This text is a study of changes to the Amsterdam waterfront over decades, from polluted industrial blight to neighborhoods of luxury homes and shops. This transformation has taken place in other cities across Europe and North America, but the prevalence of water in Amsterdam has meant that this physical reconstruction is only the tip of the iceberg of social reform. Chapter one, Hippies on Houseboats, describes the period of the 1960s and 1970s when squatters built homes on decaying barges and used regulations to their own ends, turning moorages into residence addresses. Chapter two, Queers on Parade, talks about the emergence of queer parties and performances on the water as cultural events that were also political theater. Chapter three, Heritage Buffs on Canals, reports on the largely failed efforts of preservationists, spurred by the growing interest in city canals, to restore 17th century waterscapes and displace houseboats. In Chapter four, Planners on Harbors, the political excitement moves from canals to industrial harbors. Redevelopment became a popular issue and ports were recognized as sites rich with history, as well as key to economic growth. Chapter five, Ecologists on Islands, discusses how waterfront redevelopment led to the building of islands adjacent to redeveloped area, and the role of environmentalists in forging a new confluence of investment, ecological resiliency and meaningful development with romantic and historic undertones. Chapter six, Investors on Floodplains, looks at the creation of floating cities built on top of flooded sites. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)