Expedition Free Space

Expedition Free Space
Municipal policy for the realization and protection of free space

Expedition Free Space
The board of mayor and council members found out in 2019 that our long tradition of counterculture is what makes Amsterdam unique. Finally, they came to the realisation that free space is what makes the city more colourful, vital and social and that the so-called frayed edges must be protected.
After a very elaborate period of exploration, research, assessment and evaluation, in 2020 the course document called ‘Expedition Free Space 2020-2021’ was published. A 46-page document containing the findings of almost two years of meetings, talking, thinking and exploring. It includes the recommendations and advice of the rounded-up team of ‘experts’, a kind of definition of what free space is, a plan of action, some formulas, etc. It’s a document that makes our hearts race with the idea of possibility, but simultaneously it raises questions. Is it even possible to talk about free space when it is something being managed by the government? Are we talking about the same idea of free space, or something completely different?

Gentrification
The ‘Expedition Free Space’ sparks hope as it allows the possibility to develop new free space. However, it won’t be easy, as thus far many of the things that have been achieved have been on a temporary basis. There has been however, the expression of an aim to create at least one permanent space within the upcoming years, but we shall see if that happens. Temporality is better than nothing, but it also means that creatives and artists are being used to drive up the costs of property and surrounding property (gentrification), thus meaning that someone else benefits from them.

Working together with the municipality
The past shows that we must – despite frequent clashes – also work together with the municipality. Places such as ADM, the OT301, Vondelbunker, OCCII, Cinetol and other spaces, all exist, or still exist due to negotiations that were held with the municipality. Working together and negotiating is very important, as long as we make sure that we remain in control and are the ones benefiting from our ideas, time and work.

Achieved free space
After many negotiations Het Groene Veld in Amsterdam-Noord became the first place that was achieved as part of ‘Expedition Free Space’. Het Groene Veld is an area next to the temporary space (de slibvelden) where a fraction of the ADM residents ended up after their eviction after 2019. The ADM was a fantastic, squatted place in the Western harbour area of Amsterdam. The former terrain of the Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (Amsterdam Drydock Company) was squatted in 1997 and transformed into a big free space where people lived and worked, and festivals and events were organized.  The tight-knit community that lived and worked there was harshly evicted by the ME (mobile police unit) in January of 2019, and many of their personal belongings were destroyed. After the eviction, a part of those living in ADM were allowed to move into de slibvelden in Amsterdam-Noord. De slibvelden is a bare, muddy field, without any facilities, thus in order to build something they had to start from square one. But, despite the harsh conditions they were able to push through and cultivate something new. And in 2021, an agreement was even signed with the municipality to add on the site of the former Rioolwaterzuivering Amsterdam-Noord which lies next to de slibvelden. These two areas together cover around six hectares and are now known as Het Groene Veld. A fantastic, new free space where an array of events are organized. The contract for Het Groene Veld is not for an undetermined amount of time, but for merely three summers. This means that in 2024, a new, complicated situation will occur with the possibility of all that has been created being destroyed.
As the terrain lies within Landelijk Noord, an area where residential building is prohibited, there is hope for an extension. Unfortunately, plans have already been leaked for a heating plant and other uses for the location. Therefore, the chance of Het Groene Veld not being able to continue as is, is definitely present.

Communication
In the meantime, a temporary space for De Fik has been achieved in Nieuw West. De Fik is a non-profit organization that facilitates parties, events and community building. A platform for new organizations and initiatives from around the area and city. In the summer of 2022 the first five test events were organized.
Alongside De Fik and Het Groene Veld, free space is being worked on at Sloterdijk, in the area of Osdorperweg and Het Laatste Huis in de Bretten. How it’s coming along is still unclear. There is little communication regarding the progress of projects and replies to posted open calls. For that matter, I think it would be good if there was a website for the ‘Expedition Free Space’ where achieved free space, open calls, evaluations, documents and other information can be shared and archived. The page of the ‘Expedition Free Space’ on the gemeente Amsterdam website is difficult to find, boring, uninspiring and very brief in terms of information, which is a missed opportunity. If one, as the municipality, wishes to create a situation in which free space is not merely reserved for (ex-)squatters, but a space for everyone, then accessibility and visibility are vital. Regarding support in politics and from the residents of Amsterdam, it’s important to share more and let people know about the ‘Expedition Free Space’. The more people know, appreciate and contribute, the higher the chance of success.

