Nieuw en Meer

North Holland, Netherlands

Nieuw en Meer is a prominent artist community in Amsterdam, offering over 100 studios and workshops that significantly contribute to the city's creative and ecological landscapes.

Key facts

  • Country: Netherlands
  • Region: North Holland
  • Founded: 1988
  • Members: 100
  • Land size: 3.7 hectares
  • Governance model: Managed by the Foundation Nieuw en Meer, with tenant involvement through the 'Niks Minder' association.
  • Economy model: Independent operation without subsidies, focusing on affordable studio and business space rental.
  • Status: active
  • Website: https://nieuwenmeer.nl/en

About

Nieuw en Meer is a prominent artist community in Amsterdam, offering over 100 studios and workshops that significantly contribute to the city's creative and ecological landscapes.

Full description

Nieuw en Meer is one of Amsterdam's largest studio complexes, spanning 3.7 hectares on the city's outskirts. Established in 1988 by a group of artists and activists, the complex has grown to house over 100 studios and workshops, fostering a diverse community of artists and related businesses. The site is ecologically managed and is part of Amsterdam's Main Green Structure, reflecting its commitment to environmental sustainability. The community is known for its inclusivity, accommodating a wide range of creative disciplines and crafts, from visual arts to applied arts and various crafts. The governance is managed by the Foundation Nieuw en Meer, which oversees the complex's management and maintenance. The tenants association, 'Niks Minder', promotes tenant involvement and the complex's varied uses. The community also offers an Artist in Residence program, providing temporary studio spaces for guest artists across all disciplines. The complex is located at Oude Haagseweg 51, 1066 DC Amsterdam.

Research summary

Nieuw en Meer, located in the Netherlands, is a vibrant community characterized by a mix of independent living and collective experiences. Residents share a commitment to artistic and innovative pursuits, with individuals like Kamil Proost engaging in creative endeavors such as painting and writing, highlighting the community's emphasis on individualism rather than traditional communal activities. This balance fosters a sense of belonging among members while allowing them the freedom to pursue their personal passions.

The community's foundation is not without its challenges. Pioneer Reina reflects on the importance of establishing rules to manage interpersonal differences, which can at times lead to conflict. Erik Hobijn's experiences as an inventor illustrate the broader societal tensions regarding freedom of expression. His observations on the increasing restrictions in urban spaces resonate with the community's ethos of creating a sanctuary for independent thought and innovation. Together, the testimonies from community members paint a picture of a complex yet enriching environment where both personal autonomy and communal support coexist.

Themes

Quotes from members

You have to accept that people do not have the same ideas as you, and still you have to make a deal.

Reina

What I like about this place is that we are very individual. We are very independent.

Kamil Proost

Freedom has become difficult. If you walk through the city now, every space is monitored.

Erik Hobijn

Timeline

1918
Buildings at Oude Haagseweg 51 constructed as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, originally a weapons and ammunition depot of the Dutch Defense ministry.
1988
Squatted on 25 June by a group of artists and activists from the Conradstraat 11 squat. Stichting Nieuw en Meer founded on 10 August as the legal foundation, paving the way for eventual legalization.
1991
Formally legalized through a lease contract between Stichting Nieuw en Meer and the City of Amsterdam. Two large warehouse buildings totalling 7,200 square metres began transformation into more than 80 individually accessible artist studios.

Research insights (53)

