“I want to change my thoughts”

27 October 2025

Street Art Museum Amsterdam (SAMA) is a non-profit organization in Amsterdam Nieuw West. They are developing a unique collection of over 200 street art pieces in Nieuw West, West, and Schiphol. They offer tours to groups from all countries. I am meeting with one of the volunteers, Aimable, at the SAMA office on Immanuel Kanthof in Nieuw West.Aimable has been a volunteer at the Street Art Museum Amsterdam since early September. He is from Burundi and speaks French as a result. And that’s exactly what SAMA was missing, someone who could guide French-speaking tourists. Aimable is an asylum seeker and moved to the AZC in Amsterdam two years ago, awaiting a status. Before that, he lived in an AZC in Haarlem for about a year.

When I enter the office, which is filled with art and where all the walls are painted with graffiti, he is busy training the new volunteer Amandine from France. Using an Excel file containing all the artworks from the tour, along with a description of their history and the artist. Aimable created this overview so that future guides can use it.

“I want to do volunteer work because I don’t want to stay at the AZC all day. I have more stress at the AZC.”

We conduct the interview in Dutch, which he handles well. Sometimes he clarifies something in French, which I can understand. I am curious why Aimable started doing volunteer work.

“I want to do volunteer work because I don’t want to stay at the AZC all day. I want to do something different, outside. I have more stress at the AZC. I want to change my thoughts. I would like to do something and meet new people. And practice my Dutch.”

He attends Dutch lessons twice a week at Boost and works at SAMA three to four days a week. Aimable studied business economics in Burundi. He then worked in a cotton factory, where he managed the inventory.

“Aimable gives tours to French-speaking tourists through Nieuw West along artworks.”“In Burundi, volunteering does not exist. When I first started volunteering here, I was surprised: you work and you don’t get paid! I did odd jobs with a group of asylum seekers from the AZC in Haarlem: painting, working in the garden. Later in Amsterdam, I volunteered at a nursing home. I played games and sports with the residents. And now at SAMA. Now I think volunteering is good: it’s good to help people.”

Aimable gives tours to French-speaking tourists through Nieuw West, passing by artworks managed by SAMA, with many created on SAMA’s initiative. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours.

I like art. It’s a new love

“In the beginning, it was difficult because no one spoke French here and I spoke little Dutch and English. I had to get to know the artworks and the neighborhood. I like art. It’s a new love. My favorite artwork is ‘Smile’ by the Colombian graffiti artist Stinkfish. ‘Smile’ is nearby, at the Vlugtschool. When I have obtained a status, I want to start creating art myself.”
Smile by StinkfishWhen I say goodbye to Aimable, he tells me how grateful he is to Jelle. He is the mediator from VCA who helped Aimable get this spot.