SQUATTER COMMUNES

The squat was initially occupied by a group of squatters who were looking for affordable housing in the city. Over time, the building was transformed into a communal living space, with dozens of residents sharing the space. The squatters organized themselves into a collective, and they set up a system for managing the building, including cleaning, maintenance, and security.

The Plantage Dok squat became a symbol of the squatting movement in Amsterdam, and it was known for its active involvement in political and social issues. The residents of the squat were involved in various community projects, including a neighborhood garden and a community center. The building also hosted cultural events, including concerts, art exhibitions, and theater performances.

Despite the eviction, the Plantage Dok squat remains an important part of Amsterdam’s history. The squat was an inspiration to many activists and artists, and it was an important symbol of the city’s alternative culture. The legacy of the Plantage Dok squat lives on in the city, and it continues to inspire new generations of activists and squatters who are fighting for affordable housing and social justice.

In 1980, a group of squatters, many of whom were artists, musicians, and activists, occupied the building and began to transform it into a communal living and working space. The squatters organized themselves into a collective, and they set up a system for managing the building, including cleaning, maintenance, and security.

Over time, the Poortgebouw became a hub for alternative culture in Rotterdam, hosting concerts, art exhibitions, and other cultural events. The building was also home to a number of small businesses, including a bakery, a silk-screen printing shop, and a bicycle repair workshop.

The Poortgebouw was not officially recognized by the government as a legal squat, but the squatters managed to stay in the building for more than 20 years. In 2001, the squatters were finally evicted by the police, and the building was sold to a private developer.

Despite the eviction, the legacy of the Poortgebouw lives on in Rotterdam. The building was an important symbol of the city’s counterculture, and it remains an inspiration to many activists and artists. Today, the Poortgebouw is still remembered as a unique and vibrant space that embodied the spirit of resistance and creativity that defined Rotterdam’s alternative scene in the 1980s and 1990s.