The northern town of Appingedam wants to take over the redundant Iamsterdam letters to boost tourism, local paper the Eemskrant reports.

Amsterdam city council plans to get rid of one or more sets of the giant Iamsterdam letters which are scattered around the capital, saying the slogan has become a symbol for mass tourism and individualism in a city which stands for solidarity and diversity.

‘We are willing to take them off their hands,’ local councillor Annalies Usmany told the paper. ‘We can adapt the slogan IAmsterdam to I am Damster (an inhabitant of Appingedam). It’s a perfect fit and an environmentally friendly way of giving the letters a second life.’

Appingedam council has offered to come and get the letters without charge. Once installed Amsterdam councillors are welcome to visit the town which boasts many historical monuments and sights, among which the Damster hanging kitchens.

‘If they take us up on the offer we can perhaps talk about other ways of cooperating, mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra told the paper. ‘Amsterdam and Appingedam may have more in common than people think.’ Appingedam is 200 kilometres from the Dutch capital.

The letter from Appingedam about the letters is timetabled for discussion at a city council meeting on November 7.