Vacant for years
Since Sunday 31 August, the Valkenboskerk in The Hague on the Loosduinsekade has been squatted. A group of residents has taken possession of the building, which had been vacant for more than 7 years. In 2018, neighboring residents already managed to enforce with the municipality that it will not be demolished. In 2020, 070 Vastgoed bought the building and made plans to turn it into luxury apartments. Which is completely unaffordable for the residents in the neighborhood. But 070 Vastgoed is unfortunately known as an elitist real estate company. They only make hotels or luxury apartments. With which they make the capital more and more unaffordable for the people who live.
However, after 5 years of being owned by 070 Vastgoed, the church is still empty, to the great frustration of the local residents, even if the church alone will be preserved. Windows have been smashed, fire alarms go off often, there are often burglaries, the garden is completely overgrown and the building is increasingly being covered by graffiti. The only thing the neighbors of the church see is decay and an unreachable owner who does not want to talk to them. [Read More]
