ABOUT US

Het Zwaluwnestje is a group of old and new Amsterdammers who believe in the right to housing security for everyone.

What unites us is a strong bond to our home city Amsterdam and its people. Many of us work in the social and public sector earning lower to middle income, which means we are increasingly unable to afford free market rents. With the rising pressure on the housing market we find ourselves being pushed out of the city.

Het Zwaluwnestje welcomes people who fall through the cracks of the housing system in the Netherlands, including people with additional support needs, queer people, and new Amsterdammers such as status holders.

We are guided by the following principles:

Inclusivity

We want a home that is livable for residents of different cultural backgrounds and  different physical and mental needs. To ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe, we use anti racist and feminist ideas about getting along. A place like this is important for  continuing Amsterdam’s historic ambition to be an inclusive city, encouraging diverse people to be part  of the city’s social fabric.

Solidarity

We support each other and stay connected to the world beyond our walls: the neighbourhood, the city, and further. In practice, this means affordable housing, shared responsibilities, and communal spaces that serve as a social hub for shared meals, workshops, and neighbourhood events.

Sustainability

Ecological and social, hand in hand. Communal living naturally supports a more sustainable lifestyle, and our building reflects this: shared gardens, biodiversity measures, sustainable materials, and renewable energy.

We operate as a non-hierarchical cooperative, organised into five circles:

Finance & Legal
Vision & Organization
Design & Sustainability
Membership
Network & Communication

Our Process

In the cooperative we work with sociocratic ‘circles’. The circles have the autonomy to come up with and propose solutions for their designated subjects. In the general assembly we decide on crucial matters. We use consent-based decision-making, which keeps things moving while maintaining transparency. For complex topics where a range of views exists, we draw on Deep Democracy, a method that ensures minority voices are genuinely heard.

Trust is crucial in this process. We’re continuously learning from each other, and from other housing cooperatives in Amsterdam.
It is definitely not an easy process, but so far a very satisfying one (sometimes).

                Apóyanos                SOUTENEZ-NOUS                STEUN ONS                إدعمونا 

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