Ruigoord, with their heads in the clouds
Squatting has a long history; the concept is as old or even older than the idea of property itself. Squatting actions normally increase during periods of housing shortages and are often tolerated when properties are awaiting redevelopment. However, as the real estate market improves laws tend to be enforced.
Dutch squatting has its origins in the 1960s. In 1971 a court ruling opened the way for anyone to be allowed to squat an unoccupied house or building. After years of public discussion the government motioned a squatting ban and on October 1st 2010 squatting became a crime in the Netherlands. Authorities are planning on gradually evicting 200 squats in the capital.
The problematic of unoccupied buildings and the legitimacy of occupying them is an ongoing discussion throughout the world. Considered one of the oldest and most successful squatting projects, Ruigoord, with its 38 years of history, remains an example of how a community can survive if freedom, responsibility and self-motivation go hand in hand.
This small village located in the industrial area of Amsterdam has been a sanctuary for many artists pursuing their own vision ever since it was squatted in the early 1970s by the art collective Amsterdam Balloon Company. After a long political and legal struggle, Ruigoord is now officially recognized as a cultural breeding zone, a creative and social experiment.
Click here to read an introduction by Peter Boom, collage artist and Ruigoord resident.
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