Meet Died
Founder and lead tour guide
I'm Died. ​I started BijlmerByBike to share an authentic view on the Bijlmer borough.
I’m a Bijlmer native, born and raised in this part of the city. As so many in the Bijlmer, I have a migrant and multicultural heritage, with roots in Brazil, France and Holland.
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I’m a sociologist by training, and I designed this tour and the stories we share based on lived experience, factual narratives, and a solid understanding of the social history and economic dynamics of the Bijlmer.
Born here
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Born and raised in the Bijlmer borough
I lived in in K-Zone in the 1980s, in the Reigerbos area in the 1980s en 1990s, and in Nellestein in the zeroes and tens. I was born in the Bijlmer, grew up in de Bijlmer, went to school in the Bijlmer and had my first jobs in the Bijlmer.
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There is a lot to be demystified about this part of Amsterdam. News reporting about the borough is often grim and sensationalized. People sometimes talk about the Bijlmer as a spooky place, or even a no-go area.
As Anderson .Paak put it: 'Can you believe the way that they talk about my paradise?'
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In reality, the Bijlmer is a welcoming neighborhood, where people actively contrast its somber architecture with original street art, colorful cultural displays, lush green parks, and wonderful cuisine.​
K-Zone
Reigersbos
Nellestein
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I have been lucky enough to attend university. I became a sociologist and studied society, politics, culture and behavior. I was given the opportunity to intern at my family's NGO in Itabapoana in Brazil
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Now my career is in public policy.
I'm an advisor to policy makers in Brussels and The Hague. I work with government officials to improve programs that target job growth, international cooperation, social innovation and digital transformation.
My work allowed me travel to the Middle East, to the Caucasus and to Sub-Saharan Africa, to assess local impact of global developments. I worked with refugees, aid workers, local entrepreneurs and government representatives to understand socio-economic mechanisms at play and their significance for people's lives.
To the Middle East
To the Caucasus
And Sub-Saharan Africa
I invite everyone to visit the Bijlmer, and of course I highly recommend it. There is tragedy and sadness in the history of the Bijlmer, and it has plenty of lessons to learn for those who are willing. And there is also hope, resilience, and joy to share - lots of it. Touring the Bijlmer by bike will change the way you look at the Bijlmer and at multiculturalism in Holland.
To my father
I dedicate BijlmerByBike to my father, who passed away in May 2020. He raised a family in the Bijlmer, and worked relentlessly to improve the prospects of the people in this part of Amsterdam. He was a school teacher and activist who turned local politician, who believed that "We're all in this together" is a far better philosophy than "You're on your own." And he loved to ride around the Bijlmer by bike.
