THE POLITICS OF BELONGING: LOST HOOD

Who owns the city? And whose histories are allowed to remain?

Cities are shaped by the people who inhabit them. But what happens when the communities that gave a neighbourhood its identity are gradually pushed out, and the traces of their existence begin to disappear?

Once a vibrant centre of Amsterdam’s squatter movement, underground culture and political activism, the Spuistraat has undergone a profound transformation. Buildings that once housed artists, activists and alternative communities have increasingly made way for commercial development, rising property values and a changing urban landscape.

Lost Hood brings these forgotten and disappearing histories back into view through an immersive augmented reality experience that transforms the streets of Amsterdam into a living archive.

Combining personal testimonies, historical photographs, archival material and the visual language of protest, the project reconnects visitors with the squatters, artists, queer activists and grassroots movements that helped shape the city’s cultural and political identity.

As visitors move through the neighbourhood, layers of the past emerge within the present-day streetscape, revealing stories of resistance, solidarity, collective living and alternative ways of imagining urban life.

Presented as part of Black Soil Film Festival’s The Politics of Belonging programme, Lost Hood raises urgent questions about the relationship between urban space, cultural memory and displacement.

Who has the right to shape a city’s identity? What happens when the communities that built its cultural character can no longer afford to live there? And how do we preserve the histories of resistance and collective action in a city that is constantly reinventing itself?

More than a journey through Amsterdam’s past, Lost Hood invites us to reconsider the city we inhabit today and the future we want to create.

Because belonging is not only about where we live, but also about whose stories are remembered.

Please note: Unlike the other Black Soil screenings and events in Amsterdam, this experience does not take place at LAB111. Lost Hood is an outdoor augmented reality tour through the Spuistraat, starting at Het Lieverdje statue on Spui. Please read the practical instructions below before joining.

Practical information

• Download the Lost Hood app in advance via losthood.com.
• Bring a fully charged smartphone.
• Headphones are recommended for the best experience.
• Explore independently or join one of the guided tours.
• The experience takes place outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather.