Amsterdam anticipates that the growth of recent years will continue, and wants to be prepared. As the capital city of the Netherlands, we regard it as our responsibility to provide space for new Amsterdam residents and for various activities. However, we do set conditions for this – growth is not an end in itself. Instead, it is a force for change that, if properly managed, can help to create a better city for all Amsterdam citizens.

In the comprehensive vision, we demonstrate the spatial conditions under which Amsterdam can grow, with room for at least 150,000 additional homes and 200,000 jobs. We want to use the growth to stimulate and accelerate transitions such as increasing the sustainability of buildings and energy supplies, switching to sustainable and healthy mobility options, establishing a more circular economy, and promoting circular agriculture in the fragile landscapes around the city.

In developing the comprehensive vision, we interviewed various groups in the city including residents, entrepreneurs, people of all ages, native Amsterdam residents and newcomers alike. Out of all of these conversations, a set of shared values emerged concerning the concept of an inclusive, sustainable and connected city with space for diverse communities, in which people can feel at home, build a future and have a say in the nature of their own living environment.

The ideas and concerns gathered from the city have contributed a great deal to the content of this comprehensive vision.

In citymaking, we want to ensure more than ever that community remains our central focus. Growth will only be possible if we closely involve the people of Amsterdam. In this, we want to go beyond just consultation and participation in decision-making. Instead, Amsterdam wants to give the community the opportunity to literally build the city, in order to help meet the demand for affordable housing and space for social services and local entrepreneurship. The aim is to ensure a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for one's living environment.

Since 2000, no less than 27% of Dutch job growth has taken place in Amsterdam. As a result, the economy in Amsterdam is developing considerably faster than the national average. Together with the Utrecht and Eindhoven regions, our city is the driving force behind the Dutch economy.

City and region in balance. We want to increase the economic strength of the entire region and reduce pressure on the centre of Amsterdam. We do this by making use of opportunities in other city districts and in the regional centres, with new space for work, knowledge and visitors. Local needs and uniqueness are central to the development of these centres throughout the region, reducing pressure on the centre of Amsterdam.

There is a significant need for new housing in and around Amsterdam. While we want to provide room for growth, we want to do so in a sustainable way. We also want residents in existing neighbourhoods to benefit from better facilities, affordable housing and more jobs locally. For this reason, we will be growing within the current boundaries rather than seeking to build in the fields around the city. Up until 2050, Amsterdam will be making space within its limits for at least 150,000 homes

Amsterdam has become much greener in recent decades. This is good for people, animals and plants and an important development with respect to climate change. Greening the city will be an even higher priority in the coming years, with a reduction in paving and concrete. Because the city is simultaneously becoming more compact, this rigorous greening will require innovative approaches. We are reinforcing our existing green spaces, exploring the possibilities for a second urban forest, creating façade gardens and green roofs and investing in the landscape.

By 2050, neighbourhood amenities, stores, entertainment venues and parks throughout Amsterdam will all be within walking and biking distance. Cultural amenities and large green areas will be accessible by bike within 15 minutes. We will be turning roads into green urban avenues, and traffic-free streets will provide more space for greenery, cyclists, pedestrians, sport and leisure. We are also investing in better public transport.

Amsterdam is making more space for diversity and individuality in the way we build the city. In addition to large, professional parties, we want to encourage more Amsterdam residents and local entrepreneurs to help build the city. That requires a level playing field, which can be created by proceeding more on the basis of outlines and working with simple, concise rules.