Tante Pietje
A portrait of my great-aunt Marijke ‘Tante Pietje’ Roodhart and her four-story home on the Singel in Amsterdam.
A place she lived in for over sixty years, made possible by social housing that provides affordable options for low-income residents. Due to this law, her canal house was one of the only ones in the canal belt staying out of the hands of private owners. This gave it a unique, almost time capsule-like feel, reflected in the many mementos on display.
For decades, real estate companies and investors tried to make her move, making her life difficult through several cunning schemes. Despite this, she stayed all those years, until she passed away in 2024. Now, her house is emptied, and her belongings are gone. This portrait, like the many she owned, is a memento of her and her home, serving as a comment on the ongoing issues in Amsterdam’s housing market and the unchecked power of local real estate interests.
Tante Pietje
A portrait of my great-aunt Marijke ‘Tante Pietje’ Roodhart and her four-story home on the Singel in Amsterdam.
A place she lived in for over sixty years, made possible by social housing that provides affordable options for low-income residents. Due to this law, her canal house was one of the only ones in the canal belt staying out of the hands of private owners. This gave it a unique, almost time capsule-like feel, reflected in the many mementos on display.
For decades, real estate companies and investors tried to make her move, making her life difficult through several cunning schemes. Despite this, she stayed all those years, until she passed away in 2024. Now, her house is emptied, and her belongings are gone. This portrait, like the many she owned, is a memento of her and her home, serving as a comment on the ongoing issues in Amsterdam’s housing market and the unchecked power of local real estate interests.