Freestate SWOMP is a squatting community, a “transition town”, a living protest against homelessness, and a creative way to prepare for a sustainable future. It is in Pijp, Amsterdam, and an excellent example of tiny trailers used in community.
My friends Kassia and Sky recently visited this unique place, originally an abandoned school that was demolished against the wishes of the neighborhood, according to EarthFirst UK.
Four travel trailers were brought into the empty lot and a structure was built around them (to make it more difficult for police to evict the squatters). Solar panels were set up, water was tapped into, permaculture gardens began to grow, and it was declared a free state. A straw bale house is currently being built on the lot, in keeping with the carbon-neutral attitude of the residents.
SWOMP (in Dutch) is an acronym for Slimme Woonwagenbewoners Op Mooie Plekjes and roughly translates to Smart Wagon-people on Beautiful Places. Because the local residents are largely supportive of the project, it may take a long time for bureaucratic forces to shut it down. In the words of one SWOMPer, “It’s just a logical step to take in a time like this.”
You can check in on their progress on their website, loosely translated to English here.
