Update: Tuesday 18 december 2018, 14:00, Appeal Court-case ADM vs. Amsterdam’ municipality
ADM is appealing the issuing of an environmental permit to the Koole Maritime LCC company, by the Municipality of Amsterdam, despite the fact that the activities of this asbestos removal company are NOT complying with the Perpetual Clause, which rests on the ADM terrain. In our previous court-case this case was dismissed, because the court ruled that we can’t be a party in the interpretation of that Perpetual Clause.
The Perpetual Clause, which is part of the buying contract in 1997 by Bertus Lüske states:
– When the ADM is being sold, it should be offered first to the Municipality of Amsterdam
– On the ADM terrain is only a ship-wharf or ship-wharf related activities allowed
This Appeal court-case starts at 14.00 at The Court of Amsterdam
Address: Palace of Justice, IJdok 20, 1013 MM Amsterdam
Early November the ADM residents received the official letter of the mayor, in which everyone is ordered to leave the terrain before the 25th of December. De municipality offers the sludge-fields in the North of Amsterdam as a temporary emergency solution. This terrain does not provide a solution for the many ADM people who do not have a mobile house or who live on ships and houseboats. Only for 2 years this terrain will be available, it is nearly impossible to build anything (It is forbidden to dig poles into the polluted soil) and winter is is starting to kick in. A humanitarian drama, but nobody calls the municipality to account.
This summer, when the Council of State passed the verdict, the municipality stated the sludge-fields were immediately available. The Council of State gave the ADM 6 months to move.
But the polluted sludge-fields were not ready: first the top layer had to be removed and the polluted soil underneath had to be covered with plastic and sand, an investment that needed to happen anyway in relation to the future plans for the terrain. In stead of June 25th this took till November, and the terrein was not available until the 5th of December with access to the mains sewer and water supply , only 20 days before the deadline of 25 December. The logistic nightmare of moving a whole village that took 21 years to build in less then 3 weeks needs no explanation. Law enforcers must have realised this too, and have announce absurd measures, fines and confiscation to increase the pressure. ADM-ers, who in the past years have consequently been extremely polite and cooperative towards the city council’s relocation approach, are now treated as burglars. Last week Mayor Femke Halsema sent a letter to companies in the West harbour announcing zero tolerance law enforcement in case squatters attempt to enter their property.
Our neighbours in front of the gate received a notice to quit too: they must prepare for relocation on Dec 26, and will be moved to an already overpopulated caravan site next to the powerstation, full of other official undesirables, or be taken into health care.
The planned eviction of the ADM terrain and waters would obviously finish many important functions and activities of ADM – there would only be space for residential use on the sewage fields. This would be a major cultural setback and a disaster for the many small-scale businesses and non-profit initiatives that exist on the ADM. Amsterdam hardly has any affordable space left for non-profits, or for enterprises of people that do not have access to capital. Move? Where to?
Apart from that, the function of ADM as meeting-place for international democratic movements would also disappear, and young residents of Amsterdam will loose an important source of knowledge and experience. Eviction of all these facilities will affect many thousands of ADM volunteers and visitors, as well as the international (sub)cultural community in which ADM is an important hub.
In the past weeks these issues were addressed during every city board meeting, but with very little result: a council promise to make an effort to help relocate ADM in or around Amsterdam when in two years’ time the sewage fields will need to be vacated.
This temporary Slibvelden offer and promises of possible future relocation of free-spaces receive encouragement, but come at a high price: quiet departure from the ADM terrain.
This week a request for a court case at the European Court concerning the violation of the human rights of the ADM cultural community was turned down.
On Dec. 4th the free-space debate in a fully packed Pakhuis de Zwijger was organized by ADM people to discus the concept free-space with professionals, experts and politicians. The concept Free Experimental Zone was launched. https://adm.amsterdam/event/vrijplaatsen-debat-pakhuis-de-zwijger
There continues to be a lot of media attention for ADM, unfortunately mainly in a voyeuristic sense. The crucial issue: the legal and financial cover-up which produced the ADM eviction order is avoided, nobody forces the council to explain why they are prepared to use the strong arm just to help the heirs of Luske’s criminal fortune to make a huge profit. Thanks to the council stretching the planning restrictions the value of the terrain is likely to multiply 5-10 times.
An attempt to address this scandal was the symbolic donation of a golden container in front of Chidda’s office. https://adm.amsterdam/content/gemeente-geeft-kapitale-bonus-aan-nazaten-onderwereldfiguur-luske
Apart from this there have been weekly cycling protests in support of ADM, and to promote the 15 december demo against evictions and gentrification.
These times require measures against climate change. The sanitation of the Amsterdam harbor, one of Western-Europe’s biggest port for fossil fuels, is unavoidable. This is what Amsterdam voted for, with a majority of citizens voting for Green-Left policies. Not for the felling of the thousands of trees in the ADM forest and not for the eviction of a climate proof pioneer community in a post-industrial landscape.
On December 15 a demo will be held in Amsterdam against the sell-out of Amsterdam: In support of ADM, Lutkemeerpolder, the student protests and the Kinderen van Mokum (Kids from Amsterdam – Mokum is slang for Amsterdam). This demo is for everyone who thinks the city is becoming too expensive to be alive and to live in. 15u J.D. Meijerplein
Bring fairy or bike lights, noise and message. The demo will pass centrum, de Pijp and will finish in the East, on the Steve Bikoplein. With several marching bands, and even a choire participating.
On December 16th the ADM christmas market @ ADM welcomes everyone in need of the most original present for half-son, step-aunt or great-brother. From 13h the christmas market will open, at 17h the auction will start. The profit will be reserved for logistic expenses in case of eviction. In the evening bar, more food, live music and live broadcasting.
Saturday 22 december 2018, Silent march through Amsterdam https://squ.at/r/6gvd
We’re sad because….
– We’re losing the Amsterdam that we know
– Money rules
– There’s no place any more for sub-cultures
We believe…
– That the city needs diversity
– That unity is the city’s strongest bond
– We know that we’re not the only one’s who believe this
More info soon…
HAPPY CRISIS!!
ADM
Hornweg 6, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
https://squ.at/r/5g4
https://adm.amsterdam/
Some squats in Amsterdam: https://radar.squat.net/en/groups/city/amsterdam/type/squat
Groups (social centres, collectives, squats) in Amsterdam: https://radar.squat.net/en/groups/city/amsterdam
Events in Amsterdam: https://radar.squat.net/en/events/city/Amsterdam
https://adm.amsterdam/article/adm-newsletter-14th-december-2018
