Amsterdam Study Research Articles

External foam and the post-mortem period in freshwater drowning; results from a retrospective study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

IntroductionDetermining the time of death of bodies recovered from water can be difficult. A feature of drowning is the presence of external foam. This study describes the presence of external foam in relation to the post-mortem period. MethodThe study utilizes a database of death reports dated between January 2011 and July 2016. For bodies recovered from fresh water, the presence or absence of external foam was noted. ResultsIn this study, 112 death reports are included. Of these reports, 18 mentioned external foam, which account for 16.1% of the entire study population. In the population with a post-mortem period of less than 24 h, external foam was detected in 27.7% of cases. All 18 incidents with external foam had an estimated post-mortem period of less than 24 h. ConclusionIn our study, external foam was only present in freshwater drowning cases with a post-mortem period of less than 24 h. Based on this finding, the presence of external foam may be useful as an additional indicator when estimating the time of death in freshwater drowning.

Perceived ethnic discrimination in relation to smoking and alcohol consumption in ethnic minority groups in The Netherlands: the HELIUS study

ObjectivesWe examined the associations of perceived ethnic discrimination (PED) with smoking and alcohol consumption in ethnic minority groups residing in a middle-sized European city.MethodsData were derived from the HELIUS study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We included 23,126 participants aged 18–70 years of Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish, and Moroccan origin. We collected self-reported data on PED, current smoking, heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, current drinking, excessive drinking, and alcohol dependence. Logistic regression was used.ResultsIn general, we observed positive associations in participants of African Surinamese and Ghanaian origin, but no associations in those of South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish, or Moroccan origin. In African Surinamese, the associations were positive for current smoking, nicotine, and alcohol dependence (odds ratios of 1.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.27, 1.34; 1.15–1.57 and 1.40; 1.20–1.64, respectively). In Ghanaians, positive association was observed for current drinking (1.21; 1.08–1.36).ConclusionsThe associations of PED with smoking and alcohol consumption considerably varied by ethnicity and outcome measure. This suggests that ethnic minority groups in Europe might use different behavioural strategies to cope with PED.

High-risk human papillomavirus seroprevalence in men and women of six different ethnicities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands: The HELIUS study

BackgroundEthnic variations in the (sero)prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV related diseases have been observed previously. We explored if high-risk HPV (hrHPV) seropositivity indeed differs among 6 ethnic groups in Amsterdam the Netherlands and assessed if hrHPV seroprevalence is higher among women than men within each ethnic group, both after adjustment for confounders. MethodsFrom the multi-ethnic HEalthy Life In an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) we randomly selected 4637 men and women aged 18–44 years with a Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Moroccan, or Turkish ethnicity. Blood samples were tested for HPV-16,−18,−31,−33,−45,−52, and −58 antibodies using a validated Luminex-based multiplex serology assay. We assessed the association of both ethnicity and gender with hrHPV seropositivity using logistic regression models with generalised estimating equations. ResultsThe hrHPV seroprevalence in Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Moroccan, and Turkish participants was 18%, 12%, 23%, 19%, 17%, and 15% in men, and 30%, 22%, 34%, 31%, 14%, and 15% in women, respectively. HrHPV seroprevalence of non-Dutch men did not differ significantly from Dutch men. HrHPV seroprevalence was significantly higher among African Surinamese women, and significantly lower among Moroccan and Turkish women when compared to Dutch women. These differences were not significant anymore after adjustment for demographic, health, and sexual behavioural differences between ethnicities. HrHPV seroprevalence varied by age, age of sexual debut, and lifetime sexual partners among women but not among men. Seroprevalence of hrHPV was higher among women than among men, except in the Turkish group. ConclusionAmong women hrHPV seroprevalence differed by ethnicity, yet among men no pronounced differences were observed across ethnicities.

