On February 20th, together with our friends Barış, Ugne and Ulja, who came from Rotterdam and Den Haag, we held a Visual Assembly in Amsterdam, hosted and supported by OBA (Public Libraries of Amsterdam).

A diverse group of children and adults came together to imagine a city from scratch. Despite their age, the kids took on big, complex questions—deciding how homes should be built, how food would be produced, and who should be allowed into their city. They debated issues like poverty, city borders, and fairness, often disagreeing but always deeply engaged.

While tensions surfaced—especially over food choices and whether outsiders should need permission to stay—the children showed remarkable responsibility, navigating these challenges thoughtfully. Some decisions, like creating schools that feel like libraries—free from homework and grades—sparked complete agreement.

The Assembly ended with more questions than answers, but that’s the point. All ideas and unresolved debates were saved for the next gathering, where new participants will continue shaping their shared city and confronting the big questions of living together.

Interested in hosting a Visual Assembly? Reach out to info@a4kids.org.