N H D M

On October 30th, 2010, the Dutch tradition of squatting ended abruptly when the two houses of Parliament banned the activity after decades of the common practice in the Netherlands. The measure was met with considerable opposition, through a widespread public backlash that involved highly charged protests and rioting to save this unique form of self-organizing, autonomous, and semi-transient habitation. As these ad hoc residences, businesses, and institutions are vacated in accordance with the new law, two conditions arise. The first is the displacement of former inhabitants and organizations who will need to relocate and restructure, adapting to the evolving circumstances. The second condition is the vacancy of a large range of tenant spaces, varying in typologies, forms, and scales.

The opportunity arises for the rethinking of traditional arrangements in habitation in which alternative strategies are employed to address these emerging issues. While potentials in temporary low cost agreements and subsidized stays serve as a starting point in the legal reuse of these spaces, alternative forms of informal habitation or the unconventional adaptation of traditional building programs can continue to be explored. The investigation aims to not only serve as a response to the unique circumstances in Dutch cities, but to hold relevance to wider contexts and provide insights into other productive approaches.