History ADM (in a nutshell or two)

1877: ADM, Amsterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij [Amsterdam Drydock Company] was founded, location: Amsterdam North

1960: ADM shipbuilding company buys under lease-hold 43 hectares of farm land in the western Amsterdam port area for new ADM yard West-Harbor division

1960 – 1965 Building of the new ADM yard West-Harbor division. 20 hectares of land is turned into a new harbor. 2 jetties, 2 dry-docks, an office building and a ship-building hall are build

1965: ADM yard West-Harbor division was officially opened by the mayor of Amsterdam

1970: Municipality sells West-Harbor division terrain to ADM shipbuilding company for only 1,5 million guilders as a kind of subsidy, since the ADM is financially struggling. The sale contract includes 2 special conditions: the so-called Perpetual Clause

1977: ADM yard West Harbor division vacated. All ADM shipyard activities are now again in Amsterdam North.

1978: ADM shipbuilding company almost bankrupt. It’s forced to merge with NSM shipyard by the Dutch minister of Finances.

1985: ADM / NSM shipbuilding company files for bankruptcy. Thousands of employees lose their job.

1987: ADM yard West Harbor division squatted for the 1st time. Around 30 people live on the terrain. One of the children (Jente) is also part of current ADM community.

1992: ADM yard West Harbor division’ squatting community is evicted.

1992- 1996: Negotiations by Municipality of Amsterdam and ADM Beheer (a separate holding, founded by ADM directors and stake-holders, which didn’t get bankrupt in 1985) about buying back the ADM terrain by the Municipality. Negotiations fail because Municipality is not allowed to spend more than 26 million guilders. That limit was set by the City Council.

1996: Municipality of Amsterdam wants to end dominant position of real estate tycoon Bertus Lüske around Amsterdam’ Rembrandtplein area, after he’s been linked to large scale drug trafficking in Van Traa report (The Van Traa committee was instated by Dutch Parliament) and is portrayed as one of the main players in the red light district in the Van Traa report#2. He’s been bought out for 26 million guilders by Municipal housing company Het Oosten and receives another million directly from the Municipality.

1997:
Spring: ADM yard West Harbor division sold to Bertus Lüske (owner of Chidda Vastgoed B.V. / Amstelimmo B.V. / H & R holding) for 27 million guilders.

October: ADM yard West Harbor division squatted by 10 ADM residents who’re part of this court-case and some 50 sympathizers. We rename it into Amsterdamse Doe-het-zelf Maatschappij [Amsterdam DIY Society]. Around 25 people settle in.

November: House-warming party by ADM residents. Around 500 visitors

December: ADM residents are starting to register as officially living on the ADM terrain at the Municipal Register. Prior to December this was not allowed by Municipality.

1998:
January: Graansilo squat evicted. Part of residents move to ADM.

Spring: 3 illegal eviction attempts / attempted murder of ADM residents by Bertus Lüske, with an excavator and around 20 helpers

June: Vrieshuis Amerika squat evicted. Part of residents move to ADM

August: Robodock* #1 (at ADM, actually called DryDock festival) Around 1,500 visitors

1999:
Spring: Municipality and Bertus Lüske seems to have reached an agreement to develop ADM terrain. A billboard announcing this is placed at entrance road to ADM terrain. Nothing actually happens

Summer: The giant mountain of shredded car tires, dumped in the back of the ADM terrain by the recycle company Randeraat BV, with permission of Bertus Lüske, catches fire several times. The fire department and police have to come onto the ADM therefor. They decide that the way the chips were stored was illegal and order Randeraat to clean it all up.

October: Robodock* #2 (at ADM)

2000:
June: ADM co-organises benefit for alternative pirate radio station Radio-100 at ADM

September: Robodock* #3 (at ADM)

2001:
April: ADM co-organises benefit for the SeaShepard organisation at the ADM

September: Robodock* #4 (at ADM)

2002:
– Bertus Lüske fills in the 2 polders in the front part of the ADM terrain with polluted soil. rough estimate: half a million cubic meters

March: ADM community organises Open Day, which was called Voorbij de Geboden [Beyond the Restrictions]. This included a discussion forum (with politicians and other cultural representatives).

July: Children’s festival #1 {KinderDroom*}

September: Robodock* #5 (at ADM)

2003:
June: Bertus Lüske illegally attempts to destroy the nature around, and fill in the fresh water pond in the back of the ADM terrain. This was stopped by ADM residents.

July: Children’s festival #2 {KinderDroom*}

August: Bertus Lüske is killed in drive-by shooting.

