We are in a housing revolt and will make a joint fist with a broad coalition on the 17th of October. More and more people, young and old, tenants and buyers, are affected by the housing crisis. It is high time for a radically different housing policy.
Housing insecurity has also increased in the Netherlands in recent decades. Homelessness has doubled and the housing shortage has exploded. Renting has become more flexible and many people are forced to live temporarily, insecurely, or too expensively. Social rental housing is sold, demolished and liberalized on a large scale. Social renting is marginalized, while the private rental sector is expensive and uncertain. Homes for sale are also out of reach for many. Housing costs are rising. Home evictions are on the rise. And the less wealthy are being pushed out of the city, while the middle incomes are also falling between two stools. At the same time, investors and speculators are taking their chances: for them, housing is a commodity, the safest investment worldwide for those who want to make a profit. All this is the result of deliberate political policy.
On October 17, 2021, between 8,000 and 10,000 people came to the national Woonopstand in Rotterdam. There we made a joint fist with a broad coalition. It is high time for a radically different housing policy. But the housing struggle continues, also in 2022! Residential protests will be organized at both local and national level in the coming months. Here's an overview.
By Harriet Bergman for Hard//Head. Police who want to enter into a dialogue with victims after a crackdown. Harriet Bergman doesn't believe it. She sees the police brutality during the Residential Revolt in Rotterdam as a needless provocation that overshadows the demolition of the Tweebosbuurt.
On 11 November, the Rotterdam city council passed a motion requesting the Municipal Executive to 'evaluate in dialogue' the police action during the Residential Revolt demonstration on 17 October with the organization of the demonstration.
The #Woonopstand on October 17 in Rotterdam has already passed, so we don't need any more donations. We thank all our wonderful donors for making the Woonopstand possible and call on everyone to support the growing housing movement and the upcoming housing protests across the country. Have a look at the overview of all upcoming protests and how to support them!
The #WOONOPSTAND is a broad coalition of (residential) struggle movements, action groups and organizations that work together from the bottom up to radically change housing policy.
On March 28, 2020, we jointly organized the national demonstration 'Houses for People, Not for Profit' which was postponed due to the corona pandemic. We called on the cabinet and landlords, among other things, to stop evictions and rent reductions because of the additional negative consequences of homelessness during a pandemic.
On October 17, 2021, the coalition again organized a national demonstration “Residential Rebellion” in Rotterdam and we showed solidarity with various housing demonstrations and tenant campaigns in the Netherlands.
Do you agree with our views and working method? Then let us know! We would like to continue and expand the Residential Revolt coalition and ask if you would also like to participate in it. Because we are stronger together than alone.
We call on everyone to show solidarity and fight together for our housing future.
read here all our requirements back with extensive explanation!
A broad movement of activist groups and organizations from all over the country will protest in various places in the country for a better housing policy in the coming period. Now is the time to demand change: the new cabinet is coming and local politicians are preparing for the municipal elections in March 2022.
Would you also like to support the #Woonopstand and sign the page as an organization? Sign here!
For press and/or other questions, please contact Abel Heijkamp (06-47686543), or use the contact form below.