Free space is supposed to stem from own initiative, put in place by collectives with a joint vision and incentive

Obstacles
The fact that the municipality took the initiative to develop policies for free space is hopeful to mention. It’s better than nothing and hopefully will help to create new inspiring spaces in the city. That being said, developing policy for free space is also debatable, as all the free space makers and users I know, agree on the fact that free space shouldn’t have to exist based on municipal policy. Free space is supposed to stem from own initiative, put in place by collectives with a joint vision and incentive.
There are many different possible ways to use free space, but usually there is a desire to make a combination between living, working and public functions. Personally, I believe a public function is necessary, as it allows for connection with the surrounding neighbourhood and the city, giving others the opportunity to make use of the free space. Free space, in my opinion, shouldn’t only be reserved for those who happen to live/work there. Free space must be shared, meaning that a free space without a public space might not even classify as a free space.
The possibility to reside in a free space is important as it ensures that a lot of time and energy can be invested in the project itself. Setting up and running a free space takes a lot of time and becomes a lot more complicated when having to work 40 hours or more in a week in order to pay your rent. If at least some people are able to live in the free space, it’ll mean that they can have more time to work on the space. The problem with ‘Expedition Free Space’, unfortunately, is that they mainly consist of spaces that are not suitable for living. This isn’t necessarily the fault of those in the team of ‘Expedition Free Space’, it mainly has to do with the fact that the spaces they are getting aren’t suitable for living. These are spaces where there aren’t residential opportunities, making it not officially permitted to live in them. I think there are ways to solve the issue, but it depends greatly on the willpower and perseverance present within the municipality to make exceptions and/or be creative with rulemaking. Another obstacle is the cost-covering rent that is requested for new free spaces. The rate of this type of rent is often high meaning that as a user of the free space, you must pay for your own rent as well as an awfully high amount for your spot in the free space. If as a collective you also want to organize public, non-commercial, social events it gets more complicated. There is a high chance that the pressure of cost-covering rent means less risk-taking, behaving more commercially and having less space for those who cannot afford them. In other words, it’ll be very difficult to achieve a free space if it involves asking for high rent, being temporary and not allowing for living space. I am afraid that the result of ‘Expedition Free Space’ and the obstacles that come along with it will end up being a lot more commercial than wanted, thus disregarding its initial intent: the organization of free space.

The squatting scene is responsible for the emergence of many free spaces and was also an important pathway to collective ownership

Squat-friendly city
In 2010 a national squatting ban was implemented in the Netherlands. Squatting became criminalized, with existing squat buildings being harshly evicted and the number of free spaces drastically decreasing. Luckily a young generation of brave squatters are active right now. It’s great that this is happening, as despite the housing crisis there remain a lot of abandoned buildings. When the ban was implemented, it was said that besides monitoring squatting behaviour there would also be enforcement on empty buildings, but that didn’t happen. Squatters are heavy-handedly evicted but unoccupied buildings are tolerated and even stimulated by means of anti-squat constructions.
It is quite odd that the municipality claiming to deem the frayed edges as important for the city, even creating a policy to go along with this, is also the one to continuously evict squatters harshly for empty buildings. That’s not to say that every squatter is consciously working on the creation of free space, as some squat purely for living reasons (which is also okay), but the past shows that free spaces almost always come to exist through squatting actions. Look at places such as the OT301, OCCII, PlantageDok, Zaal100, Ruigoord, ADM, Paradiso and Melkweg. All appreciated and well-visited places who have proven their worth to the city countless times. Buildings that were squatted in the past by collectives wishing to start something for themselves, the neighbourhood, and the city, without getting rich from it. Luckily some of these places were eventually able to purchase their building and transition to collective ownership. That really is the only reason why they still exist today and are safe in their being on the long run. In other words, the squatting scene is responsible for the emergence of many free spaces and was also an important pathway to collective ownership. A pathway that has been cut off since the squatting ban.
So, you may ask yourself if it wouldn’t have been a better idea to —instead of implementing ‘Expedition Free Space’— lift the squatting ban. Why ban what works in order to set up something else that doesn’t work as well and costs a lot more money?
I am still glad that the ‘Expedition Free Space’ works to preserve and achieve free space, but I hereby also wish to advocate for the lift of the squat ban. If we are serious about achieving new free space, then that’s a much better idea.

