Through OBA Next, the City of Amsterdam is investing in additional facilities for young people and local residents in Southeast. Plans include a new community centre, a youth centre and permanent rehearsal spaces for brass bands, with local residents and organisations actively involved in shaping the development.

The new OBA Next building will span approximately 7,500 square metres and is designed as a space for learning, working, creating and meeting. An additional €3 million in national funding has enabled the project to move forward.

At the centre of the initiative is TUMO Amsterdam. TUMO is an international educational concept for teenagers aged 12 to 18, focusing on digital and creative skills such as animation, game design, robotics, music production and coding. The programme is free of charge and in Amsterdam is developed in collaboration between the Amsterdam Public Library (OBA), the City of Amsterdam, the Sofronie Foundation and technology partners including TomTom, Adyen, Just Eat Takeaway.com and Miro.

The youth programming is currently being tested through the OBA Next Lab, where students can participate in the TUMO programme after school and experiment with AI, design and emerging technologies. The ambition is to create an environment where exploration, experimentation and skill development are central.

Internationally, TUMO operates 14 centres across 10 countries, including locations in Paris, Berlin, Zurich and Lyon. Since its launch in Armenia in 2011, more than 60,000 alumni have completed the programme. With the launch in Amsterdam Southeast, the network continues to expand.

The opening of OBA Next in 2030 is expected to deliver an iconic building in a district where investment in equal opportunities and cultural development is a priority. In the coming years, additional facilities will be developed, including a 335-square-metre youth centre and plans for a youth talent centre.