Walking up to Stek Oost, an accommodation block for students and young people in East Amsterdam, it’s hard to imagine it was ever meant to be welcoming.
Outside, piles of discarded mattresses, abandoned sofas, and trash-strewn trolleys greet you.
Rust stains streak the cladding, the orange awnings are filthy, and the windows are smeared with dirt.
Residents hurry past, hunched against the cold, eyes wary, keeping to themselves.
“I never mix with my neighbors. I only sleep here,” says a male Dutch marketing student.
A blonde student cycling past adds, “I used to try, but this is not a friendly place.”
Ambitious Plans That Collided With Reality
Back in 2018, Stek Oost was hailed as an innovative and inclusive housing model.
The idea was simple: 125 Dutch students and young workers would live alongside 125 asylum seekers from countries like Syria, Eritrea, Iraq, and Iran.
Students would pay subsidized rent—just €300 a month—and help refugees integrate through volunteering in language cafés, communal meals, and activities like bouldering or barbecues.
But the reality was starkly different. The complex became a hotbed of conflict, aggression, and fear.
Students endured shouting, physical attacks, smashed doors, and drug dealing. One student, Amanda, was raped by her assigned Syrian “buddy” in 2019.
Despite reporting it, the case languished until 2022, when he was finally arrested and later sentenced to three years in prison.
Another resident, Steijn, was threatened with a knife.
A documentary by Dutch production company Zembla exposed the chaos, highlighting the violence, lack of support, and pervasive sense of hopelessness inside the building.
Why Amsterdam’s Experiment Matters Beyond the Netherlands
While this may sound like a Dutch problem, it has resonances elsewhere.
Britain, for example, has grappled with housing asylum seekers in former Army bases, luxury student flats, and other accommodations, often sparking public protests.
The story of Stek Oost raises serious questions about what happens when young people and vulnerable migrants are thrown together without proper safeguards.
A Scheme Built on Good Intentions
The municipality of Amsterdam drew inspiration from a previous project that paired students with elderly residents.
In theory, students would contribute their time, while refugees would receive support and integration opportunities.
Students underwent rigorous screening, reading a 28-page manifesto and committing to community involvement. Refugees, however, faced no such requirements.
Kassem, a Syrian social work student, describes it bluntly:
“There was no assessment to see if you should be sharing in this sort of community.
Just dumped here with young Dutch people and left. It is dangerous. Very dangerous.”
Too Much, Too Fast
The 50:50 ratio of students to refugees was simply too intense.
Simona, a 27-year-old chef, recalls trying to participate in activities but quickly realizing she was overwhelmed.
“I just wanted my own space,” she says.
“And no one’s checking. If you don’t join in, no one notices.”
Many students left, citing lack of support and safety.
Even Stadgenoot, the housing corporation running the complex, admitted it was overwhelmed.
Marielle Foppen, a Stadgenoot representative, revealed that staff were working up to 36 hours a week onsite but could not ensure anyone’s safety.
Limited Changes, Persistent Problems
In response to criticism, Stadgenoot shifted the ratio in favor of Dutch residents and adjusted social management, but students report little difference.
The municipality refuses to close the building, citing legal protections for refugees.
Meanwhile, the building itself is deteriorating—broken boilers, sewer failures, tattered decorations, and chaotic communal spaces.
A Tale of Two Steks
Not all student-refugee housing projects are disasters.
Stek West, a centrally located complex, has a 70:30 student-to-refugee ratio, thorough refugee screening, and strong management.
The building is clean, orderly, and safe, showing that careful planning and oversight make a difference.
Lessons From a Failed Experiment
Stek Oost’s collapse is a cautionary tale.
The project began with noble intentions but lacked realistic planning, proper support, and safeguards.
Students and vulnerable refugees alike suffered.
As Amsterdam continues to experiment with housing integration, it is clear that good intentions alone are not enough, and that large-scale, mixed-resident projects require careful screening, management, and resources to succeed.
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