Several Dutch activists had been over to the action camps at Newbury, Fairmile and Manchester to learn from their British counterparts. Everywhere in the country critical mass groups had started and two Reclaim the Streets Parties had been organised in Amsterdam. But not much of a reaction from the Big Brothers of the Environment. In July the main event of the year started and the action camp groenoord was founded on 16 July 1997.
Action is a celebration of awareness.
Ivan Illich said this once. For 5 months a Dutch action movement has challenged the Amsterdam city government, which has rejected several referenda telling them to stop building big prestigious public works like new traffic tunnels, a new metro system, new living areas where nature used to be, and finally the new Afrika-harbour near the village of Ruigoord, just outside the city. The people of Amsterdam seem to be fed up with everything the city government comes up with but the government goes on anyway. The 16th July was a wet morning when close to 30 people moved into the nature area that was destined to become a concrete harbour. They walked into the area carrying pallets, tools, tent materials, and accompanied by a big amount of press.