Each academic year begins with a shared opening excursion in Amsterdam, offering students a first opportunity to get to know one another, the teaching staff, and the intellectual spirit of the programme. On 5 September, this year’s excursion took us through the Marineterrein and the nearby historic and redeveloping neighbourhoods of Kattenburg, Wittenburg, and Oostenburg, areas where layered histories, everyday life, and large-scale transformations come together.

Walking, observing, and discussing on site, students were introduced to key themes of the programme, including heritage and change, urban redevelopment, social inclusion, and the reuse of historic landscapes. The excursion set the tone for the year ahead: collaborative, place-based, and critically engaged, with Amsterdam serving as a living laboratory for exploring architecture, cities, and landscapes.