Mama Baranka Tour
A dialogue-led walking experience with local artists in Amsterdam
Walk through Amsterdam with local artists and enter into an open conversation about the city, its histories and the lives shaped within it. This is a reflective, dialogue-led experience rooted in art, memory and public space.
The Mama Baranka Tour is a dialogue-led walking experience through Amsterdam, guided by local artists Nelson Carrilho and Robin van Erven Dorens.
Starting in the Jordaan and walking through the historic city centre towards the Vondelpark, the experience invites participants into an open conversation about the city, its histories and the lives shaped within it. Along the route, the artists share perspectives rooted in art, memory and lived experience, using public space as a setting for dialogue and reflection.
The walk concludes at the Mama Baranka sculpture in the Vondelpark, a work by Nelson Carrilho connected to the memory of Kerwin Duinmeijer, whose murder in 1983 marked a turning point in the Dutch public conversation on racism and responsibility.
Whether you are rooted in Amsterdam or discovering the city anew, the Mama Baranka Tour offers a new lens on truth, remembrance and belonging.
This walking experience is guided by local artists and rooted in lived experience rather than scripted storytelling. By moving through the city together, participants engage with Amsterdam not only as a place to observe, but as a space to enter into conversation.
The route includes both well-known and lesser-known monuments and artworks, offering surprising perspectives even to those familiar with the city. The dialogue-based format encourages reflection on how public space, memory and responsibility intersect in everyday urban life.
Rather than providing answers, the Mama Baranka Tour creates a shared space for listening, questioning and exchanging perspectives, allowing each participant to take something different with them.
The Mama Baranka Tour unfolds as a guided walking experience from the Jordaan through the historic city centre to the Vondelpark. Rather than following a fixed script, the route creates space for dialogue, reflection and shared inquiry in direct relation to the city itself.
Arrival and introduction – Nelson Carrilho’s atelier (Jordaan)
The experience begins at the atelier of sculptor Nelson Carrilho. Here, participants are welcomed into his working space and introduced to the artistic and personal context behind his work, including the Mama Baranka sculpture. This opening sets the tone for the walk: grounded in lived experience, art and conversation.
Walking dialogue through the city
From the Jordaan, the group moves on foot through central Amsterdam. Along the way, Nelson Carrilho and filmmaker Robin van Erven Dorens guide conversations in relation to monuments, streets and public artworks. Rather than delivering a lecture, they invite participants to reflect, ask questions and share perspectives as history, memory and present-day city life intersect in real time.
Public space as conversation
Dialogue moments arise organically in response to the places encountered. Themes may include art and representation, shared and contested histories, identity, belonging and responsibility in a diverse city. Discomfort is not avoided, but it is held with care. The aim is not agreement, but understanding and new perspectives.
Closing reflection Mama Baranka, Vondelpark
The walk concludes at the Mama Baranka sculpture in the Vondelpark. This work is connected to the memory of Kerwin Duinmeijer, whose murder in 1983 became a turning point in the Dutch public conversation on racism, violence and responsibility in public space.
At this final stop, the group pauses to reflect on the route, the conversations that emerged and the role of public art in remembrance. Rather than offering conclusions, this moment invites participants to sit with questions of visibility, memory and belonging, and how these continue to shape life in the city today.
The Mama Baranka Tour is for:
- Curious travellers and expats who want to understand Amsterdam beyond the usual highlights
- Local Amsterdammers and Dutchies who feel drawn to seeing their main city through a new lens
- People interested in art, memory and lived perspectives rather than scripted storytelling
- Anyone who values conversation, reflection and meaningful encounters in public space
Whether you’re joining solo, with friends or as a small group, the experience invites presence, openness and exchange. No prior knowledge is needed, only a willingness to walk, listen and engage.
Are you visiting Amsterdam and looking for something that connects culture, history and lived experience? Or are you rooted here and curious about what the city still has to reveal? The Mama Baranka Tour meets you where you are!
For teams, schools or organisations seeking a facilitated dialogue experience in a professional or educational context, customised editions of this tour are also available.
What’s included
- A 2-2,5-hour dialogue-led walking experience through Amsterdam
- Guidance by local artists Nelson Carrilho and Robin van Erven Dorens
- Exclusive access to Nelson Carrilho’s atelier, including time to view his work and have coffee or tea
- A curated walking route from the Jordaan through the historic city centre towards the Vondelpark
- Artist-led perspectives on art, memory, public space and lived experience
- Space for conversation, reflection and exchange in a small-group setting
This experience is held with care and intention. It is not a scripted tour, but a shared exploration shaped by the route, the artists and the people who join.
What to expect
- A walking pace that allows for conversation and pauses
- Dialogue moments in relation to monuments, artworks and everyday streets
- Different perspectives rather than one fixed narrative
- Moments of reflection, curiosity and, at times, gentle discomfort
- A closing reflection at the Mama Baranka sculpture in the Vondelpark, including the story of Kerwin Duinmeijer and the wider meaning of the monument
The aim is not agreement, but understanding and new perspectives.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing (this is the Netherlands)
- Curiosity and openness
- Willingness to listen, reflect and engage
Language
Tours are offered in Dutch or English, depending on the group. The tour language will always be communicated in advance.
Weather & route adjustments
If the weather is not ideal but still manageable, the tour will:
- Begin indoors at Nelson Carrilho’s studio
- Follow an adapted walking route through the Jordaan and surrounding areas
In this case, the Mama Baranka sculpture may not be physically visited, but its story and meaning remain central to the experience.
In case of severe weather, the tour may be rescheduled in consultation with participants.
Make it a full Mama Baranka experience
Continue your journey of remembrance and creativity beyond the walking tour itself.
