1.0HappyCowhttps://www.happycow.net/blogHootinthehousehttps://www.happycow.net/blog/author/hootinthehouse/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="FZp02byWgp"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/blog/vekologisch-in-amsterdam/">VekoLogisch in Amsterdam</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.happycow.net/blog/vekologisch-in-amsterdam/embed/#?secret=FZp02byWgp" width="600" height="338" title="“VekoLogisch in Amsterdam” — HappyCow" data-secret="FZp02byWgp" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dining-1024x683.jpg1024683While it might just sound like a funny word, “squatting” is a fascinating sub-culture of The Netherlands since the 80’s. In the past, vacant buildings could legally be inhabited by basically anyone that felt like claiming them as their own. This movement was started by young people in Holland, unable to find or afford other housing options. They’d basically just walk into an abandoned building and set up shop. And just like that, they were home. Today, things are a little bit different, but there are still many restaurant owners holding on to the culture of the squat. While in Amsterdam, I knew I wanted to check out this interesting scene, so I reached out to a few squats and got a reply from Erik of VekoLogisch. Erik has run this operation for many years, far before the act of squatting became illegal in 2010. VekoLogisch runs once a week for dinner, offering delicious and affordable home cooked meals out of a small kitchen in the back of a theatre. This is a legalized squat, meaning that Erik has permission from the government to hold this weekly dinner. While I was there, he was whipping up authentic Mexican delights. A […]