Simulating the Joint Distribution of Individuals, Households and Dwellings in Small Areas

: This article proposes a sample-based methodology for synthesizing individuals, households and dwellings in small areas, illustrated using a case study of Amsterdam. The method encompasses the following steps: first, individual- and household-level tables are created separately using Iterative Proportional Fitting (IPF). Second, synthetic individuals are allocated into synthetic households using a combination of sorting algorithms and mixed integer programming. As such, the synthetic households are adjusted to accommodate the synthetic individuals, ensuring a consistent joint distribution of individuals, households and dwellings in small areas.

Space-time information analysis for resource-conscious urban planning and design: A stakeholder based identification of urban metabolism data gaps

The research presented here examined at which spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism should be analysed to generate results that are useful for implementation of urban planning and design interventions aiming at optimization of resource flows. Moreover, it was researched whether a lack of data currently hampers analysing resource flows at this desired level of detail. To facilitate a stakeholder based research approach, the SIRUP tool – “Space-time Information analysis for Resource-conscious Urban Planning” – was developed. The tool was applied in a case study of Amsterdam, focused on the investigation of energy and water flows. Results show that most urban planning and design interventions envisioned in Amsterdam require information on a higher spatiotemporal resolution than the resolution of current urban metabolism analyses, i.e., more detailed than the city level and at time steps smaller than a year. Energy-related interventions generally require information on a higher resolution than water-related interventions. Moreover, for the majority of interventions information is needed on a higher resolution than currently available. For energy, the temporal resolution of existing data proved inadequate, for water, data with both a higher spatial and temporal resolution is required. Modelling and monitoring techniques are advancing for both water and energy and these advancements are likely to contribute to closing these data gaps in the future. These advancements can also prove useful in developing new sorts of urban metabolism analyses that can provide a systemic understanding of urban resource flows and that are tailored to urban planning and design.

Ethnic Differences in Arterial Wave Reflection Are Mostly Explained by Differences in Body Height - Cross-Sectional Analysis of the HELIUS Study.

BackgroundDifferences in arterial wave reflection and central blood pressure (BP) have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in various populations and may contribute to ethnic differences in CVD. Whether ethnic differences in wave reflection and central BP can be explained by conventional risk factors for CVD or may result from physiological differences remains undetermined.MethodsWe examined ethnic differences in augmentation index (AIx) and central systolic BP and their determinants in a large multi-ethnic cohort study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A total of 8812 (46% male) participants aged 18–70 years of Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese and Ghanaian origin were included. AIx and central BP were measured in duplicate using the Arteriograph system.ResultsAIx and central systolic BP were significantly higher in South-Asian Surinamese (35±17%, 126±22 mmHg), African Surinamese (33±17%, 129±23 mmHg) and Ghanaian (33±16%, 135±24 mmHg) as compared with Dutch (27±17%, 118±20 mmHg, all p<0.001). Correction for cardiovascular risk factors only slightly reduced the difference in AIx, whereas correction for body height attenuated age and gender corrected ethnic differences in AIx the most. Differences in central systolic BP were primarily determined by differences in AIx for South-Asian Surinamese and by differences in peripheral systolic BP for subjects of African origin.ConclusionsSubstantial differences in AIx and central BP exist across different ethnic groups that cannot be explained by differences in conventional risk factors for CVD. These findings may explain part of the underestimation of cardiovascular risk observed in populations of African and South-Asian descent.

Enhanced Performance of the Eurostat Method for Comprehensive Assessment of Urban Metabolism: A Material Flow Analysis of Amsterdam

SummarySustainable urban resource management depends essentially on a sound understanding of a city's resource flows. One established method for analyzing the urban metabolism (UM) is the Eurostat material flow analysis (MFA). However, for a comprehensive assessment of the UM, this method has its limitations. It does not account for all relevant resource flows, such as locally sourced resources, and it does not differentiate between flows that are associated with the city's resource consumption and resources that only pass through the city. This research sought to gain insights into the UM of Amsterdam by performing an MFA employing the Eurostat method. Modifications to that method were made to enhance its performance for comprehensive UM analyses. A case study of Amsterdam for the year 2012 was conducted and the results of the Eurostat and the modified Eurostat method were compared. The results show that Amsterdam's metabolism is dominated by water flows and by port‐related throughput of fossil fuels. The modified Eurostat method provides a deeper understanding of the UM than the urban Eurostat MFA attributed to three major benefits of the proposed modifications. First, the MFA presents a more complete image of the flows in the UM. Second, the modified resource classification presents findings in more detail. Third, explicating throughput flows yields a much‐improved insight into the nature of a city's imports, exports, and stock. Overall, these advancements provide a deeper understanding of the UM and make the MFA method more useful for sustainable urban resource management.

