One year at the Valreep
Photos and text: Alex Kemman
24 July 2011, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A drowsy rainy day in a time that people call summer… Around hundred people are waiting and getting soaked at a desolate construction site. They stand around a metal plated and graffiti sprayed building, while a small group is working to break open the entrance door. The sound and fire of metal cutting break the quietness. After the door is opened some people get into the building, and soon after the police arrive. The state of the building makes the emptiness obvious, thus we only allow the police into the surrounding terrain. The police officers walk and talk with the spokespeople of the squatting action whereafter they peacefully leave. Happy that the action succeeded in the new times of illegal squatting, people clap and enter the building in excitement. Social cultural centre “Op de Valreep” is born. Now, June 2012, many things have changed. The completely abandoned former ‘dierenasyl’ (animal asylum) is now a bustling place with a broad range of activities and many people involved. It changed from a dilapidated structure, totally disregarded for years and literally full of shit and trash, towards a free space for the neighborhood and whoever is interested in doing activities. These activities range from film-nights, workshops, yoga, capoeira, live music, jamming and info-nights to even a neighborhood garden. It illustrates how a neglected empty space is turned into a lively social space full of possibilities. Bringing life to this dead building seemed quite an impossible project at the start. The very basics such as electricity and running water were lacking and lots of money and time were needed. However, with a lot of volunteers and neighborhood residents who put their heart and time into this new social center, combined with a bit of luck , the idea as envisioned in the beginning is becoming a reality. The following photos have been taken in the course of the last year. It is a small selection and shows only a tiny bit of all the different aspects of the project. The aim is to give a broad idea to everyone interested in how Op de Valreep came into existence and what happened at the former animal asylum in the last year. Looking back through these photos, we also hope to show the possibilities for the future of Op de Valreep.
24th of July 2011, squatting the former animal asylum.
24th of July 2011
5th of February 2012
Below, 8th of August 2011 Above, 24th of July 2011
7th of September 2011
30th of July 2011
28th of July 2011
15th of August 2011
19th of March 2012
Below, 30th of November 2011 Above, 24th of July 2011
7th of December 2011
26th of July 2011
30th of November 2011
27th of July 2011
28th of July 2011
1st of October 2011, demonstration against squatting ban. (Since the 1st of october 2010 squatting is illegal.)
30th of October 2011, demonstration in east Amsterdam against the destruction of social housing.
9th of August 2011
1st of September 2011
12th of October 2011
12th of October 2011
1st of August 2011
19th of October 2011
30th of August 2011
14th of September 2011
3rd of September 2011, official opening of the Valreep.
3rd of September 2011
3rd of september 2011
19th of March 2012, preparations to present our alternative plan and convince the citycouncil.
2nd of August 2011
29th of June 2012
27th of July 2011
28th of February 2012
29th of February 2012
10th of May 2012
29th of June 2012
10th of May 2012