In honor of Amsterdam's 750th jubilee, 12 trainees from the city's first MBO trainee program presented their ideas for the future of Amsterdam. They shared their vision with city council members Sofyan Mbarki (MBO) and Hester van Buren (Personnel and Organization), as well as with the audience, showcasing how Amsterdam could evolve in the years to come. This presentation offered a preview of a major exhibition set to open at the Westergas site in June 2025—one of the many gifts to the city during its jubilee year.
The trainees presented three self-designed exhibition pieces, sharing their ideas about Amsterdam’s future. The first piece highlighted the crucial role that practically skilled individuals have played in building the city over the years and how technical and healthcare professions will increasingly use advanced technologies like virtual reality in the coming years.
The second piece focused on the use of robots in Amsterdam. The trainees posed thought-provoking questions: Should robots be used in healthcare or even in warfare? This topic sparked significant discussion. While robots could play an essential role in society, many questions remain about how far we should go in leveraging this technology.
The third piece explored sustainable construction in Amsterdam. The trainees examined innovative ways to make the city more environmentally friendly, such as using wood or seaweed as building materials. This is particularly important as the city continues to grow, demanding new ways to build sustainably.
With these three pieces, the trainees provided a glimpse into what to expect from the large-scale exhibition opening on June 12, 2025, at the Westergas site. This exhibition, one of the gifts to celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, will be a long-term project showcasing how the city could evolve in the future.
