Urban areas are in the need for greenery and nature but often cannot find space for this. Empty roofs offer the perfect solution, as they can have nature roofs installed on them. Nature roofs can...Show moreUrban areas are in the need for greenery and nature but often cannot find space for this. Empty roofs offer the perfect solution, as they can have nature roofs installed on them. Nature roofs can either be brown or green roofs, with both having an important role for urban nature. They are a sustainable and easily achievable infrastructure, especially suitable for cities and even supported by Dutch municipalities through subsidies. Still, there is only a miniscule amount of nature roofs installed in the Randstad area, which implies that they are not promoted efficiently. Current literature mainly focuses on ecological benefits such as water retention and heat mitigation. Hereby the visual looks are not explored, leaving out the possibility of finding an aesthetic value in nature roofs. This research investigates how this aesthetic value is presented in discourse around brown and green roofs and used like an eco-aesthetic strategy. This was done for both nature roof companies and municipalities, all operating in the Randstad area. The results of close reading and interviews showed that brown roofs are not represented at all and that there is a lack of importance assigned to the visual quality of green roofs. If mentioned, it is mostly done so as an afterthought. This shows an opportunity for improvement of the marketing and promotion of nature roofs.Show less
Space distribution is an important aspect of city planning. Its proper conduct would contribute to the creation or distortion of proper accessibility, mobility, and right to the city. Historically,...Show moreSpace distribution is an important aspect of city planning. Its proper conduct would contribute to the creation or distortion of proper accessibility, mobility, and right to the city. Historically, cities have implemented a more profit-based approach to urbanism, creating a car-centric narrative in urban space distribution. However, lately there have been movements of progressive urbanism, which advocate for a future change. More specifically, as cities progress, how can urban planners succeed to redevelop their urban planning methods in order to fit a more human-centric approach on a street level.Show less
Societies worldwide have been severely impacted during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines are the key to protecting the world from another global...Show moreSocieties worldwide have been severely impacted during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines are the key to protecting the world from another global infection. This study seeks to find out from a social science and humanities perspective whether the COVID-19 vaccine absorption capacity among young adults have changed during and after the pandemic, and whether it is linked to social norms. In addition, this study also aimed to see whether social norms can be a potential theoretical framework or perspective to be implemented into urban governance in order to improve a city’s biopolitics and the overall health of city dwellers.Show less
The past historiography on the Boxer Rebellion was often characterized by an Orientalist perspective. Contemporary literature strives to surpass this approach, however, treating Westerners and...Show moreThe past historiography on the Boxer Rebellion was often characterized by an Orientalist perspective. Contemporary literature strives to surpass this approach, however, treating Westerners and Orientals as two different “beings” and using two measures in the analysis, reiterates the same paradigm. Focusing on Jane Elliot’s revisionist approach, this work shows the post-Orientalism stemmed from the necessity of surpassing the classic Orientalism, more subtle and devious. By comparing the Chinese and the European vision of the other, Occidentalism and Orientalism in both writings and pictorial sources (such as Boxer postcards and nianhua), a more clear and more precise vision of the events is drawn. Thus, this thesis expands the current literature on the Boxer Rebellion and displays the necessity of considering both parts in order to have a complete picture.Show less
The discourse surrounding sex work in Amsterdam has evolved, reflecting shifting approaches by municipal authorities and stakeholders. Currently, a proposal for an "erotic center" seeks to relocate...Show moreThe discourse surrounding sex work in Amsterdam has evolved, reflecting shifting approaches by municipal authorities and stakeholders. Currently, a proposal for an "erotic center" seeks to relocate sex work from the Wallen district to address issues of over-tourism and congestion. However, this proposition has ignited controversy, as sex workers voice concerns about safety, social networks, and potential workspace loss. Researchers and activists advocate for recognizing sex work as tangible heritage to preserve its history and narratives. Despite initiatives of activists and advocates to document and safeguard the sector's history through the website www.sekswerkerfgoed.nl and the Prostitution Information Center, academic exploration of sex workers' experiences and sex work heritage in the Netherlands remains limited. Narratives from sex workers of color, migrant sex workers, and marginalized voices are often overlooked. Media portrayals often perpetuate stigmatization and negative stereotypes about sex work. The life stories of Nicolina Sant and Aaïcha Bergamin, two sex workers from the 20th century, offer valuable insights into Dutch sex work. Their narratives encompass diverse perspectives, encompassing ethnic backgrounds, cultural nuances, gender, and sexuality. Incorporating these stories enriches historical research on sex work, fostering a deeper comprehension of the industry and its intersections with urban life. Using the concept of urban citizenship, which emphasizes self-identity and recognition, challenges conventional notions tied to nationhood. Sex workers' claims to citizenship impact urban planning and city politics, influencing the socio-spatial fabric of the city, and reorienting research on sex workers to focus on agency rather than victimhood. Analyzing the stories of Aaïcha and Nicolina through this lens reflects on the idea of sex work as heritage while supplying an intersectional perspective to sex work history in the Netherlands.Show less
Aan de hand van de stad Leiden als casus probeert deze thesis te beantwoorden of de reglementering van prostitutie, 1853-1904, de mobiliteit van de prostituees beïnvloed heeft. Door middel van het...Show moreAan de hand van de stad Leiden als casus probeert deze thesis te beantwoorden of de reglementering van prostitutie, 1853-1904, de mobiliteit van de prostituees beïnvloed heeft. Door middel van het bestuderen van primair bronmateriaal uit het Leids Stadsarchief is vast te stellen dat de reglementering van geringe invloed was en dat de mobiliteit van vrouwen toenam gedurende de periode.Show less
