MASTERS of Amsterdam

Mai Spijkers (Goirle, 1955) | Owner of Prometheus Publishing

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
"Live! That expresses that I live here, and the vibrancy of our city."

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
The canal belt. I settled here 51 years ago, and I've stayed here ever since, at many different addresses.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“A bridge to the North.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
Restaurant Zoldering on Utrechtsestraat is the perfect mix of a neighborhood restaurant, high-quality food, and, importantly, a fantastic wine list. All of this also applies to Lille, by the way.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
“Sonja, my youngest daughter (8). And Lale Gül is also a great hero.”

Won Yip (Tilburg, 1969) | Hospitality entrepreneur

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“Home!”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
“The Dam, this is where it all started for me and this is where it will also end for me.”

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“Pollution in the city is a matter of action and you really don't need any political or administrative experience for this.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
“I'll keep that a secret for myself.” 😉

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
“Eberhard van der Laan, who was mayor of the city from 2010 until his death in 2017.”

Hans van Manen (Nieuwe-Amstel, 1932) | Ballet dancer, choreographer

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“Freedom, because all the books that were banned in Amsterdam were printed.”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
“The Royal Palace on Dam Square: extraordinary from the outside and magnificent from the inside.”

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“The cyclists!”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
The Rijksmuseum

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Benno Premsela, besides being a brilliant designer and interior designer, was a champion of gay emancipation as chairman of the COC – he was one of the first Dutch people to publicly come out as homosexual.

Hendrikje Crebolder (Sumve, Tanzania, 1970) | Former first female director of the Rijksmuseum

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Freedom. Everyone can be themselves here, without it feeling like everyone is fighting for themselves. Whenever I'm in Amsterdam, I always feel happy.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
The Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), near where I live. An iconic wooden bridge over the Amstel, the most beautiful river. Whether it's morning with beautiful sunrise or magical at night when the lights are glowing against the dark sky, this bridge is always a kind of anchor point of beauty.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“I would like a real green mile creating the Stadhouderskade, where everyone can enjoy a stroll from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences on Wibautstraat to the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
“The Begijnhof, a courtyard nestled between the Kalverstraat and the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, where my daughter was baptized in the church.”

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
“Aletta Jacobs, the most famous Dutch representative of the first feminist wave.”

Robert Vuijsje (Amsterdam, 1970) | Author and journalist

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?

Home. Because I've lived here my whole life, and it's the place in the world where I feel most at home.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
"Harmoniehof 42-1, the house where I lived until I was eighteen and where my mother continued to live until she passed away in 2022. Of all the places in the city, this is the one I have the strongest emotional connection to. This part of the city, around Roelof Hartplein, will always be my neighborhood."

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
It's sad that the most beautiful part of the city, the city center, is no longer truly accessible to Amsterdammers. From my childhood, I remember tourists and day trippers coming here occasionally, but it was nothing like the endless stream of visitors that has now taken over this part of the city. I don't know exactly how I would solve this, but it would be my first priority.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
The Japanese restaurant Kagetsu on Kastelenstraat, because it's not crowded and the customers are mainly Japanese. Yet it's one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
I could say Rembrandt van Rijn, Anne Frank, or Johan Cruyff, but I'll call my eldest son Sonny Vuijsje. He's eighteen now, and I love how he loves the city. He doesn't really want to go on vacation in the summer because it's too much fun in Amsterdam.

Thomas Acda (Amsterdam, 1967) | Singer and actor

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“My beloved village when I come from New York and my blissfully lively city when I've been on Schiermonnikoog for a week.”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
"Vondelpark. Great concerts, a calming rhythm in the bustling city."

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“Ask Femke Halsema to please come back.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
“Restaurant Duende.”

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
"My father. And then my physio, Wouter Post. And then Cruyff. Or Keizer!"

Lesley Bamberger (Amsterdam, 1965) | CEO Kroonenberg Group

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
My city! Amsterdam is where I was born and raised, where my children and grandchildren live, and the place I always come home to, no matter where I travel.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
Gelderlandplein Shopping Center. As a young boy born and raised in Buitenveldert, this was always a special meeting place for me. We were fortunate to later add it to our portfolio and improve it into the most beautiful and best shopping center in the Netherlands.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
Amsterdam wasn't built in a day, so that's hard to say. My goal would be for everyone to feel safe in our city, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or which district you live in.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
"I have several... If I had to choose, I'd generally choose the city center. The bustling crowds, the variety of shops and restaurants, but also the somewhat more raw Amsterdam character makes it my favorite. That's why we founded the FC Centrum platform!"

