A1 Level – Elementary
1. Do you know Amsterdam?
2. What is a long canal?
3. Do you like riding bicycles?
4. What is a small house?
5. Do you think it is a safe city?
6. What is a famous painting?
7. Do you like colorful flowers?
8. What is a busy tourist area?
9. Do you think the weather is good?
10. What is a flat land?
11. Do you like city walking?
12. What is a strong smell?
13. Do you want to visit Amsterdam?
14. What are three ways to get around Amsterdam?
15. Do you think Amsterdam is unique?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What is the difference between a canal and a river?
2. Why are bicycles the main form of transport?
3. What are the good things and bad things about mass tourism in Amsterdam?
4. How can a tourist avoid getting hit by a bicycle?
5. Should all cities try to copy Amsterdam’s bicycle infrastructure?
6. Why is the city famous for its narrow houses?
7. Do you think the open policy on soft drugs is a good idea?
8. What is the purpose of the city’s red-light district?
9. How does the high number of tourists affect the local residents?
10. What is the difference between an old building and a modern one?
11. Do you think living on a houseboat is difficult?
12. What are the problems when the canals freeze over?
13. When is the best time of year to visit Amsterdam?
14. What are two things Amsterdam is famous for (besides canals)?
15. How does the flatness of the land affect city planning?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. What are the rules for politely riding a bicycle in heavy traffic?
2. How does the cost of living affect the local art and culture scene?
3. Should the government ban all cars from the central canal ring?
4. What is the difference between a historic area and a modern business district in Amsterdam?
5. Do you believe that the city’s liberal policies attract creative people?
6. What are the challenges of managing the crowds in famous museums?
7. How does the focus on quick tourism affect the authenticity of local businesses?
8. What is the idea of a “coffeeshop” in Amsterdam?
9. Is it fair or unfair when local residents complain about noisy tourists?
10. How does a lack of affordable housing affect young people in the city?
11. What are the steps for properly renting a canal boat?
12. What is the value of visiting a city that focuses on slow transport (walking, biking)?
13. Should public media highlight the less-known, local parts of Amsterdam?
14. What are the reasons why some people feel unsafe in certain parts of the city?
15. How does the history of Dutch colonialism affect the city’s museums?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. What are the social pressures on tourists to participate in the city’s party culture?
2. What are the moral problems when the city’s policies attract drug tourism?
3. How does constant social media showing of the city affect the preservation of its quiet areas?
4. Should the city government be legally required to provide affordable housing for all local workers?
5. Analyze the psychological effect of living in a city with very high freedom and low conformity.
6. Who is responsible for promoting sustainable tourism practices in Amsterdam?
7. What is your view on the practice of creating new rules to discourage low-quality tourism?
8. Evaluate the role of private property owners in changing the use of historical buildings (e.g., hotels).
9. How does the concept of “cycling aggression” affect pedestrian safety?
10. Discuss the concept of “overtourism” and Amsterdam’s attempts to manage it.
11. What are the problems with having very different rules for citizens and for tourists?
12. What are the legal differences between general public annoyance and behavior that requires police intervention?
13. Do you agree that the purpose of the city’s policies is mainly to generate economic revenue?
14. What steps should be taken to ensure that the city’s cultural heritage is protected from tourist damage?
15. How does the city’s history as a trading port affect its modern global image?
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Is it fair that the economic success of Amsterdam leads to high cost of living for artists and workers?
2. What is the right way to think about a city’s moral duty to prioritize the well-being of residents over tourist revenue?
3. How do the platform’s algorithms influence the type of tourist behavior that is promoted in Amsterdam?
4. When should the government consider mandatory “tourist taxes” to fund housing for residents?
5. What are the moral questions when we talk about using surveillance technology to manage tourist flow?
6. How does the focus on quick tourism affect the long-term, necessary investment in maintaining historical canals?
7. Discuss the impact of stricter drug policies on the city’s reputation and tourism economy.
8. How should leaders use urban design to promote a more local, non-touristy experience for residents?
9. What is the idea of “decommodification” of public spaces in cities?
10. What are the long-term effects on society when fewer people can afford to live in the city center?
11. What are the difficulties when courts try to decide if a city’s new tourism rule is discriminatory?
12. How does the search for total personal freedom conflict with the need for communal order?
13. Do you agree that the most important thing is the preservation of Amsterdam’s unique historical architecture?
14. What are the simple moral rules a tourist should follow when visiting a residential area in the city?
15. Should the government set a legal minimum for the percentage of housing reserved for low-income residents?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. What is the real difference between the city’s historical spirit of tolerance and its current struggle with mass tourism?
2. Debate the idea: Should we completely stop all new hotel construction in the city center?
3. How does the concept of “tolerance” change when it is heavily commodified and sold to tourists?
4. What laws or rules are needed to control how technology platforms use city data to influence tourist flow?
5. How do historical views of the Golden Age and trade affect modern debates over ethical consumption?
6. How can communities maintain their independent culture when the economy is overly dependent on tourism?
7. Argue the point that humans should stop all attempts to control tourist behavior and allow the city to adapt naturally.
8. What protection should laws give to local businesses that are priced out by international chains?
9. How can we stop the problem of using the argument of “tradition” to justify harmful or outdated policies?
10. What did old thinkers say about liberty, the good city, and public virtue that is still important today?
11. What will happen to the need for human services if AI can perfectly manage all tourist logistics?
12. How do people use the idea of “vibrant city life” to avoid discussing the social problems caused by mass tourism?
13. How does the experience of living in a highly liberal, high-density city improve a person’s understanding of social compromise?
14. What is the power of a collective movement to demand that the city prioritize a clean, sustainable environment?
15. If scientists could create a perfect, non-polluting public transport system, how would that fundamentally change the cycling culture of Amsterdam?