  • Kamil's arrival in the community was prompted by a specific event involving the eviction of another member, suggesting that membership is reactive to external circumstances. (Kamil Proost) [joining]
  • The community's informal structure allows for a sense of belonging while fostering personal space and autonomy, with members having the freedom to navigate their social interactions. (Kamil Proost) [belonging]
  • Kamil values individual artistic expression within the community, embracing independence over collective rituals and activities. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • The community fosters a sense of belonging through acceptance and cooperation, requiring members to navigate their differences and reach consensus. (Reina) [belonging]
  • Tension arises when members of the community hold differing beliefs, but there is a collective understanding that these tensions must be addressed for the community to function effectively. (Reina) [conflict]
  • The community has established their own rules through collaborative decision-making, which can lead to tensions due to differing individual ideas and perspectives. (Reina) [governance]
  • Erik discusses the diminishing availability of 'free space' for underground activities, indicating a shifting landscape for community assembly and engagement. (Erik Hobijn) [joining]
  • The community values the slow growth of ideas, likening them to seeds that need time and space to flourish, which represents a cultural approach to innovation and expression. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • Erik articulates the idea that societal resistance to new ideas often leads to conflict and struggle, suggesting that freedom of expression is essential but increasingly restricted. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • Erik emphasizes the need for self-organization and independence in their community, showcasing a long-standing practice of managing resources and decision-making without reliance on external funding. (Erik Hobijn) [governance]
  • The sense of belonging is reinforced by shared responsibilities and the acceptance of diverse ideas, which fosters trust among members, despite differences. (Reina) [belonging]
  • Conflict is an inherent part of community life, and members must navigate disagreements while focusing on collective resolution and harmony. (Reina) [conflict]
  • The community creates and enforces its own rules collectively, which allows for adaptability but also leads to occasional tension among members with differing ideas. (Reina) [governance]
  • He explains that to exist authentically in the current climate, individuals sometimes must become invisible, indicating a struggle for belonging amidst societal surveillance. (Erik Hobijn) [belonging]
  • Erik mentions that ideas develop slowly, akin to seeds growing, which reflects a culture of patience and the belief in organic development for creative expression. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • He expresses that different opinions and ideas encounter resistance within society, indicating that expressing dissent or innovating often leads to social struggle. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • Kamil's entry into the community was motivated by a desire to support friends in distress, indicating a culture of mutual aid and solidarity among members. (Kamil Proost) [belonging]
  • Erik highlights that their community operates without grants, funding all their activities through rent payments and self-organization, exhibiting discipline and independence in their economic model. (Erik Hobijn) [money]
  • Artistic expression is a significant component of life in the community, where activities such as painting, poetry, and various art forms play a central role. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • Kamil appreciates the individualistic nature of the community, emphasizing that members often work independently rather than engaging in communal activities. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • The community provides a space that requires members to blend their creative expressions with a sense of discipline and shared purpose, which fosters deeper connections and commitment among members. (Erik Hobijn) [belonging]
  • Erik discusses the challenges of expressing non-mainstream ideas, emphasizing that active societal resistance often forces innovative expression underground, impacting visibility and acceptance. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • Erik's community prioritizes independent self-organization and creativity, requiring members to actively build, maintain, and innovate infrastructure without reliance on external grants. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • The community supports a model of independence where members primarily engage in their own projects, which can facilitate a more organic and less structured joining process. (Kamil Proost) [joining]
  • Kamil's entry into the community was prompted by a friend's urgent call to help someone being displaced, reflecting the importance of personal connections and informal networks in membership pathways. (Kamil Proost) [belonging]
  • Kamil expresses that while the community houses various artistic practices, there is a strong emphasis on individual artistic expression over communal activities like group meals. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • The sense of belonging in the community is fostered through shared experiences, the acceptance of diverse ideas, and a collective commitment to ensuring everyone feels included despite the challenges that can arise. (Reina) [belonging]
  • Reina describes a governance structure that encourages collective decision-making, emphasizing the need for buy-in from community members to ensure that agreements reflect a diversity of ideas, even when it leads to tension. (Reina) [governance]
  • Reina asserts that while the community has established rules to govern interactions, differing ideas and tensions between members must be accepted and managed for the harmony of the group. (Reina) [conflict]
  • The community's evolution from a squatting group to a stable organization highlights a journey of seeking belonging and stability through self-regulated spaces. (Erik Hobijn) [belonging]
  • The interviewee emphasizes the role of creative expressions, like inventing, in fostering resilience and freedom within the community, suggesting cultural practices are crucial for identity and solidarity. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • Members contribute financially through rent and self-built infrastructure, avoiding reliance on external funding, which fosters a sustainable economic model within the community. (Erik Hobijn) [money]
  • Freedom to express new ideas often faces societal opposition, necessitating strategic invisibility or subtle approaches to navigate conflicts with dominant power structures. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • The community operates independently without grants, requiring members to self-organize and manage resources effectively, highlighting a commitment to self-sufficiency. (Erik Hobijn) [governance]
  • Kamil emphasizes that his entry into the community was driven by immediate social connections rather than formal processes, indicating a reliance on personal ties for community integration. (Kamil Proost) [joining]
  • Kamil describes a sense of belonging that is rooted in personal relationships rather than shared daily activities, indicating that membership is defined by individual artistic pursuits and mutual support. (Kamil Proost) [belonging]
  • The early sense of freedom and acceptance among members established a foundational culture of belonging, which has persisted despite challenges. (Reina) [belonging]
  • The community values individual artistic expression, fostering independence among its members rather than enforcing collective practices. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • Reina reflects on the necessity of managing tensions within the community, acknowledging that disagreements can lead to frustration, but emphasizes the importance of resolution for communal harmony. (Reina) [conflict]
  • The community has developed its own rules based on collective decision-making, which requires continuous negotiation and acceptance of differing ideas among its members. (Reina) [governance]
  • There is a cultural practice in the community of nurturing ideas slowly, akin to planting a seed, allowing them to develop and grow organically despite societal opposition. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • Erik asserts that the difficulty of finding free, unmonitored space has led to a scarcity of opportunities for grassroots organizing and expression of innovative ideas. (Erik Hobijn) [governance]
  • The community operates independently by self-funding through rental income and does not rely on external grants, reflecting a discipline that fosters a sense of autonomy. (Erik Hobijn) [money]
  • Erik emphasizes that expressing different ideas or holding alternative opinions in society often draws resistance and that this struggle is a significant aspect of social dynamics. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • Erik notes that freedom has become increasingly difficult to obtain, suggesting that social struggles for expression can lead to becoming 'invisible' to avoid conflict with the dominant societal norms. (Erik Hobijn) [belonging]
  • Erik describes a cultural ethos where new ideas are nurtured like seeds, requiring patience and a suitable environment to grow, often contrasted with the commercial pathways dominating today. (Erik Hobijn) [culture]
  • The community emphasizes self-organization and independence by operating for thirty years without grants, relying on rent payments for sustainability and discipline. (Erik Hobijn) [governance]
  • Erik suggests that expressing new ideas often meets societal resistance, indicating that conflict arises when these ideas challenge existing power structures. (Erik Hobijn) [conflict]
  • The community fosters inclusion through a network of friends and shared artistic interests, indicating a flexible approach to membership and support. (Kamil Proost) [belonging]
  • Kamil values the individualistic nature of the community, emphasizing that while sometimes people engage collectively, most of the time they pursue their artistic practices independently. (Kamil Proost) [culture]
  • A sense of belonging is fostered through the acceptance of diverse ideas and the necessity of coming together to ensure everyone's needs are met. (Reina) [belonging]
  • Disagreements are an accepted part of community life, and members are encouraged to navigate these tensions collectively to reach resolutions that benefit everyone. (Reina) [conflict]
  • The community has established rules to manage collective living, illustrating a need for organization, though this sometimes leads to tensions due to differing personal ideologies. (Reina) [governance]

Interviews (3)