Changing patient perspectives after compulsory admission and the risk of re-admission during 5 years of follow-up: The Amsterdam Study of Acute Psychiatry IX.

Given increasing numbers of compulsory admissions, it is important to assess patient risk profiles and identify factors that are appropriate for intervention. A sample of 116 patients who were compulsorily admitted was studied. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Patients were interviewed twice using the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale and the Birchwood Insight Scale. Changes in insight and satisfaction during 2 years were linked to the incidence of involuntary re-admissions in the next three follow-up years. A higher mean score for patient satisfaction was found (mean=3.77, standard deviation (SD)=0.56; p⩽.001) in the second interview than in the baseline interview (mean=3.26, SD=0.65). There was also an improvement in insight (in the second interview: mean=7.22, SD=2.86 and in the baseline interview: mean=6.34, SD=3.18; p=.027). There was an inverse correlation between increasing satisfaction (in years 1-2) and the incidence of involuntary admission in years 3-5 (odds ratio (OR)=0.445, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.252-0.793; p=.006). This association proved to be dependent on a history of involuntary admission. Increasing patient satisfaction in the first 2 years was associated with a lower risk of compulsory re-admission in the subsequent follow-up period, but this association proved to be dependent on a history of involuntary admissions in these first two follow-up years. Increase in insight during the same period did not show any effect whatsoever.

Associations Between Statin Use and Physical Function in Older Adults from The Netherlands and Australia: Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam and Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Statin therapy may cause myopathy, but long-term effects on physical function are unclear. We investigated whether statin use is associated with poorer physical function in two population-based cohorts of older adults. Data were from 691 men and women (aged 69-102years in 2005/2006) in the LASA (Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam) and 5912 women (aged 79-84years in 2005) in the ALSWH (Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health). Statin use and dose were sourced from containers (LASA) and administrative databases (ALSWH). Physical function was assessed using performance tests, questionnaires on functional limitations and the SF-12 (LASA) and SF-36 (ALSWH) questionnaires. Cross-sectional (both studies) and 3-year prospective associations (ALSWH) were analysed for different statin dosage using linear and logistic regression. In total, 25% of participants in LASA and 61% in ALSWH used statins. In the cross-sectional models in LASA, statin users were less likely to have functional limitations (percentage of subjects with at least 1 limitation 63.9 vs. 64.2; odds ratio [OR] 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3-0.9) and had better SF-12 physical component scores (mean [adjusted] 47.3 vs. 44.5; beta [B]=2.8; 95% CI 1.1-4.5); in ALSWH, statin users had better SF-36 physical component scores (mean [adjusted] 37.4 vs. 36.5; B=0.9; 95% CI 0.3-1.5) and physical functioning subscale scores (mean [adjusted] 55.1 vs. 52.6; B=2.4; 95% CI 1.1-3.8) than non-users. Similar associations were found for low- and high-dose users and in the prospective models. In contrast, no significant associations were found with performance tests. Two databases from longitudinal population studies in older adults gave comparable results, even though different outcome measures were used. In these two large cohorts, statin use was associated with better self-perceived physical function.

Comparison of social functioning in community-living older individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a catchment area-based study.

