"It wasn't even such a special call we were responding to. But we hadn't even turned the corner when the gunfire opened on us. He died right on the spot."
The night no longer exists.
Edges of the Night
In the globalizing economy, 24/7 has become a familiar concept. Working and opening hours have become fluid, night trains run on a fixed schedule, financial specialists remain constantly alert, and our designs and calculations continue to be processed on the other side of the world while we sleep. More and more people are working at night in this 24-hour economy, yet this is less new than it seems.
The steelworks and the power plant have always operated around the clock with shift work; the fire must be kept burning. The port never stops, either. Consider road workers repairing tram tracks at night, cleaners at Schiphol Airport, or drivers delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to the Food Center. Many other businesses and institutions also operate through the night, though often at a slower pace, including healthcare, hotels, and prisons.
At the same time, we still recognise something like the dead of night.
Around 5 a.m., Amsterdam is silent.
But the night, as it once was, no longer exists.