Overview
- Former residents told Zembla the mixed student–refugee complex saw repeated sexual assaults, harassment, stalking, and violent confrontations.
- Stek Oost opened in 2018 with 125 students and 125 refugees in Amsterdam’s Watergraafsmeer, encouraging “buddy” relationships to foster integration.
- A woman identified as Amanda reported a 2019 rape to police, the case was initially dropped, the suspect was arrested in March 2022, and he was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to three years.
- Accounts included a knife threat and frequent fights, and Dutch broadcaster AT5 previously reported one refugee faced six accusations from 2018 to 2021.
- Housing association Stadgenoot sought to close the project in 2023 but was refused by local officials, who cited legal limits on eviction, and the complex is slated to shut when its contract ends in 2028.