The housing protest that was organized by action group Woonoproer in the Reinalda Park this afternoon, went smoothly. About 200 people attended the demonstration against the current Haarlem housing policy. According to Woonoproer, the demonstration is the start of structural housing resistance in the region.
Demonstrate against housing policy with protest signs – NH Nieuws / Kimberley Luske
During the two-hour program, several speakers took the stage. Many political parties and other demonstrators showed up with protest signs at the protest.
“This is only the beginning of many actions”, says initiator Brecht van der Meulen. “There are still plenty of moments to come.” The structural problems surrounding the housing market in the Netherlands are also visible in Haarlem, she says. “Project developers are given the opportunity to do what they want with the Egelantier or the old V&D building, for example, while people who are homeless have been on the waiting list for a house for ten years. They are fishing outside the net, which is why protesting is important. “
“Project developers do what they want, while homeless people have been on a waiting list for years”
Maike van der Leeuwen and Folkert Coehoorn attend various housing events in the country. “We are both looking for a home,” says Van Leeuwen. “It is so very difficult for our generation. We want to address the problem. Hopefully the policy makers hear it.”
March to Grote Markt
The procession to the Grote Markt, which would be part of the protest, was banned by the municipality. The organization put a summary proceedings against, but lost it. “The call from the mayor fell on our roof. With our lawyer we had high hopes that we would win, but unfortunately we did not.”
She says that the organization is not going to leave it at that. “It was very unexpected for us. We don’t know exactly what we are going to do yet, but we will certainly not leave it at that.”
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During the housing protest, several police horses and police vans were standing on the edge of the park in case things would escalate. Because the atmosphere during the protest was good, the police did not have to intervene.
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