Preserved social functioning is of utmost importance for older individuals living in the community to maintain independency. However, in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, it remains unclear which factors influence social functioning in later life. In a catchment area-based study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 120 older (>60 years) community-living patients with schizophrenia (n = 73) and with bipolar disorder (n = 47) were included. Clinical interviews on social functioning and psychometric measurements were applied. Patients with schizophrenia scored lower on all social measures (social functioning, social participation, network size, availability of confidants) compared with their peers with bipolar disorder. In patients with schizophrenia, lower social functioning was associated with having more negative symptoms and depressive symptoms. Age of onset was also associated with social functioning in schizophrenia, with higher scores in very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis. Unfavourable social functioning in patients with bipolar disorder was associated with lower cognitive functioning. Furthermore, in both groups, social functioning was not related to age, having offspring or the presence of a partner. In community-living older patients, schizophrenia has a more disruptive effect on social functioning than bipolar disorder, except in those with a very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis. Minimizing residual depressive symptoms and optimizing cognitive functioning may be targets for improving social functioning and independent-living in older patients with severe mental illness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Patterns of Care Consumption after Compulsory Admission: A Five-Year Follow-Up to the Amsterdam Study of Acute Psychiatry VIII

:Significant numbers of involuntary admissions and the fact that compulsory hospitalization is a drastic intervention in a patient’s life justify the introduction of preventive measures. This study looks at the five-year outcome of involuntary admissions after psychiatric emergency consultations in Amsterdam. A cohort of 460 involuntarily admitted patients was investigated prospectively. The annual numbers of involuntary readmissions and the utilization of mental health services were studied, with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and psychiatric history as predictors. The odds ratios for involuntary readmission during the fourth and fifth follow-up years were 0.71 (95%CI = 0.50–1.01; P = 0.059) and 0.64 (95%CI = 0.45–0.92; P = 0.015), respectively. Readmission was associated with low discontinuity of treatment (Chi2 P ≤ 0.001) and high total consumption of services (Chi2 P ≤ 0.001) during follow-up. It emerged that involuntary readmission could be predicted on the basis of high care consumption five years before inclusion (OR 2.61 CI 1.44–4.73; P 0.002), a history of involuntary admission (OR 1.56 CI = 1.03–2.35; P = 0.034), being older than 44 years at baseline (OR 0.57 CI = 0.39–0.84; P = 0.007), and living alone (OR 1.68 CI = 1.22–02.33; P = 0.002). The risk of involuntary readmission declines after three years. In Amsterdam, low levels of treatment discontinuity and high levels of service use do not seem to reduce this risk for patients with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders. Our findings should be an incentive to explore and reappraise the methods employed in our current system of community mental health care.

Notes on Contributors

Notes on Contributors

Local impact of tree volume on nocturnal urban heat island: A case study in Amsterdam

The aim of this research is to quantify the local impacts of tree volumes on the nocturnal urban heat island intensity (UHI). Volume of each individual tree is estimated through a 3D tree model dataset derived from LIDAR data and modelled with geospatial technology. Air temperature is measured on 103 different locations of the city on a relatively warm summer night. We tested an empirical model, using multi-linear regression analysis, to explain the contribution of tree volume to UHI while also taking into account urbanization degree and sky view factor at each location. We also explored the scale effect by testing variant radii for the aggregated tree volume to uncover the highest impact on UHI. The results of this study indicate that, in our case study area, tree volume has the highest impact on UHI within 40m and that a one degree temperature reduction is predicted for an increase of 60,000m3 tree canopy volume in this 40m buffer. In addition, we present how geospatial technology is used in automating data extraction procedures to enable scalability (data availability for large extents) for efficient analysis of the UHI relation with urban elements.

Confronting the Golden Age: Imitation and Innovation in Dutch Genre Painting, 1680–1750. Junko Aono. Amsterdam Studies in the Dutch Golden Age. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2015. 230 pp. €99.