August: ADM community festival* {Hete Adem}

September: Robodock* #6 (in Rotterdam)

2004:
Spring: Tree-planting action by ADM residents on the filled in polders in the front of the ADM terrain in the spring.

May: Front-loaded moped races #1 {Bakbrommer-races*}

July: Children’s festival #3 {KinderDroom*}

August: ADM co-organises Sleaze festival* #5 (at ADM)

September: Robodock* #7 (at ADM)

2005:
– The ADM community successfully negotiates having their own water connection in their own name with the Waternet company.

September: ADM co-organises Sleaze festival* #6 (at ADM)

September: Robodock* #8 (at former NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam North)

2006:
June: ADM co-organises National Front-loaded Moped Championship {bakbrommer-races*}

September: Robodock* #9 (at former NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam North)

2007:
– ADM community has grown to around 100 people. Officially we declare the terrain to be full. New policy: one in, one out. Community keeps slowly growing organically.

– Municipality Amsterdam and heirs of Bertus Lüske start negotiations about use of ADM terrain. ADM residents are forced to sign an agreement {vaststellingsovereenkomst} with Municipality about voluntary leaving one year after contract between heirs of Bertus Lüske and Municipality is signed in return for help with finding a new terrain by Municipality. In the end the Municipality and the heirs of Bertus Lüske fail to reach an agreement.

April: ADM community festival* {Generator Gekte}

July: Mini-Robodock* in Mannheim (Germany)

August: ADM community festival* {Water}

September: Robodock* #10 (at former NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam North)

2008:
– The ADM community negotiates successfully having new electricity connection in their own name with the Nuon company.

February: ADM Wintergames* #1

April: Front-loaded moped races #2 {Bakbrommer-races*}

August: ADM community festival* {Air}

2009:
February: ADM Wintergames* #2

June: ADM co-organises DamoClash festival #11 (at ADM)

September: ADM community festival* {Earth}

2010:
– The ADM community has grown to around 125 people and stabilizes around that number from now on.

February: ADM Wintergames #3

April: Front-loaded moped races #3 {Bakbrommer-races*}

August: ADM co-organises community festival* {FiascoFest} in Doel (Belgium)

September: ADM community festival* {Lightning}

September: Robodock* #11 (at former NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam North)

October: The ’[no] squatting & vacancy law’ comes into force in The Netherlands. No arrangements for already established squats, like the ADM.

2011:
February: ADM Wintergames* #4

April: Front-loaded moped races #4 {Bakbrommer-races*}

July: ADM co-organises Sleaze festival* #13 (at ADM)

August: ADM community festival* {Space}

2012:
February: ADM WinterGames* #5

February: Mini Robodock* festival in Osaka (Japan)

April: GreenAssGarden* perma-culture weekend {GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #1}

June: Robodock* #12 (at ADM)

September: ADM community festival* {Time}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #1

2013:
February: ADM Wintergames* #6

March: GreenAssGarden* Arbeit #2

Spring: Building new roads on the ADM terrain and servicing existing roads, incorporating drainage systems, water-, electricity and internet facilities by ADM residents.

July: ADM mini community festival* {Burn Da Babylon} This festival was focused on sustainable and renewable energy / dub- , ska-  and reggae music.

September: ADM mini community festival* {Krakerie}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #2

December: Front-loaded moped races #5 {Bakbrommer-races*}

2014:
March: ADM Wintergames* #7

April: GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #3

Summer: Installation of 200 solar panels on the roof of the former office building by ADM residents. Prior to this the roof gets a complete overhaul.

October: ADM community festival* {17th. birthday}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #3

2015:
February: ADM Wintergames* #8

April: GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #4

June: Guided tours of ADM terrain for politicians, journalists and other cultural representatives, by ADM residents

June: Illegal tree felling (attempts) in front of the ADM terrain stopped by ADM residents and/or police. Two ADM residents attacked by demolition crane, on different occasions. ADM residents are told that they’re not allowed to press charges at several police stations. Eventually they’re allowed to do so. This is until now not followed up by the State’ Prosecutor.

July: Visit of ADM terrain by Kasja Ollongren [Alderwoman for Economic Affairs], The ‘ADM dossier’ is part of her responsibilities (Seaport of Amsterdam & Schiphol airport)

August: ADM co-organises benefit at Radion (Amsterdam)

August: ADM co-organises Theatrical Parade (through Amsterdam)

October: ADM community festival* {18th. birthday}

Fall: Planting of 50 25-year-old pear trees on the ADM terrain

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #4

December – March 2016: AidDeliveryMission* to Idomeini area (Greece)

2016:
February: ADM Wintergames* #9

February: Villa Friekens squat evicted. Part of residents move to ADM

April: GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #5

Amsterdam Municipality refuses to issue tree-felling permit for core ADM terrain to the heirs of Bertus Lüske because it affects the quality of life of ADM residents.

