Housing shortages and high rents protested in the Netherlands

Hundreds of protesters taking part in the protest at Amsterdam’s Dam Square demanded that the government build more housing and increase the number of low-rent social housing.

The protesters marched to the Amstel town hall along the Kalverstraat shopping street, where the famous shops are located. The demonstration, dubbed a ‘protest for life’, drew attention to rising house prices, rising rents, lengthy waiting times for social housing and difficulties in finding affordable housing in the private sector.

Speaking to the AA correspondent on behalf of the organizations that organized the demonstration, Mustafa Issaaviyen said that they started an initiative called “right to the city” because of the housing shortage, saying: “We want the housing crisis to end by building new houses and protect the rights of tenants. saying.

Protesters carried banners and banners reading: “The right to housing is a human right,” “Stop raising rents,” “Regulate the private sector,” “Prioritize community housing over commerce,” and “I just want my right to exist”.

In speeches at the fair, it was pointed out that approximately 315,000 new houses are needed in the country, and the Dutch government was asked to review its housing policy.

The speakers demanded that adequate housing be provided to low-income people and students, and demanded that the purchase of housing be carried out by private companies to avoid monopolization of the rental sector.

Demanding non-discrimination in the sale and rental of homes, the protesters called on government housing authorities to find a solution to the problem.

Some of the protesters, including families with babies, caricatured the price hike by writing “I can only afford this house” on the cardboard model house.

The protest, which took place under heavy security, ended without incident. (AA)