Confronting the Golden Age: Imitation and Innovation in Dutch Genre Painting, 1680–1750. Junko Aono. Amsterdam Studies in the Dutch Golden Age. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2015. 230 pp. €99. - Volume 69 Issue 2

‘Sustainable City’ requires ‘recognition’—The example of environmental education under pressure from the compact city

The compact city is advocated as a key strategy to establish sustainable cities. Compact city policy implies urban densification, sometimes with elimination of green space. Citizen’s valuable arguments in urban densification developments in green space are easily ignored, as is explored in a case study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Place making decisions are more often legitimized with sustainability claims, and arguments from less convinced residents are denied or remain unexamined. About green space these also concern environmental qualities significant for long term sustainability of cities. This is illustrated by presenting empirical evidence about environmental education, an argument emerging from the explorative study. Environmental education should be seen as an important element in longterm sustainability, but the educational relevance of proximity of green space to schools had remained unknown. Empirical evidence of the negative effect of larger distances to green space on environmental education is presented in a geographical survey. The results suggest that close proximity to urban green space also reinforces fieldwork activities further away. As the validity of this argument was denied in the case study, this illustrates the need to establish frameworks that foster recognition and learning in open processes in urban densification.

Symptom Dimensions of Depression and 3-Year Incidence of Dementia: Results From the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly.

To evaluate the association between depressive symptom dimensions and incident dementia in a community sample of older persons. Depressive symptoms at baseline and incident dementia at 3-year follow-up were assessed with the Geriatric Mental State (GMS)-Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy in nondemented persons aged 65 years or older. Exploratory and confirmatory bifactor analysis on the depression items yielded a general depression factor characterized by all GMS items and a cognitive/motivational factor characterized by cognitive and motivational "depressive" symptoms and the absence of depressed mood. Ninety-three of 1911 persons had developed dementia at follow-up. The general depression factor increased the risk of dementia after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.92), but the cognitive/motivational factor did not (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.75-1.47). However, in 1725 nondepressed older persons, the cognitive/motivational factor significantly predicted dementia after adjustment for covariates (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03-2.28) but not anymore after additional adjustment for subjective memory complaints (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.94-2.13). The general depression factor did not significantly predict dementia in nondepressed older persons (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.80-1.66). Our findings suggest that the increased risk of dementia associated with depressive symptoms in many previous studies appears to be heterogeneous, that is, it is likely due to different underlying pathways, including a pathway involving depression itself and a pathway in which cognitive and motivational symptoms reflect subjective cognitive complaints, particularly in the absence of depressed mood. These different pathways might warrant a different treatment approach.

P06.01 Women of dutch ethnic origin have lower prevalence of vaginal microbiome dysbiosis than women of other ethnic origin residing in amsterdam

Introduction American women of African or Hispanic ancestry have increased risk of vaginal microbiome dysbiosis compared to women of European or Asian ancestry. However, the association between vaginal microbiome composition and ethnicity within Europe is largely unknown. We investigated this association in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Methods Non-pregnant women (18–34 years, n = 564) representing six ethnic origins (Dutch, South-Asian/Indonesian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish, and Moroccan) were cross-sectionally selected from the ongoing HELIUS multi-ethnic cohort study in Amsterdam for vaginal microbiome analysis. Extracted DNA from self-sampled vaginal swabs was sequenced targeting the V3V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and using the Illumina MiSeq platform, and sequence reads were clustered using hierarchical clustering. Results Clustering of 502/564 samples with sufficient read counts resulted in microbiome clusters dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus (n = 120), L. iners (n = 168), L. jensenii (n = 8), L. gasseri (n = 10), Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 8), Bifidobacteriaceae/Bifidobacterium spp. (n = 10), Gardnerella vaginalis (n = 78), and a mixture of anaerobes (n = 100), respectively. Microbiome composition was significantly associated with ethnic origin (P = 0.002). Women of Dutch ethnic origin had the highest prevalence of L.crispatus-dominated microbiome (40% vs 16–26% in the other ethnic groups), the lowest prevalence of L. iners-dominated microbiome (28% vs 31–39% in the other groups), and the lowest prevalence of clusters dominated by G. vaginalis or a mixture of anaerobes (25% vs 30–45% in other groups). Turkish women and South-Asian/Indonesian Surinamese women had the highest prevalence of L. iners-dominated microbiome (38% and 39%, respectively), and women from African descent (African Surinamese and Ghanaian women) the highest prevalence of clusters dominated by G. vaginalis or a mixture of anaerobes (48% and 44%, respectively). Conclusion This large multi-ethnic study shows that dysbiotic vaginal microbiome compositions are significantly increased in women of non-Dutch ethnic origin. Therefore, these women may be at increased risk of STI acquisition and adverse reproductive health outcomes. Disclosure of interest statement The HELIUS study is funded by the Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, the Public Health Service of Amsterdam, the Dutch Heart Foundation (project number 2010T084), the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw; project number 200500003), and the European Union (FP-7; project number 278901). The vaginal microbiome analyses were funded by the Aids Fonds Netherlands (project number 201102). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients with a chronic nonspecific lung disease in five ethnic minority groups.

