Not taking things too “litter-ally”: Het VuilnisOproer (VO) – translated as The LitterRiot (or GarbageUproar) – connects people who share a common goal: a cleaner living environment in the Amsterdam New-West district.

We want to bring these people together both physically and online. By connecting, we can build stronger support and learn from each other.

We also work with a group of highly involved New-West residents called the BuurtBlikVangers (BBV) – literally “Neighborhood Trash Watchers.” They are our ambassadors. They know best what the litter situation is like in their own neighborhoods and report back to VO or the municipality. Some also organize their own cleanup activities, making a huge positive impact on their communities.

VO supports these efforts through our website, meetings, app groups, and newsletters. We also help with promotion, participation, and providing cleaning materials.

Even though the word “Riot/Uproar” is in our name, we work constructively with the municipality, not against them. We believe collaboration achieves more than simply pointing out mistakes. Together, we analyze what goes wrong, why it happens, and how simple solutions can be found. With the brainpower of 170,000 residents, we are a constant factor in New-West, taking true ownership of our neighborhoods.

Most litter is created by citizens, and while the municipality already cleans up a lot, they need input and ideas from residents about when and where things go wrong. Together, we can help the municipality work more efficiently—so that the streets actually become cleaner.

Our organization is powered mainly by volunteers, supported by a few freelancers working on specific projects, and funded in part through municipal subsidies. At times it may feel like progress is slow, because building trust and relationships takes time, but every step forward counts.

Current projects include:

  • Supporting local clean up groups in New-West

  • Supporting changes in municipal policy through their hotspot approach

  • Addressing issues such as trash being mowed over and abandoned shopping carts

…and much more.

💡 Join us for free! You can become a member to strengthen our influence, or simply take part by cleaning your surroundings (only when you feel like it 😉).

If you’d like to read more about our ambitions, check out our 10-point action plan (sorry, only available in Dutch) and let us know where you’d like to contribute.

And finally: this is me explaining the trash bins in Amsterdam New-West 😉




In Dutch