Amsterdam, Slotervaart, November. This picture was taken by my cousin Tineke during a visit to our aunt - tante Katja - in November 2011. It is the small park that tante Katja has had for a view for the past fifty years. In those fifty years, as the trees grew older and bigger and (I like to think) happier, the place looked more pleasant every year.
But that is about to change: enter urban renewal. Slotervaarts (a borough in the west of Amsterdam) has decided the two buildings on the left and right of this picture will be demolished and replaced with other forms of housing. The park will be divided into garden plots. The green grass will make place for fences, garden sheds, tiled terraces and garden brownies.
Take a good look. This is about to disappear.
