(Oh dear, oh dear, there is obviously some amateur at work in the picture)
F.A.Q
1. What is the KSU and what do they
do?
The
KSU is a volunteer group of friends and acquintances that can give
you solid information on how to go about finding a suitable house to
squat and also on how to squat. The KSU has a special crew which may
help you with the various practical aspects of
squatting such as getting in quickly. Although
squatting yourself is encouraged by the KSU the crew has a lot
of tools and a lot of experience talking to
police, mounting the new lock, talking to neighbors, troubleshooting,
coordinating etc.
We don't help
everyone in this way though, who we help depends on how much time we
have, whether the people are nice/social/responsible, whether the
people have done all (and we do mean all) the necessary research as
detailed below etc.
If
you do decide to squat yourself, we also lend out (we
do ask a deposit and expect the tools to be returned quick!) a couple
of
tools that make squatting a lot easier.
Additionally
we can help you contact a experienced "squat-lawyer", if you need one.
We only do this in certain cases. For more info check 10.
2.
What does the KSU not
do?
WE
DO NOT:
-Anti-squat
(anti-kraak = Bah!) or rent out homes. Basically the
difference between anti-squatting and squatting often boils down to a
simple question:
Do
you want to only help yourself and be part of/add to the housing
problem or do you want to be a part of one of the housing solutions
that is available for all...?
There are a few more reasons why we think anti-squatting (in almost all
cases) is crap, if you want to more of the downsides of anti-squatting
you could read the Dutch topic entitled "Wat vind jij van Anti-kraak?"
on http://www.kraak-forum.tk/.
-do
all the work for you. In almost every case we expect you to find
an
empty building and do all the necessary research. You can expect to be
busy with these activities for a few days (most common) up to a few
weeks. This is nothing if you consider that to even have a small chance
for getting a rented council home in Rotterdam, you need to wait for at
least three years.
In other words we don't have list of empty houses (there are several
reasons for this) but for now there are plenty empty houses to be found.
-feel
that we should always make time to go with anyone that wants to squat.
You are always free to ask if we have time and feel like it, But, it
may
be the case that we have time in a week or it may take three months
(very rare).
Please remember we are volunteers and have other things that we need to
do as well. Next to co-operation a very important aspect of squatting
is self reliance and a do-it-yourself attitude.
3.
Where and when does the KSU operate?
The
KSU takes place every week at the JIP Rotterdam from 15.00 - 17.00
only.
The
Jip is a very nice non-profit organization that provides lots of useful
information for young people. The KSU however is only open on the
aforementioned day and hours. The KSU is autonomous from the JIP, we
just happen to share office space with them.
JIP
Rotterdam (http://www.jip.org/rotterdam/)
Mathenesserlaan
173
3014
HA Rotterdam
010-436
25 44
The
JIP is open
Tuesday through Saturday from 13.00 until 17.00
Wednesday
night they also open from 18.00 until 20.00
We
always advice you to visit rather than call or mail the KSU
If this is really
impossible our mail is rotterdam@jip.org. We check this mail quite
infrequently. This is the only mail you can mail to, the other mail
addresses to be found on this site are not for the KSU.
4.
Why is a lot of this page written in English and some in Dutch?
English
so people from other countries can benefit as well. Dutch because not
everybody that contributes to this page is equally comfortable writing
in English.
5.
What Research/work should I do if I plan to squat?
See
the Squatting Guide!! We can't stress the importance of the research
enough. Research is crucial
whether you squat with or without the KSU.
6.
Short
Squatting Guide for Rotterdam
The
Guide (Korte KraakHandleiding Rotterdam) can be found in the 'articles'
section of the Rhizomes site as well as at the KSU in printed form.
-
> http://www.rhizomes.nl/short
squatting guide.html
Please read it thoroughly before you come to the KSU. This can save you
and us a lot of time and effort.
We
suggest you also look on Squat.Net! (http://squat.net/index.shtml)
for
booklets and manuals (kraakhandleidingen) from other dutch cities. 80%
of what is written in these (often excellent) manuals applies to
Rotterdam as well.
See
the Short Squatting Guide for Rotterdam.
Once
again, it
is very advisable to follow the
'minimum research guidelines' and other guide tips even if you do plan
to squat by yourself.
8.
What can I do to help the KSU / squatting?
-Donations
are always appreciated! We use them to buy new tools, pay for expenses
and generally improve our “service” to squatters. We do not actually
"keep" or use any of this money personally.
-Become
an active squatter by helping other (new) squatters when they squat.
-Do
good research! Squatting a place and losing it because it was empty for
less than a year is just ignorant. Also of you fail at squatting due
to poor research you will often completely destroy any chance of anyone
squatting that place for some time to come and possibly for ever. ->
anti-squatters, bricked up houses, trashed interiors......
-Protest
and Fight laws that seek to make squatting more
difficult/impossible
http://www.krakengaatdoor.nl (in
Dutch and English)
-Tell
the KSU about "empties" that you don't need, we can pass them on
to people that are in bad situations and that are
truly unable to find something themselves.
9. What are these housing
councill's, private owners and companies i keep hearing about???
Anyhow, these councils tend to be the easiest owners to squat from. If you are not sure if your owner is a council look in the phone book, there is a whole list under "woningbouwverenigingen". Some common ones are OBR, WBR, De Nieuwe Unie, De Combinatie and VL wonen but there are way more.
We don't recommend squatting from companies (BV's) or private owners unless you are motivated and don't mind the higher risk of having an unpredictable confrontation. Of course if you are in a position that you can and want to take this risk, this is good since these people (BV's, private homeowners) need to be made to house the homeless as well. For more details about this ask the KSU.
10. What about lawyers/legal reprentation, can you help me with that?
Yes, the KSU can help with that. But, we don't just give the details of the lawyers to just anyone at any time. The few experienced laywers that specialize in squat cases are very busy people. They get phonecalls and requests all the time. A lot of these phonecalls should never have been made in the first place. Many questions do not require the time of a lawyer, you can always first try the KSU, Squat.Net, the Forum or the Mailing list (see squatting guide).
One of the lawyers has written a post (in Dutch) on www.kraak-forum.tk/. In it he explains what he expects from people that seek his help -> Wetgeving - > "Briefje van Marcel, op Kraken-post". (-> section - > Topic).
If you want us to set you up with a lawyer you should read this information and do all that is required. If you don't do this and still contact them, you are probably wasting some very valuable time of some very good and busy people. And, if these people should help you, pay them promptly and buy them some beer/wine or something! They deserve appreciation and respect!
11. I have a question which is not answered here....?
For Dutch answers to more f.a.q. check out the guide and the links therein and/or:
http://krakenpost.nl/faqserver/cache/16.html
http://krakenpost.nl/faqserver/cache/17.html