Introduction: Amsterdam in Diaries and Life Writing

This introduction outlines the central theme of the volume: the representation of Amsterdam in diaries and other modes and forms of life writing. It situates this theme within the broader context of diary studies and urban history and addresses the crossovers between these fields of study. With the aim to grasp the interplay between self and city in urban lives, it explores various approaches to examining how the city has influenced and shaped individual identities, as well as how self-representations have, in turn, contributed to the shaping of the city’s imagery and urban fabric. The structure of the volume is explained through an overview of its five thematic sections: “Coming of Age,” “Belonging,” “Routes and Routines,” “Digital Lives” and a “Creative Section.”