The City of Amsterdam has its own urban storyteller. Karel Baracs, fulltime storyteller, has recently been appointed as such by alderman Freek Ossel. The urban storyteller will use the power of storytelling to let the history, present and the future of the city of Amsterdam come to life. Karel Baracs will write six stories every year and tell his stories at special events. Baracs' stories should contribute to an increased understanding of 'the other' and bring the citizens of Amsterdam closer together. Amsterdam is the first local council in the Netherlands to appoint an official city storyteller.