Earlier studies found chronic nonspecific lung disease (CNSLD) to be associated with depressive symptoms. We aimed to assess whether the association between CNSLD and depressive symptoms varies between ethnic groups. We used questionnaire data from 10916 participants of the HELIUS study in Amsterdam from six different ethnic groups. We applied logistic regression analysis to determine the association between CNSLD and depressive symptoms and interaction terms to test whether this association varied between ethnic groups. CNSLD prevalence was higher among South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish and Moroccans (10.1% to 12.5%) than African Surinamese, Dutch and Ghanaians (4.8% to 6.3%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among participants with CNSLD (28.4% vs. 13.7%). This association was not significantly different between ethnic groups. The absolute prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among the CNSLD patients from ethnic minority groups (19.2 % to 35.6%) as compared with the Dutch-origin majority group (11.2%). CNSLD is associated with a high risk of depressive symptoms, especially among the five ethnic minority groups. These results imply a need to monitor the mental health of CNSLD patients in particular when a patient is from an ethnic minority group.

Improving usual care after sudden death in the young with focus on inherited cardiac diseases (the CAREFUL study): a community-based intervention study.

Inherited cardiac diseases play an important role in sudden death (SD) in the young. Autopsy and cardiogenetic evaluation of relatives of young SD victims identifies relatives at risk. We studied the usual care after SD in the young aimed at identifying inherited cardiac disease, and assessed the efficacy of two interventions to improve this usual care. We conducted a community-based intervention study to increase autopsy rates of young SD victims aged 1-44 years and referral of their relatives to cardiogenetic clinics. In the Amsterdam study region, a 24/7 central telephone number and a website were available to inform general practitioners and coroners. In the Utrecht study region, they were informed by a letter and educational meetings. In two control regions usual care was monitored. Autopsy was performed in 169 of 390 registered SD cases (43.3%). Cardiogenetic evaluation of relatives was indicated in 296 of 390 cases (75.9%), but only 25 of 296 families (8.4%) attended a cardiogenetics clinic. Autopsy rates were 38.7% in the Amsterdam study region, 45.5% in the Utrecht study region, and 49.0% in the control regions. The proportion of families evaluated at cardiogenetics clinics in the Amsterdam study region, the Utrecht study region, and the control regions was 7.3, 9.9, and 8.8%, respectively. The autopsy rate in young SD cases in the Netherlands is low and few families undergo cardiogenetic evaluation to detect inherited cardiac diseases. Two different interventions did not improve this suboptimal situation substantially.

Parents and children consuming the city: geographies of family outings across class

Cities are generally described as urban jungles for everyday family life. This is mainly based on poor facilities for outdoor play. But children's everyday life consists of many more leisure activities. In this paper, we focus on family outings: the various ways children and parents consume the city. It is argued that family outings are important building blocks for growing up and cementing family ties. They can be grouped under the umbrella of consuming the city and as such their growth fits perfectly into the new position of cities as consumption landscapes. Empirical data are drawn from a case study in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, among families of different classes with young children (N = 42) living in inner city districts. The main conclusion of this study is that social risers and upper-middle classes enjoy the city for family outings much more than the lower class families, even when they live in the same neighbourhoods (as is the case in this study) and even when we focus on free to enter public spaces. The discussion part of this paper reflects on the issue of the urban jungle as opposed to the rural idyll for growing up and family life.