Yesterday morning the Dutch consulate in Birmingham was occupied for 5 hours by Dutch and English activists, because of eviction of a squatted community centre in Utrecht, Holland.
After the activists entered the consulate they tried to get the consul to contact the Dutch government and the council of Utrecht especially about their concerns. After 5 hours of occupation, and contact between the ambassador in London, the Ministry of Justice and the council of Utrecht, the occupation was ended. No arrests were made.
A big national demonstration against the eviction will take place on the 29th of November in Utrecht, Holland. Meeting point; 13.00 Ganzenmarkt (entrance town hall), Utrecht.
"The Flying Dog" is a social centre in Utrecht, Holland. It was occupied earlier this year in protest of the council's inability to provide a space for the community. It includes a bar, cooking and concert area, meeting spaces, wood and metal workshops, workspaces for artists, exhibition spaces, living space for 17 people and a huge indoor skatepark. About 400 people use the centre every week.
"The centre is of great importance for the neighbourhood and the city". *
The owner of the building had previously made agreements with the occupiers and announced they could stay there, as there are no future plans for development. The owner approves of the current use.
The council decided to issue a fine of 15.000 euros to the owner, to force them to take legal action against the social centre. Squatting is NOT illegal in Holland. If buildings have been empty longer than a year, and there are no serious future plans, it is possible to squat them. Many young people, mainly students, live in squats. After the building was squatted, the chief constable of Utrecht himself decided that the squatters could stay.
The move by the Utrecht Council has been highly criticised by other community groups all over Holland, politicians on council and government level, lawyers, neighbours and many citizens of Utrecht
"The consulate was occupied to try to get clarification on the future of the building and the people who live in and make use of it, by the Utrecht Council ". *
* Quotes by the consulate occupiers
A big national demonstration against the eviction will take place on the 29th of November in Utrecht, Holland. Meeting point; 13.00 Ganzenmarkt (entrance town hall), Utrecht.
"The Flying Dog" is a social centre in Utrecht, Holland. It was occupied earlier this year in protest of the council's inability to provide a space for the community. It includes a bar, cooking and concert area, meeting spaces, wood and metal workshops, workspaces for artists, exhibition spaces, living space for 17 people and a huge indoor skatepark. About 400 people use the centre every week.
"The centre is of great importance for the neighbourhood and the city". *
The owner of the building had previously made agreements with the occupiers and announced they could stay there, as there are no future plans for development. The owner approves of the current use.
The council decided to issue a fine of 15.000 euros to the owner, to force them to take legal action against the social centre. Squatting is NOT illegal in Holland. If buildings have been empty longer than a year, and there are no serious future plans, it is possible to squat them. Many young people, mainly students, live in squats. After the building was squatted, the chief constable of Utrecht himself decided that the squatters could stay.
The move by the Utrecht Council has been highly criticised by other community groups all over Holland, politicians on council and government level, lawyers, neighbours and many citizens of Utrecht
"The consulate was occupied to try to get clarification on the future of the building and the people who live in and make use of it, by the Utrecht Council ". *
* Quotes by the consulate occupiers
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