In this video, cycle through the city with Bob Maas and discover how Amsterdam narrowly escaped total redevelopment.

From plans for highways right through the city centre to the concrete metro tubes of the 1970s. You will hear how protests and urban renewal ensured that the city's old structure was largely preserved. Why the ring of canals almost disappeared? How Jan Schaefer turned the tide? And what is still standing?

This is episode 5 of our impromptu bike tour of the neighbourhood. Want to see more? Be sure to take a look at the other episodes too!