You might have heard some rumours about De Grote Broek being “for sale,” and we want to clarify what that really means. As many of you may be aware, De Grote Broek has been an essential space within Nijmegen’s radical leftist and alternative scene since it was squatted on November 4, 1984, and subsequently legalized in 2002. Today, it functions as a self-managed social center, housing the Onderbroek, de Klinker, a living community on the upper floors, and offices occupied by local collectives and organizations that support marginalized communities or engage in socio-political projects.
While we cherish the autonomy of De Grote Broek, we do pay a fixed rent to the building’s owner. Originally, that was Standvast, and now it’s Woonwarts. Recently, Woonwarts expressed their desire to sell the building to fund the creation of more social rental housing. Legally, Woonwarts must offer us the chance to buy the building before it hits the open market. After an earlier attempt to buy didn’t work out with Standvast at the negotiation table, we’re motivated and hopeful to pursue this opportunity for De Grote Broek with diffrent conditions.