Squat Party at De Nieuwe Anitas

Last saturday 7th of March, I was at a squat party as a member of my homegroup wanted to celebrate her birthday there. What is a squat party? Its not where we get together at someone's house and see who can squat the longest. Squatting is actually quite an institution over here. After a year of being vacanted, you're actually legally allowed to enter into a building and occupy it, AKA squatting. At this squat, called De Nieuwe Anita, they hold movie screenings on Monday nights, open mics on Tuesday and parties on Friday - Sunday nights.

Its completely different from going to clubs or bars. Inside, the first room looks like someone's lounge room, with couches, chairs and tables set out. And then theres a balcony inside the next room. Yes, thats right a balcony which overlooks the basement floor where the dance floor is set up or where bands set themselves up. They didn't play sleazy hip-hop/rnb music, but a mix of music harking back to an older era, like 20s swing or rock and roll from the 50s. From the times that I have gone to clubs, it seems like people are there with the purpose of getting wasted, and it seems like people are doing because well, other people are doing it. The other impression I get is that people go to clubs to see and be seen by other people. There was none of that pretension at the squat party. It seems like people were out there to have a good time with friends. If they wanted to chat, they stay in the "living room" area, take a seat and just hang out with friends. And if they wanted to dance, they could go downstairs and dance. There was a cool vibe in that place.

Last saturday was actually the second time that I had been there. The first time I was there was in the second weekend I was here, the night before valentines day. I have to say that I wasn't as impressed by its coolness the second time round. I get the sad feeling that its because I'm getting used to life in Amsterdam and so things aren't as new and different and cool as I would have found them just 3 weeks back.