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Wyers (squat)

1980s in Amsterdam1981 establishments in the Netherlands1984 disestablishments in the NetherlandsBuildings and structures demolished in 1984Buildings and structures in Amsterdam
Demolished buildings and structures in the NetherlandsFormer squatsSocial centres in the NetherlandsSquats in the NetherlandsUse mdy dates from August 2024
Wijers complex aan de Amsterdamse Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal gekraakt, Bestanddeelnr 931 7209
Wijers complex aan de Amsterdamse Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal gekraakt, Bestanddeelnr 931 7209

The Wyers (or Wijers) squat was a self-managed social centre on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands, between 1981 and 1984. The buildings of the Wyers former wholesale textile company were converted by the squatters into a range of living and work spaces. When the Government of Amsterdam decided to demolish the complex to make way for a Holiday Inn hotel, a car parking garage and apartments, the squatters made alternative proposals. The eviction was announced for February 14, 1984, and there were demonstrations in support of the squat around the country. On the day of eviction, 1,500 people stayed inside the building then left without conflict. The breeding place (broedplaats) discourse of new cultural initiatives presented by the squatters was later adopted by the city council.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Wyers (squat) (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Wyers (squat)
Damrak, Amsterdam Centrum

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Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 52.3755 ° E 4.8959 °
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Damrak 46-H
1012 LL Amsterdam, Centrum
North Holland, Netherlands
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Wijers complex aan de Amsterdamse Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal gekraakt, Bestanddeelnr 931 7209
Wijers complex aan de Amsterdamse Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal gekraakt, Bestanddeelnr 931 7209
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Oudekerksplein
Oudekerksplein

The Oudekerksplein (English: Old Church's Square) is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. It is named after the 14th-century church Oude Kerk which dominates the square. The Oudekerksplein is wedged between the Warmoesstraat street and Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal. From the square, the Oudekerksbrug bridge crosses the Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal and continues eastwards, through the Oudekennissteeg and Molensteeg alleys, towards the Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Zeedijk. Originally the Oudekerksplein was a graveyard. In 1655, the graveyard was cleared and moved to a new location beyond the city limits, creating the present square. The Oudekerksplein lies at the heart of the red-light district of De Wallen. Along the square are some 35 windows from behind which prostitutes offer their services. As part of the so-called Project 1012 (first presented in 2007), the Amsterdam city government is trying to reduce the number of prostitutes on Oudekerksplein. The city wants to remove all brothels from the square and replace them with restaurants, shops, artists' workshops, and such. As part of the plans, the cannabis coffee shop on Oudekerksplein would also be closed. In March 2019, it was announced that the city is to ban guided tours of the red-light district from January 2020. There are reported to be over 1,000 such tours passing through Oudekerksplein each week.A statue titled "Belle", honouring the prostitutes of the world, was placed on the square in 2007. The plaque on this statue reads (in English): "Respect sex workers all over the world". The street also has a bronze relief of a hand caressing a female breast. The sculpture was set in the cobblestone in February 1993 by an anonymous artist. The 1968 Dutch documentary film Rondom het Oudekerksplein ("Around the Oudekerksplein") gave an impression of what life in the red-light district was like in the 1960s.