- Fort Pannerden
Fort Pannerden is a disused military
fort situated near to the village ofPannerden in the east of theNetherlands . In November 2006, it became the focus of national news stories because a group ofsquatters were evicted in a large-scale operation by police, helped by the army. Later on in the same month, it was resquatted.History
The fort was constructed between 1869 and 1871 to serve as part of the New Dutch Waterline. It had strategic significance in that it guarded the Pannerden Canal, but the fort never saw active service. In
World War I the Netherlands was neutral and inWorld War II the fort was surrounded and surrendered without a shot being fired. After 1945, the building fell into disuse.Recent Events
From 1988 onwards, there have been attempts to repair the fort. On June 12 2000, the fort was squatted. Working with local residents and Stichting Fort Pannerden (a foundation set up to maintain and promote the fort), the squatters carried out essential repairs and held a monthly open day. The local city council (gemeente Lingewaard) forbade the open days and the owner, Staatsbosbeheer, took the squatters to court, saying it wanted to make a museum there. [ [http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/05/35977.shtml Fort Pannerden gedagvaard] May 1 2006 (retrieved January 2007)] The owner won the court case.
After the squatters refused to leave, they were evicted in a two day operation by police, riot police and army forces beginning November 7, 2006. Twenty five squatters were removed from inside the building. [ [http://www.nu.nl/news/878808/12/Krakers_uit_Fort_Pannerden_gehaald.html Ontruiming Fort Pannerden afgerond] November 8 2006 (retrieved January 2007)]
On November 25, 2006, the fort was resquatted by a group of between eighty and one hundred squatters. [ [http://www.nu.nl/news/900535/10/Fort_Pannerden_voorlopig_niet_ontruimd.html Fort Pannerden voorlopig niet ontruimd] ] After first threatening to evict the fort again despite the huge costs involved, the council signed a contract in December with the squatters. The squatters agreed not to live there, but four out of the group are now responsible for the upkeep of the building. [ [http://www.gelderlander.nl/dgbinnenland/article924891.ece Krakers mogen Fort Pannerden beheren] (retrieved January 2007)] The open days are once more permitted. [ [http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/12/41302.shtml Fort Pannerden blijft voorlopig December 14 2006] (retrieved January 2007)]
References
External links
* [http://fortpannerden.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=75&Itemid=40 Website of occupying squatters] (in English)
* [http://www.fort-pannerden.nl/ Website of Stichting Fort Pannerden] (in Dutch)
* [http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/11/40828.shtml Story of the requatting action, with fotos] (in Dutch and English)
* [http://maps.google.nl/?ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=19&ll=51.880952,6.02669&spn=0.001156,0.002548 The fort shown on Google Maps]
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