Snacks and the City: A microgeographic perspective on touristification of consumption spaces

Abstract

From the products on display in shopwindows, to the smells emitting from food stores and the sidewalk ballet of entrepreneurs and their patrons, consumption spaces offer a glimpse into the soul of the city. Beyond providing daily goods and services, they are spaces that represent the local character and signify who belongs there. Over the past decade, cities all over the world have witnessed a growing perception that consumption spaces are increasingly tourist-oriented, presenting a growing offer of attractions, souvenirs and – seemingly most resented– snacks. The fact that this shift fueled resistance to tourism has been particularly evident in Amsterdam, where opposition to tourist shops gained significant media attention and prompted the city government to intervene. In this dissertation, Urban Geographer Iris Hagemans explores the material changes to Amsterdam’s inner city consumption spaces in response to increasing tourism, their interpretation in the local public debate and the policy strategies formulated to curtail touristification of consumption spaces. Guiding readers through the diverse consumption spaces of Amsterdam's inner city—from haberdashery shops and cheese stores to waffle stands and vintage boutiques—Hagemans identifies the microgeographies of touristification in consumption spaces and critiques the disconnect between these nuanced realities and the broad generalizations dominating public debates and city-wide policies.