Since 2010, the anti squat law is stating house owners would get fined if they leave their buildings empty for more than six months. Well, years later, not a single owner has been fined. That’s is no surprise knowing the City of Amsterdam. Parallel to that, 15% of office buildings in Amsterdam are officially empty. The reality would be the double.
Amsterdam is gearing up to evict squatters these coming days. The house on Swammerdamstraat 12 will be evicted for a fourth time in a few years. Let’s hope this ‘monument’ won’t make place to a sand yard for the coming years. Other squats in Amsterdam who received the eviction announcement are Bessemerstraat 23 (El Taller), Cornelis Drebbelstraat 35 (LaRage), Simon Stevinsstraat 25hs (Willem Beukels Alternatief).
On May 31st, activists and squatters were taking over the empty office building on the Jan Tooropstraat 29. The door magically opened and within minutes, the refugees from the Vluchtkerk moved in. Off course, Eberhard van der Laan the apathetic mayor was again forced to show a bit of concern. Lucky us, there weren’t any comment from the Dutch squatting expert Eric D. that day. [Read More]
Patmos Lodge, a squat of 2+years with 100 residents due for eviction this Tuesday morning
Patmos Lodge, a large former old peoples home in the Oval/Kennington area of South London, has been squatted for over two years by an ever-changing group of around 100 people. After a long legal battle the squat is now up for eviction this Tuesday 28/5/13. Who knows how long it will lay empty before being turned into more fucking yuppie flats?The residents are a loosely affiliated collection of crews and individuals, with differing political stances (or lack-thereof) and ideas about how an eviction attempt should be handled. Some wish to walk out and not make a fuss, some are actively against any resistance, and some would like to keep and defend their home. Many residents are vulnerable: children, older people, cats, dogs and plenty of people with nowhere else to go and at risk of having to sleep rough.
