Amsterdam University Press

Liza Nell, Jan Rath
Ethnic Amsterdam
Immigrants and Urban Change in the Twentieth Century

Over the centuries, people from all parts of the world have been drawn to the city of Amsterdam. While immigrants adapted to local customs, opportunities and constraints, their practices and habits have left indelible marks on their adopted city. This fascinating volume Ethnic Amsterdam: Immigrants and Urban Change in the Twentieth Century explores how twentieth-century immigrants – in bringing with them their religions, languages, cuisines, sports, and other material and immaterial aspects of their native countries – have transformed Amsterdam into a cosmopolitan city.

Jan Rath is professor in Urban Sociology, director of the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES) of the University of Amsterdam and training officer for the Network of Excellence International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE).

Liza Nell is assistant professor in Cultural Anthropology at Leiden University and associate member of IMISCOE.

Reviews
''May this book contribute to a better understanding of the role of immigrants – coming from more than 170 countries of the world - during the last century in making Amsterdam the diverse city it is.''
Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam

''From language and food to housing and religion, Ethnic Amsterdam is full of wonderfully rich material and fascinating insights into how immigrants are creating a new and dynamic multiethnic Amsterdam. The book is an indispensable guide to understanding the far-reaching consequences of immigration in one of the world’s most diverse cities.''
Nancy Foner, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York