August: ADM co-organised Paint & Beer festival #10: The Paint & Beer festival used to be held annually in the Villa Friekens squat. Their mobile brewery was moved to ADM. The creator of this brewery is also organiser of this festival which is a gathering of international graffiti artists as well. For this edition of the festival 7000 square meter of white walls was created.

October: ADM community festival* {19th. birthday}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #5

Winter: Several AidDeliveryMission* trips to France (Calais and Dunkirk)

2017:
January: ADM architecture is part of exhibition Architecture of Appropriation* in Het Nieuwe Instituut for 6 months (Rotterdam).

January: Illegal attempt to fell trees in the back of the back of the ADM terrain stopped by the authorities. This case is never followed up by the State’ Prosecutor.

February: ADM Wintergames* #9

February – June: AidDeliveryMission* to Balkan area

April: GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #6

June 2017: ADM co-organises benefit in OCCII (Amsterdam)

July 2017: ADM co-organises benefit in Noorderlicht (Amsterdam)

August: ADM co-organises Jetlag* festival #2

October: ADM community festival* {20th. birthday}

October: ADM hosts international free-spaces symposium

October: Sound system dance-parade through Amsterdam in support of ADM {ADEv*}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #6

December: Planting of 250 fruit trees on the ADM terrain

2018:
February: ADM Wintergames* #10

February: ADM co-organises benefit in Paradiso (Amsterdam)

April: GreenAssGarten* Arbeit #7

June: ADM co-organises Anarcho Folk festival

July: ADM co-organises Jetlag* festival #3

September: ADM community festival* {Viva ADM}

October: Sound system dance-parade through Amsterdam in support of ADM {ADEv*}

Fall: GreenAssGarden* Harvest event #7

December: Christmas dinner

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ADEv: Amsterdam Danst Ergens Voor [Amsterdam Dances for a Cause] Yearly sound-system parade through Amsterdam, with alternative dance music, to promote subculture. http://adev.nu/

AidDeliveryMission: ADM community initiatives to provide hands-on aid for refugees, stuck at the borders of Europe. Consisting of a city-coach converted to mobile kitchen capable of cooking 3,000 free meals. Also clothing, packaged food, cooking- and sleeping gear transports / distribution by trucks. Fundraisers are organized to pay for costs. ADM peoples work for free.

Architecture of Appropriation: Exhibition with photos, videos, audio interviews, objects and architectural drawings of ADM houses and structures in Dutch architectural museum Het Nieuwe Instituut [The New Institute]. Afterwards this exhibition went on display in Sao Paolo (Brasil) https://hetnieuweinstituut.nl/en

Bakbrommer races: A gathering of front loaded mopeds, their dedicated team-mates, supporters and enthusiasts from The Netherlands. Many different types of contests are being held.

Community festivals: The whole ADM community, including extended family works together for a gathering where all facets of the ADM are shown off. All ADM residents, artists and volunteers work for free. During the festival an ADM community show is performed, based on the theme of the festival. Artists and spectators come from around the globe

Jetlag: experimental music & circus festival, organized together with The Side Kunst Cirque, La Virgule and RPT Collective. All ADM residents, artists and volunteers work for free. Artists and spectators come from around the globe. http://www.jetlag-adm.com

GreenAssGarden: communal garden project, consisting of growing everyday and rare trees and vegetables, perma-culture workshops. The produce is used in the communal kitchen and by participants

KinderDroom: [Children’sDream] Children’s festival for ADM children and children of the ADM extended family.

Robodock: Arts & Technology festival. Co-production of ADM community and Robodock organisation. Groundbreaking artists from around the globe are showcasing their art and skills. Robodock’s yearly theme reflects upon issues / threats around ADM’s existence. http://www.robodock.org

Sleaze festival: Underground music festival with all types of rock’n’roll bands from all over Europe, plus their fans and supporters. http://www.sleazefest.nl

WinterGames: Teams consisting of at least 3 members from the ADM and other communities from Europe compete against each other in games, which are partly recurring and partly created by the ADM organization and others.

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More detailed information about ADM’s history:
https://adm.amsterdam/content/history-adm