The politics of urban water : changing waterscapes in Amsterdam / Kimberley Kinder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kinder, Kimberley, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Urban renewal--Netherlands--Amsterdam--Citizen participation--History--20th century.

Urban renewal.

Urban renewal--Political aspects--Netherlands--Amsterdam.

Urban renewal--Social aspects--Netherlands--Amsterdam.

Waterfronts--Netherlands--Amsterdam.

Waterfronts.

Sociology, Urban--Netherlands--Amsterdam.

Sociology, Urban.

Urban renewal--Citizen participation.

Urban renewal--Political aspects.

Urban renewal--Social aspects.

Political participation.

History.

Netherlands--Amsterdam.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

x, 197 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Athens, Georgia : The University of Georgia Press, [2015]

Summary:

"Fifty years ago, urban waterfronts were industrial, polluted, and diseased. Today, luxury homes and shops line riverbanks, harbors, and lakes across Europe and North America. The visual drama of physical reconstruction makes this transition look swift and decisive, but reimaging water is a slow process, punctuated by small cultural shifts and informal spatial seizures that change the meaning of wet urban spaces. In The Politics of Urban Water, Kimberley Kinder explores how active residents in Amsterdam deployed their cityscape when rallying around these concerns, turning space into a vehicle for social reform. While market dynamics certainly contributed to the transformation of Amsterdam's shorelines, squatters, partiers, artists, historians, environmentalists, tourists, reporters, and government officials also played crucial roles in bringing waterscapes to life. Their interventions pulled water in new directions, connecting it to political discussions about affordable housing, cultural tolerance, climate change, and national identity. Over time, these political valences have become embedded in laws, norms, symbols, markets, and landscapes, bringing rich undercurrents of friction to urban shores. Amsterdam's development serves as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale for cities across Europe and North America where rapid new growth creates similar pressures and anxieties"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Hippies on Houseboats 16

Chapter 2 Queers on Parade 35

Chapter 3 Heritage Buffs on Canals 54

Chapter 4 Planners on Harbors 74

Chapter 5 Ecologists on Islands 94

Chapter 6 Investors on Floodplains 117.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780820347943

0820347949

9780820347950

0820347957

OCLC:

892432265