Twenty Artists, a Mafia Eviction, and the Birth of Robodock

Details

  • Interviewee: Maik Ter Veer
  • Role: Community Member
  • Community: ADM
  • Date: 2026-01-14
  • Language: en

Summary

In this interview, Maik Ter Veer reflects on the founding and evolution of the ADM community, which he played a pivotal role in for over two decades. He recounts the beginnings of a cultural movement that arose from conflict and resistance against eviction threats, illustrating how a group of around twenty artists transformed their struggle into a vibrant hub of creativity and expression known as Robodock, a contemporary art festival. As the community expanded over the years, Maik faced the continuous challenge of balancing his role in its growth with his personal artistic aspirations.

Now, after years of dedication to producing the Robodock festival, Maik feels compelled to step back and focus on his art projects, seeking a new chapter in his life and art-making journey. His experiences highlight the dynamic interplay between belonging and conflict within the community, as well as the cultural contributions that define the ADM community's identity.

Key quotes

I am here for 20 years already, I was here since the beginning. I came here at 1998, we were around 20 artists who squatted the place.

In April the mafia came and tried to evict us, they came with heavy machinery and took a piece of the building here, they wanted to scare us away from here, the first months were a bit scary there was even gun shots sometimes.

I retaliated with a cultural attack, at August 1998 I started the first Robodock.

We invited artists from Europe and North America for a four-day event, to give all kinds of performances - fire shows, industrial installations, and multimedia performances.

For years, the festival grew bigger and bigger until we had to have a whole organization around it, and eventually even take it outside of ADM because it was too big.

Now, I feel a new chapter calling me, a desire to find a new place with my land so I can focus on my projects.

Transcript

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** My encounter with the ADM community opened a window. Sitting with him, I felt a deep resonance with his journey, a journey that began with a cultural attack and has now led him to a personal search for a new chapter.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** I am here for 20 years already, I was here since the beginning. I came here at 1998, we were around 20 artists who squatted the place.

**[Interviewer]:** Tell me about those early days.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** In April the mafia came and tried to evict us, they came with heavy machinery and took a piece of the building here, they wanted to scare us away from here, the first months were a bit scary there was even gun shots sometimes.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** I retaliated with a cultural attack, at August 1998 I started the first Robodock.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** We invited artists from Europe and North America for a four-day event, to give all kinds of performances - fire shows, industrial installations, and multimedia performances.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** Everyone came to Robodock, from Larry Harvey and Marian Goodell, the founders of Burning Man, and most of the artists who presented there participated here as well.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** We built a giant metal art installation, have huge fire shows and theater acts, this was a radical adult playground.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** For years, the festival grew bigger and bigger until we had to have a whole organization around it, and eventually even take it outside of ADM because it was too big.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** After years of producing the festival, I chose to step back, to focus on my art projects.

**[Maik Ter Veer]:** Now, I feel a new chapter calling me, a desire to find a new place with my land so I can focus on my projects.