On Friday, January 10, 2025, at 12:05 p.m., Iris Hagemans will defend her dissertation, Snacks and the City: A Microgeographic Perspective on the Touristification of Consumption Spaces, in the Senate Hall of the University Hall (Academiegebouw) at Utrecht University, located at Domplein.
About Snacks & The City
From the products in shop windows to the scents wafting from restaurants and the sidewalk ballet of entrepreneurs and their customers, consumption spaces offer a glimpse into the soul of the city. More than just places for daily shopping, they reflect the local character of a neighborhood and signal who belongs there. Over the past decade, cities worldwide have increasingly perceived consumption spaces as being geared toward tourists. This is evident in the growing presence of attractions, souvenirs, and—perhaps most controversially—snacks. In Amsterdam, this shift in retail landscapes fueled resistance to tourism. Tourist shops garnered significant media attention, prompting the city government to intervene and curb the touristification of consumption spaces.
In her dissertation, urban geographer Iris Hagemans investigates the material changes in Amsterdam’s inner-city consumption spaces in response to rising tourism, the local public debates surrounding these changes, and the policy strategies developed to counter touristification. Hagemans takes readers through various consumption spaces in Amsterdam’s city center, from haberdasheries and cheese shops to waffle stands and vintage boutiques, identifying a microgeography of touristification. She critiques the disparity between the nuanced effects of tourism on consumption spaces and the broad generalizations that dominate public debates and urban policy.
What to Expect
The ceremony will start with a 10-minute layman’s talk by Iris, followed by questions from the promotion committee. After the proclamation of “Hora est!” there will be a reception where you can congratulate Iris. Please arrive 10 minutes before the ceremony, as the doors will close promptly at the start.
Celebratory Gathering
After the ceremony, we invite you to celebrate Iris’s achievement with a festive gathering from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at The 5th on Neude, a 5-minute walk from the University Hall.
Watch Online
Unable to attend in person? Watch the defense live via Utrecht University’s YouTube channel: https://video.uu.nl/lives/senate-hall-phd-defense-2024-2025/.
RSVP
Would you like to attend the defense in person or online? Or just join the gathering? Please let the organization know your preference via the RSVP form: https://forms.office.com/e/i9bTPt3Dhf.