Celebrate and Defend De Vloek’s Independence

Today, Sunday September 6, De Vloek celebrates its independence for the first, and possibly last time. Beginning on Monday, the police are allowed to evict De Vloek social center. Come one last time to De Vloek. We will provide music, but you should bring food and drinks, and of course as many friends as possible!
Three days ago, we declared independence and separated from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This independence must be celebrated, but also defended! Come to De Vloek before it’s too late.
Time: 22:00
Location: De Vloek, Hellingweg 127, Den Haag
Read our Declaration of Independence below:
Declaration of Independence: De Vloek, a Free Space, a Free Community
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for a community of people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which they are entitled, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are born equal; that they are by this fact endowed with inalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, political institutions are created, deriving their just powers from the consent of those for whom the institutions make decisions.
That whenever any political institution becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new form of governance, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object of profit and power, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
That is the painful situation of social center De Vloek. Herein lies the root of the necessity which is now forcing the occupants of De Vloek to change the political system. The history of the present and consecutive government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a history of repeated injustices and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over our social centers and communities, in particular against De Vloek. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
De Vloek is a place where people found living space. The right to shelter, even if continually threatened by landlords, speculators and commerce, was provided here. Court rulings, blackmail and forced evictions by police are a fundamental violation of this right to shelter, a violation that is not insignificant, but fundamental.
De Vloek is a place where people can find an outlet for their creativity, and where other people can learn from these expressions. A society that values freedom encourages these kinds of places. It is not without reason that these places are known as ”free spaces”. A system that denies this is not worthy of being called a free society. No free space owes its loyalty and obedience to such a despotic political system.
De Vloek is a place where people actively strive for precisely the world of equality, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness that even the Kingdom of the Netherlands considers to be inalienable and fundamental rights. By attempting to put an end to this free space, it is in violation of its professed fundamental principles.
For these reasons, De Vloek wishes to no longer in any manner be connected to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which answers its call for freedom with despotism, extortion, and tyranny. De Vloek hereby declares itself to be an independent free space, and extends a hand to all those who share her goals.
De Vloek will regulate her relations with other political entities on the basis of equality, including with the Kingdom of The Netherlands. To begin, we offer the aforementioned Kingdom mutual diplomatic recognition, including an exchange of ambassadors. De Vloek is not looking for a fight. But her members – equal and free citizens of an autonomous community based on solidarity – will defend their independence, by any means necessary. We are calling on every freedom and solidarity loving person to support us in this struggle.
Signed,
De Vloek Independent and Autonomous zone
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