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
"I don't want to discredit the current mayor and her predecessors, but that one is definitely Eberhard van der Laan. To me, he's a true Amsterdammer."

Lale Gül (Amsterdam, 1997) | Author

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Freedom. In Amsterdam, you can be yourself regardless of your background, religion, or sexual orientation. It's a city known worldwide for its liberal values ​​and openness to new ideas. Whether it's the world-famous Pride parade, the arts and culture scene, the sex workers, the coffee shops, or the city's historical role in trade and science: Amsterdam has always had a pioneering spirit when it comes to freedom. It's a city with 180 nationalities living together, making it a melting pot of cultures.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
Bos en Lommer, because I was born and raised here and have childhood memories on every street corner. I've seen it develop and change for the better over the years, because it used to be rather chaotic and neglected. I used to go to the Bos en Lommer market every day, but it's gone now. It's a shame, because you could buy the tastiest Vietnamese spring rolls there.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
The housing shortage. There's a significant shortage of affordable housing, and this is a problem that directly affects many Amsterdam residents, but especially those living in unsafe and unprotected homes. My first action would be to create more affordable housing, both by stimulating new construction projects and by making better use of existing buildings. I would also prioritize the provision of housing for women in unsafe homes who want to build a free life for themselves. I would establish a dedicated organization/hotline for this purpose, where they can share their stories and receive further support.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
The Jordaan, once the heart of the working class, is now a vibrant neighborhood, yet its historic charm remains palpable. The Jordaan has always had a unique atmosphere, with a mix of locals and visitors who feel at home there.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Filmmaker and columnist Theo van Gogh, known for his sharp and critical perspective on society, was a figurehead. Although his controversial statements and work were often polarizing, he was a champion of freedom of expression. His murder in 2004 had a profound impact on Amsterdam and the Netherlands, and since then, he has been seen by many as a symbol of the fight for openness and tolerance in society.

Yves Gijrath (Amsterdam, 1966) | Media entrepreneur and founder of MASTERS EXPO

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Bravery. Not bravado. Not bluffing. Bravery. That raw edge, that flair, that big mouth with an even bigger heart. Bravery is courage without arrogance, bravado without empty words. It's the city that always thinks just a little too big for its postage stamp size, but still pulls it off. The city that climbed the world map from the IJ, acting, trading, convincing. The city where no idea is too crazy and no border too far. Bravery is also Ajax. My club. Playing football with your chest out, demanding the ball and showing who's boss. From Cruijff to Van Basten. Wanting to be the best, not as a goal but as nature. Bravery is Spinoza. Daring to think against the flow, pursuing the truth even when the world curses you. Putting freedom of mind above all else. Amsterdam is the city where ideas are always given space, whether they originate in an Amsterdam café or a philosophical treatise that will still be read centuries later. Bravery is daring. Your mouth Opening up when necessary, but also rolling up your sleeves. Amsterdam is the city where Rembrandt dared to paint shadows on canvas and where the first gay marriages were performed. Bravery never means bowing down. Not to the king, not to politics, not to fashion trends or predictability. When the city falls, it rises. When the city is held back, it seeks another path. The city where you don't ask permission to think big, where courage is the only requirement. Here, opportunities don't come. Here, you seize them.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
"Amstelpark. We got married here, in the park. Under the blue sky. Forever love. And that love has a name: Tamara. Best decision ever."

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
I'd start negotiating. They give me a day? I'll make it a month. And that month a year. Because one day isn't enough for what I want to do. In that year, I'll make sure the streets of Amsterdam are always clean. Not just for a while, but always. I know how. I'll make sure the meadows surrounding the city—those endless green plains where only a few farmers still survive—are bought out neatly and quickly. Without fuss. Without political theatrics. And then I'll build. Not ugly, but grand. Sustainable. Affordable. Tall, but green. Safe and stylish. Cleverly designed. For the people who deserve it. This is where the nurses live. The police. The teachers. The men and women who ensure we can live, work, breathe. Without them, this city is nothing. They deserve space. Peace. Dignity. And when all that's in place, I'll give back the key. Because then Amsterdam will belong to everyone again.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
“Kuyt's apple pie in the Utrechtsestraat.”

