Hundreds protest in Utrecht, demand action on housing crisis and lower rents

Hundreds gathered at Domplein square in Utrecht on Saturday afternoon to protest high rents and demand government action to address the ongoing housing crisis. Organizers of the rally argued that tenants and house seekers are being exploited. After the protest, a group from the Anarchist Collective Utrecht allegedly squatted a property on Mariastraat, lit smoke flares, and displayed a banner reading "Squat the housing crisis!"

Protesters chanted, "Fight, fight, fight, housing is a right!" and called for more government investment in public housing. Speakers at the event alleged that both local and national politics prioritize landlords' interests over those of tenants. The demonstration included speeches from members of the squatters' movement and the Bond of Amsterdam Tenants (Bond Amsterdamse Huurders).

Alternative housing solutions were discussed, including squatting. "Whether it’s legal or not, squatting continues," one speaker asserted. Protesters carried signs with slogans such as "Investing with sandwiches" and "You can't live in bullshit." Popular chants included "Houses for people, not for profit!" and "Not temporary, not expensive, we want social housing!"

After the speeches, protesters marched through the city center. Near the end of the march, a group from the Anarchist Collective Utrecht reportedly diverted to Mariastraat, where they occupied a property that, according to ANP, appeared to have been squatted. The group allegedly lit smoke flares, and a large banner was unfurled from the building’s window reading, “Squat the housing crisis!”

Police were present at the protest but did not intervene. After about ten minutes, most of the demonstrators returned to Domplein, where some squatters allegedly called them "neoliberal."