Susanne Balm

Susanne Balm is a Senior Lecturer at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, leading the City Logistics research group (Lectoraat City Logistics). Her work focuses on sustainable urban freight systems, electric vehicle integration, and neighborhood logistics solutions, primarily within the Amsterdam metropolitan context.

Her educational background includes a Master's in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2010) and a Bachelor's in Business Administration (2009). Her research spans practical implementation of sustainable logistics solutions with strong industry and municipal partnerships.

Balm's research interests center on urban consolidation centers, electric freight vehicles, and sustainable procurement systems. Her work emphasizes real-world application through projects like neighborhood hubs and campus logistics optimization, addressing last-mile delivery challenges while reducing environmental impact in dense urban areas.

Her publication trends show strong focus on practical implementation research, with increasing output in neighborhood logistics hubs (2022-2025), urban consolidation centers (2024), and sustainable procurement frameworks (2022). The research demonstrates consistent Dutch context application with growing international relevance in urban freight management.

• Young Talent Award Stichting Wiechert (2019)
• KIEM Logistiek: 'Servicelogistiek in de stad' (2017)
• Nominatie RAAK-Award (2017)

Balm actively supervises student theses and professional projects while engaging in extensive consultancy and industry collaboration. Her work involves significant municipal partnerships (Amsterdam city government), university collaborations (UvA), and industry stakeholder engagement through focus groups and implementation projects. She has secured research funding for multi-year initiatives including the 5-year sustainable supply chain project at UvA-HvA.

She leads the City Logistics research group at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, focusing on practical implementation of sustainable logistics solutions. Her team collaborates closely with municipal governments, businesses, and academic partners on neighborhood logistics hubs, electric vehicle adoption, and sustainable procurement systems, emphasizing real-world application over theoretical research.