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Johan Cruyff. Johan was more than a footballer, more than a coach, more than a philosopher in short sentences. He was Ajax. He was Amsterdam. He was the city's DNA. In all its facets. Amsterdam misses Cruyff. He is the anchor we miss and desperately seek.

Robert-Jan Woltering (Amsterdam, 1964) | Managing Director De L'Europe

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“In two words: love and energy!”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
"There are actually several places I'd like to visit. First of all, the beautiful and hidden house church Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic). I have nothing but fond memories of it, because it's where I married the love of my life, Caroline! Then, of course, the beautiful Amsterdam canals, which I never tire of, sailing through with my friends and family on the barge I own with my brother Paul. And then, of course, De L'Europe... haha."

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
For me, it's enforcement. The nuisance, the rioters, the mess in the city. For example, I'm a big proponent of spending a large portion of the millions the city collects in tourist taxes from Amsterdam hotels on enforcement and cleaning up our beautiful city.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
“Without a doubt, for me, that is the oldest café in the capital: De Drie Fleschjes, an authentic 17th-century café behind the Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square with the only drinking organ in Amsterdam that is still in use – consisting of 50 barrels – and where our family has one of these barrels, of course filled with the famous Boswandeling (Forest Walk), and where we now have drinks on Fridays with the fourth generation of Wolteringens.”

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
"Without a doubt, there are two: the Amsterdam garbage man and Eberhard van der Laan. 'Take good care of our city and each other' – what a hero, and what beautiful last words he spoke at his farewell, which speak volumes about his actions. If only all Amsterdammers would embrace them..."

Erik de Vlieger (Zandvoort, 1959) | Real estate entrepreneur

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Crying. Amsterdam now means crying to me, while it used to mean laughing. Rich-left Yuppies who stole my ideal streetscape of humor, communication, and information sharing. And often in a different language, too.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
The Unknown Canal. Because it is unknown.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“Arrest Extinction Rebellion and throw them in jail without trial.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
"All the houses where my mistresses lived. I cherish those houses in my memories."

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
My father. Oh no… Yves Gijrath! I really don't understand why those amateur council members and aldermen never, ever ask him for advice. Gijrath knows more than all the council members, mayor, and aldermen put together.

Annemarie van Gaal (Helmond, 1962) | Entrepreneur and columnist

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Freedom. I grew up in South Limburg and even then dreamed of living in Amsterdam; I'm still happy every day that it happened.

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
For me, it's the parking garage under the Stopera. Not that the parking garage is particularly special—quite the opposite, because it's quite ugly—but it's the place where the spark first ignited between my husband, Rhandy, and me.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
I would ensure that the homeless have permanent housing and help them find jobs. I find it appalling that the city council is so concerned about an overdose of unnecessary social housing in the city, yet is increasingly abandoning the homeless in our city.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
Bar Abraham at Tuschinski. Tuschinski is the most beautiful cinema in the city, but since Bar Abraham opened, it's been a real treat to watch a film there. At Bar Abraham, you can order a truly delicious glass of wine or a cocktail and enjoy it at the bar or take it with you into the cinema.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Several names immediately spring to mind, but if I had to name just one, it would be Eberhard van der Laan; I miss him so much.

Paul Riemens (Vlaardingen, 1962) | CEO RAI Amsterdam

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“Freedom, because there is freedom in thinking, freedom in moving, freedom in meeting and freedom in being.”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
“The RAI district, because it is the gateway to the world and for the world the gateway to Amsterdam.”

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
I would initiate a land consolidation program to address the challenges of a lack of space in Amsterdam, thereby combining functions, objects, buildings, businesses, etc. in terms of functionality.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
Résonance, the smallest concert hall in the Pijp, also houses a traditional builder and rental company for violins and cellos in Amsterdam and the surrounding area.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Gerard Adriaan Heineken (1841-1893), founder of the Heineken beer empire, was also the driving force behind Amsterdam's economic and cultural revival known as the Second Golden Age. He was involved in plans for urban expansion, the construction of the Rijksmuseum, the Amstel Hotel, and the construction of the North Sea Canal. He was also one of the founders and financiers of NV Woning-Maatschappij, which built and operated housing for workers.