Vrij Beton
Amsterdam Alternative launched the project ‘Vrij Beton’ in 2019. The objective of this project is to achieve new free space. Permanently and in collective ownership. If you’re no longer allowed to squat, closing off the way to new free spaces in collective ownership, then joint purchase is of course also an option. It’s a more complicated option, as the costs of property and land in Amsterdam along with the rest of the Netherlands are absurdly high. Despite the complexity of this ambitious plan, I still believe we should try, because if the path of squatting is no longer possible then buying is the only way left to free space from the market.

Win-win situation
In order to buy you do need a lot of money. Money that Amsterdam Alternative doesn’t have and the wealthy individuals who are willing to support us in our ambitions have not yet come to us. Another way in which we could achieve what we want is through a collaboration with the ‘Expedition Free Space’. It might be possible to rent a property through municipal policy first for 5 or 10 years (within favourable, affordable conditions) and then negotiate about a transition to collective ownership. I know that the municipality recently decided not to buy any municipal property anymore, but I still am eager to have a conversation about it. Selling municipal property to Amsterdam Alternative in a collective ownership construction and paired with a leasehold contract with certain conditions isn’t really that different from municipal property itself. The location can stay guaranteed, it becomes unsellable, affordable in the long run and with a public use that is valuable to the city and area. Vrij Beton is free space with a community and shares that with the city thus creating a lot of —non-financial— value.

Fighting for Free Space
There are multiple organizations that just like Amsterdam Alternative have been fighting for free space for years.
First of all, of course the currently existing free spaces such as, among others, the OT301, OCCII, Ruigoord, ADM, Plantagedok and Zaal100. Gems who have managed to sustain through times of rising prices in the city whilst offering the space to people and activities that make our society colourful.
De Culturele Stelling van Amsterdam is an organisation that organises events (such as the Kunstcorso and Beeld & Storm) to promote free space and also to support other free space initiatives when necessary.
Thank God that despite the implemented squat ban of 2010 there are still squatters who have the courage to conquer empty buildings to live in or create temporary free space. Full support to them, because squatting must go on, legal or illegal.
Also, ADEV (Amsterdam Danst Ergens Voor = Amsterdam Dances For Something) has been fighting for years for free spaces and a squat-friendly city. They know how to recruit people through their yearly street rave. In 2021 ADEV, together with filmmaker Floris Schäfer, made the documentary ‘Pas op de Vrijplaats’ in response to the release of the course document ‘Expedition Free Space’. This is definitely one to be recommended in the context of the story above.
There is also the Vrijplaatsen Akkoord (vrijplaatsen.nu) which was developed in 2018. This is an initiative by number of people (who have years of experience living and working in free spaces) in collaboration with cultural entrepreneurs, teachers and researchers. A group that — while we at Amsterdam Alternative were busy developing Vrij Beton — tried to forge together a coalition of parties that recognised the societal, social and cultural value of free spaces. They put their own demands, goals and recommendations on paper and handed it to the municipality. That document was one of the reasons and the basis for the coming together of ‘Expedition Free Space’.

Thank you to everyone who is helping in the battle for more free spaces, as thanks to your contributions, actions and perseverance, a bell rang for the municipality.