Seriously?: Squatter in cauldron

One of the seven cauldrons that make up the artwork outside the Atlas building is occupied. Room shortages have forced first-year Pieter to take up residence.

You can hardly tell during the day. The cauldron Pieter has selected as his night-time abode looks the same as the other six, scattered at random in the field outside Atlas. The hollow vessels that make up this artwork by Bas Maters, entitled The Dance of the Cauldrons, calmly mind their own business. It was that calm that struck Pieter.

‘I took a good look at them during the AID week and I was impressed by how quiet and spacious they were inside,’ says Pieter (full name known to the editors). ‘I don’t have a room yet and it occurred to me I could easily sleep in one of these. Which I have been doing since lectures started. Every evening, I unroll my mat and sleeping bag, and the next day I go to lectures. I return to my parents for the weekends.’

If the tents on the bridge are tolerated, this should be allowed too

Landscape Architecture student Pieter says he has been forced to take this step. ‘I live in Friesland, which is not quite far enough from Wageningen to qualify for priority in getting accommodation through Idealis. But commuting every day from Friesland by public transport isn’t an option. I would be spending half a day travelling and wouldn’t have time to study.’

That his temporary accommodation is an artwork is news to Pieter. ‘I didn’t realize. We have a completely different name for this kind of thing in Friesland.’ So far, no one has noticed Pieter has set up home in the cauldron. ‘But I reckon that might change now. Do many people read Resource? On the other hand, if the tents on the bridge are tolerated, this should be allowed too.’

To prepare for every eventuality, Pieter has made a banner that says: Down With Room Shortages! ‘If necessary, I’ll hang that up and then I’ll officially be a squatter. If that’s the case, they’ll probably leave me alone.’ While he’s at it, Pieter adds: ‘There are still six unoccupied cauldrons. And it gets a bit lonely here at night. So anyone who wants to join me is welcome.’

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