How "We Are Amsterdam" started

I’m Anna-Luisa Ballauf – a visual storyteller moving between worlds. From the stillness of Bhutan to the rhythm of European cities, from fashion campaigns to portraits of strangers met on the street. With a background in international conflict studies, I’ve always been drawn to what connects us –and how photography can hold that feeling.

It began with a question. In 2023, during the quiet after the pandemic, I walked through Amsterdam with my camera and a need to feel close to something again. I wasn’t looking for beauty in the canals or the buildings. I was searching for the people that share their home with me.

I started taking portraits - of bakers, bike mechanics, dancers, café owners. Strangers who somehow made this city feel like home. "What do you feel when I say Amsterdam?", I asked. I shared their faces and stories online and people started to connect and share.

At first, it was just me. An idea, a camera, and the hope that seeing each other more clearly might help us feel less alone. Then I met Renée. And suddenly this wasn’t just a photo project - it was the beginning of something bigger.

A movement of presence. Of peace. Of people being seen.

Where We Are Now

Today, We Are Amsterdam is part of the city’s 750th anniversary. Together with a growing team and the John Lennon Foundation, we’re reimagining the 1969 Bed-In for Peace, not as nostalgia, but as an invitation.

This time, the bed is open to everyone.

Over days, we’ll photograph artists, founders, neighbors, and dreamers in that bed. These portraits will become a living archive of Amsterdam’s soul. A gentle reminder that peace is not a relic from the past. It’s something we create, again and again - by choosing to see each other.

👁️ About the Photographer

I’m Anna-Luisa Ballauf , a visual storyteller moving between worlds. From the stillness of Bhutan to the energy of European cities, from fashion campaigns to portraits of strangers. With a background in international conflict studies, I’ve always been drawn to what connects us – and how photography can make us feel it.

I believe in photography that feels.That asks questions. That remembers what matters.

We Are Amsterdam is where that belief lives. It’s not just about one city. It’s about how we see each other – and how we choose to show up.

Want to get involved? → Join the Movement

More about my work: www.annaluisaballauf.com

Daily stories & updates: @just_mycameraandeye