Both do not want recognizable in the picture, because they are ashamed of the situation. Through umbrellas and pillows, they have set up the bench in such a way that they can live there temporarily with their three dogs for now. But it’s far from ideal. “It’s very tough,” says Bien emotionally. “People help and have a chat, but sometimes you are fed up,” she says.
No bond with the city
The two have been in contact with the municipality, but there they were told that they are only eligible for a home in a city with which they have a bond. In their case, that is Alkmaar, where they were already homeless. “We hope that we will have a home here, but we have already heard that it is very difficult,” says Willem. Due to various fierce events, Willem and Bien no longer want to go back to Alkmaar.
The municipality says it does not go into individual cases, but they do say that there are indeed different conditions for urgency for a home, one of them is the binding requirement. That means that you must be registered in Amsterdam for four years. Willem and Bien say they still have hope for a happy ending. They will remain on the bridge in the coming period.