UvA student Robin: ‘I have to leave my house for an international student to have it’
The UvA will make available over one-hundred funished rooms for international students in the towers of the former Bijlmerbajes prison. To do so, the the young people who already live there must leave.
‘We have to inform you of the new plans for the Bijllmerbajes towers 200 and 300. The owner and the VU/UvA have decided to make it available to international students.’ This is stated in a letter that UvA student Robin (20, chemistry and law) found on his doormat last week. He has been living in one of the Bijlmerbajes towers since March.
Robin has to leave his home on July 30th. ‘We always thought we’d be able to stay until its planned demolition in January or February 2019’, but now not only has the date has been moved forward, but he knows 122 international students will move in once he leaves. ‘It feels like I am less important. It’s too bad the UvA didn’t better investigate who lives here. Now there are over one-hundred students without housing.’
An UvA spokesperson said sudden eviction is an inherent risk in antikraak. ‘We asked the manager of the building if there was room to accomodate students, and there was.'
