Lost Hood is a response to the violence of gentrification. A call to see our cities not as blank canvases for capital, but as living archives of culture, resistance, and human connection.

Walk through the Spuistraat. Once the beating heart of Amsterdam's alternative culture. Home to squats, artist collectives, activist hubs, LGBTQI+ movements and graffiti legends. Over the past decade this street has been systematically emptied, sanitized, and sold. The murals painted over. The people pushed out. The memory erased.

Lost Hood gives it back. XR artist Abner Preis and his team use augmented reality to project the memories, protests, and visual language of resistance back onto the walls — turning gentrified facades into portals of collective memory.

What is Lost Hood?

Lost Hood is a site-specific augmented reality experience designed to be walked. You move through the real Spuistraat while the app reveals layers of history around you — voices, images, stories, and characters that connect you to the people who lived, fought, and created on this street before you.

The experience was created by artist Abner Preis, produced by K.O. Productions, and developed by Zesbaans. It draws on extensive historical research, archival material, and firsthand accounts from people who were part of the movements that defined the Spuistraat. The result is not a documentary and not a game. It is something in between: a walk through time that feels personal, immediate, and alive.

You don't need any prior knowledge of Amsterdam's history to enjoy Lost Hood. The stories unfold as you move, and they speak for themselves.

How It Works

Lost Hood is designed to be used outdoors, on the Spuistraat itself. The experience is location-triggered: as you walk along the street, the app recognises where you are and unlocks the content connected to that specific spot.

You will hear narration. You will see images and archival material overlaid on your camera view. At certain moments, characters from the past appear in augmented reality, speaking directly to you from the places where their stories unfolded.

The experience takes approximately 60 minutes to complete at a relaxed pace, though you are free to linger at any point.

The app requires a data connection and GPS access. Headphones and a full battery are strongly recommended.

Who Is Lost Hood For?

Lost Hood is for anyone curious about Amsterdam's history — particularly the parts that don't appear in the guidebooks.

It is for people who grew up in Amsterdam and remember the city as it was. It is for people who came later and want to understand what they missed. It is for visitors who want to see the city through a different lens. It is for researchers, students, and anyone with an interest in urban history, political movements, or the way cities change.

The experience is free to download and use. It requires no specialist knowledge and no prior experience with augmented reality. If you can walk and hold a phone, you can do this.

Technical Information

The app requires location services and camera access. An internet connection is needed for geolocation.

The experience is designed for use outdoors on the Spuistraat in Amsterdam. Some content may not be accessible from other locations.

Headphones are recommended for the full experience. The narration and sound design are a central part of Lost Hood, and listening on headphones significantly improves immersion.

Zesbaans

Additional Information