Ruigoord: Village in the Wilderness
Doel’s history, and current visual state, was determined by external powers that dictated it would have to be removed from the map in order to make room for a large scale expansion project by the harbour of Antwerp.
Through battle and hardship, it was able to remain and it’s very unique in that sense, although leaving the town scarred and flustered, abandoned and overgrown, garnering a new beauty because of it. Colourful graffiti and sun reflecting metal plates that cover the doors and windows of empty houses give the village vibrancy.
Nature retaking parts of the town soften the view and in the summer, green patches are used as picnic areas. The last people who inhabit the area are also its caretakers. A local non profit sets out food for stray cats each and every day, a former atelier building is in continued use and residents maintain public gardens. With its specific characteristic, the village attracts cultural engagement, our music and arts festival, and also the renovation of the Hooghuis, a piece of 16th century heritage, is looking to place art residents in the village.
Uncannily similar history
But did you know that there is another town, which went through exactly the same as Doel and has been able to maintain its existence for over 50 years now? The now cultural free haven Ruigoord, located near Amsterdam in The Netherlands, was similarly scheduled to be taken to the ground in 1964, in assignment by the then Amsterdam government, to expand the Amsterdam harbour and install petrochemical industry terrain. A story so similar it is truly uncanny.
Originally named ’t Ruyghe Oort (which can be translated to “the rough place”, most likely because of its swampy difficult to tread terrain) in the 16th century, the first house was built there in 1835, with a café and church to follow in 1892. By the 1900’s, the now village Ruigoord grew to about two hundred inhabitants, complete with a school and banking facilities.
In 1964, it was decided by lawmakers that the area would be repurposed to harbour and petrochemical industry, with the plans drawn out in 1968 by bordering municipalities. Ruigoord was going to have to disappear. Just a few villagers, amongst whom the pastor of the Sint-Gertrudis church, revolted and at the end of 1972, word spread with Amsterdam artists who flocked to the town, squatting its houses. United, they were able to halt ongoing illegal demolitions and put a temporary ban on tearing down its remaining structures. At the same time, the oil crisis had sunk any plans for petrochemical harbour industry expansions, leaving Ruigoord in a limbo of uncertainty.
October 7, 1997
Different levels of political powers had contrasting plans for the area until in 1997 it became part of Amsterdam, who had revitalised the harbour expansion plans, although altered to install a depot for contaminated silt, planned to be built almost immediately, in the year after.
This is when massive protests began. In July of ’97, action group GroenFront! started a protest camp with tree huts, tunnels and concrete lock-ons, where protesters could tie there wrists to. Later in October, 800 Dutch police forces were sent out against 80 activists tasked to clear them out, resulting in a clash lasting day and night, involving industrial machinery and with protestors almost getting killed due to one of the tunnels collapsing.
“The state can be a brutal machine”, said writer Gerben Hellinga in an interview with KRO, who resided in Ruigoord in the early 90’s.
While initially, Ruigoord was supposed to be removed completely, due to ongoing occupation and protest by artists and inhabitants a new border was finally drawn for the town in the year 2000. Although, people were prohibited from continuing to officially live there due to the harbour further to build around it and thus becoming a health safety hazard.
Ruigoord today
Fast forward to current days, Ruigoord in 2025 is more alive than ever as a cultural free haven. A lush, green artist village, with 63 current artists in residence, with numerous festivals including the oldest festival of Amsterdam Landjuweel, monthly gatherings of theater, concerts, poetry and food making. Research projects under Ruigoord Academy, with workshops for schools and groups, lectures by its residents and educational seminars about subjects such as climate change and reconnecting to nature through gardening. Complete with a clear and vibrant online presence, an overload of information can be found on their website.
Ruigoord now, offers a prime example of how places such as Doel can rebuild and flourish through the strength of community and creativity, supporting itself through a plethora of cultural events, its landscape ever evolving, its people ever welcoming, throughout its 52 year existence. Collaboration seems to be the key.
For more information on Ruigoord’s program and how to visit, go to ruigoord.nl
All photographs were taken inside Ruigoord’s photo spiral, an installation which celebrated 50 years of Ruigoord in 2023.
