Abstract
This piece of creative writing centralizes one of Amsterdam’s most iconic features: the bicycle. Written from a fictional bike’s perspective, it chronicles the city’s changes from 1987 to 2023. Starting with a musician in the late 1980s and ending with another in post-pandemic Amsterdam Noord, the narrative follows the bike’s journey through various owners—students, couriers and thieves—while witnessing cultural shifts and the rise of electric bikes. Exploring Amsterdam’s evolving cityscape and diverse lives, the story connects neighbourhoods like De Jordaan and Bijlmer through the enduring presence of the bike. Through this lens, it captures the city’s essence and the intertwined narratives of Amsterdam and its people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Amsterdam Diaries, Life Writing and Identity |
| Subtitle of host publication | Urban Lives |
| Editors | Laura Hasselt, Marleen Rensen, Leonieke Vermeer, Ernestine Hoegen |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 14 |
| Pages | 237-244 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781040839577 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789048569731 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2026 |
Publication series
| Name | Cities and Cultures |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Routledge |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The authors/Taylor & Francis Group, 2025.
Keywords
- cityscape
- creative writing
- cultural change
- everyday object narratives
- life writing
- urban mobility