15 March 2026
Three days before the local council elections, another housing protest was held to keep the housing crisis on the political agenda, or at least on voters’ minds. This time, the demonstration took place in The Hague, in front of the IJspaleis, the city hall.
Like many cities, The Hague has many vacant buildings. Owners often leave them unused until the municipality pressures them to act. Still they will do little more than apply for permits for renovations. But… a carpenter, electrician, or plumber never gets to work on them. Housing corporation properties also have a common problem: mold. The last thing you need for a healthy living space.
Asking questions about the increasing rent, while the building you live in didn’t improve, gives you a problem with the landlord. Who intimidate you, a young lady, who is having an argument with her landlord for 18 months straight, explained.
There have been small victories as a block, with help from the Bond Precaire Woonvormen, got their rent reduced. Under the points system, the rent should have been €500 per month, but they were charged €900. After a year of action, they had their rent reduced by €300 per month. Which is a lot when you have to make ends meet.
Representatives of The Hague Union of Students explained student housing is still a problem. Especially if you are from abroad. Getting a room is stressful. The housing websites charge lots of money and you can not be sure they place you want to sign up for even exists.
There are also positive examples, such as the Tweebos Buurt in Rotterdam. The residents united against the plans to demolish their homes and replace them with housing they cloud not afford. Years of campaigning led to more social housing being rebuilt than originally planned. A community is not made by the houses alone, it is built by the people who live there. If you remove them, their support network disappears.
No protest is complete without music. Sweaker was telling it like it is with rap straight from the heart.
For an overview of the previous housing protests click here.
Click on the photos to enlarge them
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