites visitors to reflect on the car's enduring presence and future in urban life. Key figures involved in the exhibition include curators Job Swart, Thijs Besemer, and Jorn Konijn, with spatial design by Studio Abacaxi and graphic design by Geke Zaal. The exhibition is supported by Korpora, Nieuwe Instituut, Nemo, Studio basic, and Pon.