In honor of the citys 750th anniversary, a group of independent experts has renewed the Canon of Amsterdam in recent months. Amsterdam institutions and teachers were invited to contribute. Only the last window remains... This is open for your story.

The Canon of Amsterdam is a collection of 50 windows that together tell the story of the city, from the early settlement at the mouth of the Amstel to the modern and multicultural metropolis. The first version appeared in 2008 and was intended as a clear framework to teach and explore history.

Windows

Each window describes an event, development, or theme that has been important for the city as we know it today. The idea? History is not just something from books. Events from the past influence the choices we make. And what happened before shapes the world around us today.

Recognizable City History

The Amsterdam City Archives manages the canon and makes it accessible to everyone. The first version was an overview of the city’s history that was both broad and recognizable, with attention to iconic events and places such as obtaining the Toll Privilege, the construction of the Canal Belt, and the Royal Palace on Dam Square.

Renewal

But 17 years later, the city has changed, and so has our view of the past. That is why the city council commissioned the City Archives to revise the canon. An independent committee of experts renewed the content, paying attention to new insights and social developments.

Labor Migration

For example, labor migration has been added to the canon. Amsterdam has always been a city of migrants. In the 20th century, thousands of migrants came to the city to work in shipyards, factories, and the growing service sector. Later, guest workers from countries such as Turkey and Morocco followed, and from the 1990s new migrants from Eastern Europe. Each of these groups joined the fabric of the city, with their own traditions, customs, and stories. After all, the city grows through the people who live and work there, past and present.

Climate and Water

The impact of climate change and the role of water also have a place in the new canon. A logical theme for a city literally built on poles and dikes and often subjected to the whims of water through the centuries. Think, for example, of the many storms that once flooded East Amsterdam, and the 1960 flood in Tuindorp. And how do you keep your feet dry when the sea level rises due to climate change?

Your Story in the Canon

Your story can also become part of the canon. For the 50th window of the canon, we are looking for an event, place, development, or memory that you believe truly belongs there. Do you have an idea for the last window of the canon? Then go to Join in: Window 50 and submit your contribution. You can also submit your idea at the City Archives, Vijzelstraat 32.

Platform for the Future

The history of Amsterdam explains why the city is the way it is now. And how its residents, old and new, contribute to its story. That is also why the 50th window remains open for personal stories and perspectives from Amsterdammers. Thus, the canon is not only an overview of the past but a platform for the present and the future.

Available Digitally and Physically

The renewed canon can be viewed digitally via The Canon of Amsterdam. From November 14, the canon will also appear in the city. At 49 locations, you can access the associated texts and podcasts directly via QR codes. Special lesson packages are being developed for schools so that even the youngest generation can learn about the history of their own city. And from 2026, the canon will become part of the permanent exhibition in the Treasure Room of the City Archives.

Learn More

If you want to know more about the Canon of Amsterdam, visit The Renewal of the Canon of Amsterdam.

Photo: City Archives / Anefo National Photo Press Agency.