GINI travel offers add-ons and tailor-made arrangements that deepen your connection to Amsterdam’s heritage and living culture.
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Add-on lunch or dinner experience
Share a soul-food-inspired meal with your guide or community partners, reflecting on the stories and impressions of the day. -
Make-your-own amulet Workshop
Create a personal amulet inspired by Mama Baranka and the symbolism of protection, resistance and remembrance. Led by Nelson & Robin connected to the tour’s story. -
Travel arrangements to Amsterdam
Visiting from outside the city? We can arrange your full stay, from boutique hotels and local restaurants to additional heritage experiences like Black Heritage Tour, all curated the GINI way.
Every extension continues to support remembrance and community projects, with 10 % of proceeds dedicated to Keti Koti initiatives and the Mama Baranka Foundation.
The Mama Baranka Tour is more than a walk through Amsterdam, it’s a journey of remembrance, art and resilience.
Guided by Nelson Carrilho, creator of the Mama Baranka sculpture, and Robin van Erven Dorens, filmmaker and storyteller, this experience brings to life the hidden histories and emotional depth behind one of Amsterdam’s most powerful monuments.
You’ll uncover stories of resistance and belonging, reflect on the meaning of remembrance today, and experience how art continues to connect communities across generations.
10% of every booking supports the Mama Baranka Foundation and local remembrance initiatives such as Keti Koti.
Weekends & on request
- Atelier Carrilho - Amsterdam
- Artist-led city walk
- Public space as dialogue
- Beauty and shadow of Amsterdam
Artists and origins
Behind the Mama Baranka Tour
The Mama Baranka Tour is a local artist-led walking experience that grew from a community-rooted cultural vision in Amsterdam, centred on art, public memory and dialogue in public space.
Nelson Carrilho
Nelson Carrilho is a sculptor whose work explores African and Afro-Caribbean heritage, memory and resistance. His sculpture Mama Baranka in the Vondelpark commemorates Kerwin Duinmeijer and marks a pivotal moment in the Dutch public conversation on racism and responsibility. The tour begins at his atelier in the Jordaan, grounding the experience in lived artistic practice.
Robin van Erven Dorens
The tour is co-hosted by filmmaker Robin van Erven Dorens, whose work explores Dutch history and public space through a reflective, narrative lens. In dialogue with Nelson, he brings historical context and invites conversation rather than fixed conclusions.
Elvira Semmoh and the Mama Baranka Foundation
The original conceptual seed of the tour has been carried for many years by Elvira Semmoh, chair of the Mama Baranka Foundation. The foundation safeguards the cultural intention and long-term continuity of Mama Baranka as both artwork and living practice.
The tour took shape through early community-led editions and gained public form during the Week Against Racism with Pakhuis de Zwijger, initiated together with Nina Herdigein and Virginia Scheele. From there, the Mama Baranka Tour was further shaped by Nelson Carrilho, Robin van Erven Dorens and Virginia Scheele into the dialogue-led experience it is today, growing organically through shared ownership, dialogue and care.
Step into the stories that shaped the city and change the way you see it.
Connecting people across cultures
GINI's approach
GINI creates cultural tours and travel experiences grounded in lived knowledge, local ownership and fair collaboration. Our work starts from the understanding that stories are not abstract, they live in people, places and practices.
We work closely with local artists, cultural makers and communities who carry these stories through experience rather than theory. GINI’s role is to curate, organise and support this work in a way that is ethical, transparent and sustainable, ensuring cultural labour is recognised and fairly compensated.
Rather than treating culture as something to extract or package, GINI works to shift tourism towards regenerative models. Experiences are built together with those closest to the story, through clear agreements, shared responsibility and respect for how narratives are told and held. Where possible, part of the revenue flows back into the communities and initiatives connected to the experience.
For the Mama Baranka Tour, 10% of all proceeds support the Mama Baranka Foundation, contributing to long-term cultural continuity and access to dialogue-led education.
All our experiences are built on three pillars:
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Leave an impact – Every journey and experience invites conscious participation, awareness and cultural respect
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Support local economies – A portion of profits supports grassroots foundations local businesses and community-led initiatives.
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Cultural remembrance – We create space for truth, healing and intergenerational that honours what came before.
Travel as a force for truth and justice!
Answers to guide your impact
FAQ
Who is this tour for?
This tour is for anyone who wants to explore Amsterdam through a different lens, one that centres hidden histories, cultural resilience and decolonial storytelling. Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or someone reconnecting with ancestral roots, this experience invites open minds, reflective hearts and a willingness to see the city beyond the mainstream.
Do I need prior knowledge of the city?
No! Whether you’re a local or visiting for the first time, this tour provides new insights into overlooked histories and communities.
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts approximately ~2,5 hours, including storytelling stops and reflections.
How much walking is involved?
We’ll walk approximately 5 km through the city center. If this is too challenging, please email us at contact@lifeofgini.nl to discuss whether we can adjust the tour to your needs.
Who is leading the tour?
The tour is co-hosted by artist Nelson Carrilho and storyteller Robin van Erven Dorens, bringing together art, history and lived experiences.
Where does the tour start and end?
We begin at Studio Nelson Carrilho and end at Mama Baranka in Vondelpark.
Is the tour accessible?
The tour involves city walking, but we aim to be as accessible as possible. If you have specific needs, please reach out so we can explore options together.
Does this tour support a cause?
Yes! A portion of the profits is donated to the Mama Baranka Foundation, supporting its mission to keep these stories alive.
What if the weather is bad?
Since we’re in the Netherlands, we recommend bringing comfortable shoes and rain gear. In case of severe weather predictions, the tour may be rescheduled.
Cultural remembrance
GINI's impact
Support local economies
Slow and soulful experiences
Leave a lasting impact
Stories that remember
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