What Cities Can Teach Us About the Nervous System
When I recently attended the Mind Body Space Global Symposium in Amsterdam, I expected the conference to be inspiring.
I didn’t expect to be inspired by the city itself.
For five days, I lived on a houseboat nestled amongst Amsterdam’s famous canals while attending a conference filled with over 150 delegates, world-class speakers, networking opportunities, and organised excursions. It was intellectually stimulating, socially engaging and, at times, wonderfully overwhelming.
As I explored Amsterdam, I found myself asking a question that extended far beyond architecture and urban planning.
Is Amsterdam a sensory seeker’s paradise?
Experiencing Amsterdam Through the Nervous System
Every one of my sensory systems felt activated.
The city was alive.
I was constantly seeing, hearing, smelling, moving, and experiencing something new. From bustling cafés and cyclists weaving through narrow streets to the vibrant energy of public squares, Amsterdam offered continuous sensory input.
Yet something fascinating happened.
Despite the intensity, I rarely felt overwhelmed.
Why?
Because Amsterdam also offered powerful opportunities for sensory regulation.
The Hidden Power of Water
One of the city’s greatest assets is something most visitors simply admire.
The canals.
As I walked beside the waterways each day, I became acutely aware of their effect on my nervous system. The movement of water softened the city’s pace and created moments of restoration amidst the constant stimulation.
Water is well recognised as a naturally regulating sensory experience. Whether we are walking beside the ocean, listening to rain falling, or sitting alongside a river, water has the remarkable ability to calm and restore our nervous system.
Amsterdam integrates this experience into everyday life.
Movement as a Regulator
Another observation immediately stood out.
Everyone cycles.
Amsterdam isn’t simply bicycle-friendly; it is built around movement.
Cycling isn’t just transportation; it is woven into daily life.
Movement is one of the nervous system’s most effective tools for regulation. Vestibular and proprioceptive input help organise the brain, improve attention, reduce stress, and support emotional regulation.
Perhaps this is one reason Amsterdam feels so vibrant while remaining surprisingly manageable.
The city naturally encourages people to regulate themselves throughout the day.
A Different Relationship with Space
Coming from South Africa, I was fascinated by how differently people experience personal space.
Homes are compact, often stacked closely together, and as you walk the streets, you can often see directly into people’s living rooms.
It highlighted something important.
Cities shape not only how we move but how we experience privacy, social connection, and sensory input.
Are We Designing Cities for Different Nervous Systems?
At the conference, one question kept surfacing: How do we design spaces that support human wellbeing?
I believe we should ask an even bigger question.
How do we design cities that support different nervous systems?
This isn’t about introverts and extroverts.
It’s about high and low sensory thresholds.
Some people naturally seek more stimulation. Others require less.
Some thrive amidst constant activity.
Others need quiet spaces to regulate and recharge.
Yet most cities are designed with little consideration for these fundamental neurological differences.
Designing Cities Through the Lens of Sensory Intelligence®
What if city planners, architects, employers, and policymakers began designing environments through the lens of Sensory Intelligence®?
Imagine cities that intentionally balanced stimulation with restoration.
Spaces where movement, nature, water, quiet zones, and social interaction were thoughtfully integrated to support the widest possible range of nervous systems.
This isn’t simply about comfort.
It’s about health, performance, and belonging.
A Question Worth Asking
As I reflected on my experience, I realised I hadn’t simply been visiting Amsterdam.
I had been viewing it through the lens of high and low sensory thresholds.
Perhaps that’s the question every city should ask.
What city do you live in?
Would you describe it as a paradise for people with high sensory thresholds, low sensory thresholds, or does it successfully support both?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
At Sensory Intelligence®, we believe understanding your nervous system is the foundation for wellbeing and performance. Environments should be designed so everyone can thrive.