Arno de Leeuw (Amstelveen, 1966) | Owner of Butcher Shop De Leeuw, Utrechtestraat

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
“Freedom; you can be yourself.”

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
The RoXY. It's wonderful to witness the early development of a new music/dance movement.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
“I would sign two decrees for more parking garages under canals (such as the Lijnbaansgracht) and the cancellation of all road closures in the city, both in the interest of accessibility.”

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
Karin Looijesteijn, master of flowers on Kerkstraat. Flowers beyond the ordinary!

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
“Hans Appelboom of Duikelman, since time immemorial the paradise for every bon vivant who loves cooking and eating.”

Gordon (Amsterdam, 1968) | Singer, presenter, entrepreneur

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
"Friendliness. Warmth. Inclusivity. Anything goes, anything goes."

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
My parents' grave is at the Noorderbegraafplaats cemetery in Noord, and my sister is buried there now too. I go there every year on Mother's Day, and traditionally, I bring a cream puff for my mother. Although, of course, it gets eaten by the rabbits, haha. But that place is very special to me; I find peace there.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
The ridiculous policy for restaurants and terraces. The current rules are taking all the cheer out of the city. For example, you're not allowed to have heaters under your umbrellas, because that's considered a fire hazard. And the tax on terraces has risen exorbitantly. That's the death blow for many business owners, because how much more do you have to charge your customers? I wish Femke Halsema would put herself in the shoes of the business owner.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
PANCAKES Amsterdam Aan 't IJ, a pancake house behind Amsterdam Central Station, right next to the ferry to Amsterdam North. It's so cute! It's tiny; I think it only seats twenty people. The coffee there is awful, haha, but the pancakes are amazing – I usually order one with apple and syrup.

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
"Johan Cruijff, he meant so much to Amsterdam, to the Netherlands, he's famous worldwide. But a very close second is Eberhard van der Laan."

Jort Kelder (Goude, 1964) | Journalist

1.What does Amsterdam mean to you in one word, and why?
Mixed feelings. When I enter my beloved city center, it feels like coming home, albeit in a run-down 17th-century setting. Street litter, homeless people, and impoverished tourists dominate the scene, which I find deeply saddening. But when I sail past all those dreamy canal facades in my sloop on a summer evening, I'm happy again: we live in the most beautiful postcard setting in Northwest Europe!

2.Which place in Amsterdam has a special meaning for you, and why?
The Plantage neighborhood, where I live. Not because I'm particularly attached to this place—I've lived longer and more comfortably on the Keizersgracht—but because this is a neighborhood where you can't walk a single meter without being confronted with history, especially the less glorious part of the 40s and 45s. The copper Stolpersteine ​​bearing the names of deported Jews, the Hollandsche Schouwburg (Dutch Theatre), the sign on the facade of the Plantage restaurant for fallen resistance fighters: everything here is political, especially these days. I live on guilty streets that witnessed the greatest crime of the twentieth century, and that gives me a daily sense of responsibility: never again.

3. If you were mayor of Amsterdam for a day, what would you tackle first?
Combating clutter and impoverishment by investing a great deal of money, love, and attention in maintaining public spaces. It amazes me that such an idealistic left-wing city council does everything it can to ban the glazier's diesel van, but seems perfectly happy to tolerate pollution from shady characters roaming the streets. It's incomprehensible, and it seems unsocial to the underprivileged, too, in my opinion.

4. Name one of your "secret favorite spots" in the city.
"I find Zoldering on Utrechtsestraat very special because I've never had a mediocre glass of wine there, and the tomato tartare is divine, but I'd recommend Buffet van Odette. In the summer, I moor my boat there on the Prinsengracht and eat the eggs with anchovies and capers – yum!"

5.Which Amsterdammer is your biggest hero?
Johan Cruyff. Not just because he's the most elegant and perhaps even the best footballer of all time, but even more so because he taught all the kids from Betondorp, Bijlmer, or West that you can dribble your way up from a working-class background. Amsterdam street urchins can be annoying, but let's cherish their audacity and originality, snatch them off their fat bikes, and ensure their energy is focused in such a way that it produces an artist, whether that's a footballer or an entrepreneur—we must cultivate and nurture our talents.