Illuminated tents in Westerpark symbolize Amsterdammers without a home

The Regenboog Groep has organized a protest in Amsterdam's Westerpark, where illuminated tents represent the more than 13,000 residents currently lacking a permanent home. This initiative marks the start of the national Week of Homelessness, coordinated by the organization Dakloosheid Voorbij!. The activists aim to put a human face on the statistics while highlighting the inadequacy of current government progress toward eliminating homelessness in the country by 2030.

Participants emphasize that homelessness takes many forms, including those sleeping on streets, couch surfing, or staying in temporary housing. The group points out that with social housing waiting lists in Amsterdam stretching between eight and fifteen years, many individuals remain trapped in precarious situations. By calling for immediate attention to this crisis, the organizers hope to underscore the necessity of stable housing as a fundamental human right, warning that prolonged displacement inevitably leads to severe, long-term health and social complications for those affected.