Zuidas is changing every day. Construction sites, diversions, barriers and temporary routes affect how we move around the area. But how does this actually make people feel? To find out, we are organising a special evening walk for women and LGBTQ+ people on Thursday, 24 September. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Different experiences
‘Not everyone experiences public space in the same way’, says Luka Meijer, Process Manager for Social Safety and the Female Perspective. Her work for the City of Amsterdam focuses specifically on Zuidas. ‘A place that feels perfectly normal to one person can feel very uncomfortable or unsafe to someone else. This is particularly true in an area like Zuidas, which is constantly changing.’
A basic right
According to Meijer, the evening walk was not prompted by any specific complaints or incidents. ‘This is purely about people’s sense of safety. Feeling safe should be a basic right, and as a city we consider that extremely important.’ During the day, the area is bustling with activity, but in the evening it can become quiet and deserted. ‘If I need to catch a train in the evening, I don’t find the station the most pleasant place to walk around.’ That is why the walk is taking place in the evening: Zuidas simply feels different after dark. Several different routes will be walked, including routes towards De Boelelaan and the sports grounds of AFC football club.
40 participants
In principle, everyone is welcome, but the focus will be on the experiences of women and LGBTQ+ people, a group whose perspective is often underrepresented. ‘Whether you live or work in the area, please sign up’, says Meijer. She hopes around 40 people will take part, enabling the participants to be divided into smaller groups to walk the different routes.
Additional lighting
‘At each location, we will ask participants how they experience the place’, says Meijer. ‘They can then use a QR code to complete an additional questionnaire. Where do participants feel safe and which places would they prefer to avoid?’ Meijer hopes to hear a wide range of perspectives. The findings will be summarised in a report that will be made publicly available. In the meantime, the City will assess whether there are locations where action needs to be taken. ‘It will of course depend on the situation, but possible measures could include additional lighting and clear escape routes.’
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Time: doors open at 19.00 | walk from 19.30 to 21.30
- Location: we will meet at the Zuidas-Zuidasdok Information Centre
World Trade Center | Tower 5 | Ground floor
Strawinskylaan 59
1077 XW Amsterdam
(corner of Matthijs Vermeulenpad and Zuidplein, close to Amsterdam Zuid station) - Number of participants: 40
- Participation is free
We ask journalists interested in attending to contact us in advance at contact@zuidas.nl.
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