Bricksterdam City

A Tribute to Amsterdam’s Cozy Charm

# Design
This is a complete redesign of a model submitted in Series 8 and 9.

I'm submitting different versions, this being the largest, which adds a traditional tram and houseboat.

The model uses exactly 4000 parts, 14 minifigures, and 15 stickers.

The scale is the same as the LEGO modular buildings and fits very well in a LEGO city. It certainly looks great in mine!

The model sits on a 72x40 studs base, including the 8-studs wide front water that can be removed to fit the model with other 32x32 buildings.

# Model and scene
Bricksterdam is a minifigure-scale model dedicated to Amsterdam and its cosy city centre where crooked canal houses lean charmingly along cobbled streets and quiet alleyways. Every façade tells a story, echoing different architectural styles and time periods. Children playing by the water’s edge, families cycling across flower-lined bridges, and hidden cafés tucked between historic façades. Tiny art studios and micro-apartments add to the city’s intimate creative vibe, making it a perfect subject for a LEGO diorama.

The canal scene brings the city to life:

Leigh is on the bridge magnet-fishing a bike out of the canal for his BondiTreasureHunter YouTube channel. ..."magnet away!"
Boats line the canal walls, one has sunk, neglected and rain-filled, now claimed by a duck as a nest.
...though its peace is disturbed by Luke who’s fallen (or jumped?) into the water.
Chef Vito is taking a break outside his café...
..look out! That seagull is going to steal your hot-dog!
Luigi is hauling a washing machine upstairs using ropes and pulleys — classic Amsterdam!
Isabella and Vito Jr. are playing on the sidewalk.
Elisabeth is carrying her newborn Filippa on their pink cargo bike.
Along the canal, Mikey the sailor is trying to catch a fish.
A traditional tram, driven by Louis and now an attraction for tourists, is stopping.
Lory is getting out of the tram but...
...Rosy, on the way back to her cosy houseboat, almost ran Lory over with her bike!
On the back, Sal is on his scaffolding fixing a crack on the 400-year-old house...
...time for a break as Carmela passes him a coffee.
Cyril turned the working sand in a treasure island to moor his LEGO pirate ship on.
...but his kite flew away and got stuck on a tree!
Coco the cat was chasing a mouse ...when she saw a familiar face on a "missing cat poster"!

There are three buildings plus the houseboat for a total of ten different ambients (not counting the tram):

The Old House
- Built in 1590 on wooden foundations, this house is now bending towards the front canal. Beautiful clamping roses bring colours to the external walls. A large living room on the ground floor hosts a library and several explorers’ treasures. The first floor crams a bathroom, small kitchen, and bedroom.

The Red House
- This red-painted building used to be a warehouse in the 18th century. One of the tiniest buildings in the area, barely larger than its own door, yet the most packed. On the ground floor, the large windows - still illuminated by a red lantern in the dark alleyway - now host an antiques shop. Steep stairs bring to a tiny art gallery. Come for the art and stay for the free expresso! Keep climbing for what is now a student apartment. Signs of many parties can be seen from the window in the attic.
The Black&White house
- Built in 1750, with a typical elevated entrance. The ground floor hosts a cosy café. The café’s kitchen is in the basement. The mezzanine is used for live music ...often interrupted by the customers using the under-stairs toilet! The upper floor is Luigi's apartment. Just big enough for a bathroom, a kitchen, a foldable sofa-bed, and a beautiful balcony to enjoy the sun at dawn! The traditional hook (present in all houses) can be used to haul upstairs anything, even a washing machine! The flat roof can be used for some sun-bathing ...and special parties. On the side of the building, there is a small, old stall, now used as a storage room.
The HouseBoat
- Typical sight in Bricksterdam, a boat converted into a small apartment. It has everything: kitchen, shower, toilet, bedroom, sofa, and a cosy terrace. On its roof, a rainbow of flowers that adds colour to the city.

# Minifigures (14)

Elisabeth, carrying her newborn Filippa on a cargo bike
Isabella, chasing her brother
Vito Jr., running away from her sister
Cyril, playing with sand on the backside
Leigh, magnet fishing with his golden magnet
Luke, swimming in the canal
Louis, the tram driver
Sal, the handyman fixing the old house
Carmela, the old explorer living in the old house
Vito Sr., taking a break outside his café
Lory, jogging along the canals
Mikey the sailor, trying to catch a fish
Rosy, living in the boat house
Luigi, pulling the washing machine

# Stickers (15; 11 designs)

Old House construction year: "1590"
"Antiques" shop sign
"Vito's" café sign
4 art gallery paintings: Rothko, Fontana, Kandinsky, Picasso
2x tulips (on the side of the cargo bike)
missing cat poster
tram number
4x tram side decorations