Tickets: €10,00 (€7,50 discount rate) for the whole day available online at www.felix.meritis.nl

This debate will be in English.

Multi-culturalism and globalisation have had varied impacts on contemporary city life. London, for example, has become incredibly diverse: a 21st century bazaar with all the world’s food on sale and most of its languages spoken in its schools. Yet there is growing evidence of ‘white flight’ from the capital while some fear some areas like Newham are at risk of becoming ethnic ghettoes. In Amsterdam, long famous for its tolerance, there have been proposals to relocate anti-social residents to cargo containers: so-called “scum villages”. And while multiculturalism is considered by some to be an enrichment of Dutch culture, there are others who argue that traditional Dutch identity, and that of city neighbourhoods themselves, is under threat. Government and welfare workers are trying to create a sense of togetherness in the city by implementing various projects, some work and some fail. Poorer neighbourhoods are being gentrified and public art projects are used to bring people together. But is there such a thing as an open city? Can trust between citizens be built from above? Where should we turn to find the right answer? Are we on the right track? What next for modern city life?