Buzz
Prisons remain empty to the point that even after importing prisoners, there are still surplus ones, necessitating their conversion into useful buildings for society.
With 1,000 students divided among 3 campuses, a school in Amsterdam, Netherlands struggled for a while to find additional locations to meet the increasing demand for international education. That's until they found a spacious 14,000m2 property, airy and cool. They moved there in April.
This location has many advantages, most notably security and safety. Because until recently, this place was still a prison.
The prison's prayer hall has been repainted in bright chestnut-colored bars. The glass dome at the center of the building is an ideal spot for observing the four surrounding corridors.
This is one of the buildings within a prison in the Netherlands that has been repurposed, often in ways that are beneficial to society.
Just 20 kilometers away, in Haarlem, the former De Koepel prison is being transformed into a versatile venue, serving as both student accommodation and social housing, addressing shortages of both types nationwide.
Utrecht's Wolvenplein has created a city beach within the sloping walls of the exercise yard, while Amsterdam's Bijlmerbajes has become a temporary residence and job creator for some asylum seekers. They've converted 15 cells into a Syrian hammam bath.
As the UK embarks on building its largest prison in over a century with prisoner numbers almost doubling in the past 30 years, the prison population in the Netherlands is going in the opposite direction. Today, the incarceration rate per capita in the Netherlands is half that of the UK, with far fewer reoffenders and a continuous decrease in crime.
Sometimes, the Netherlands even has to import prisoners from abroad to fill empty cells and keep some prisons open.
Assisting prisoners with community reintegration
While the UK government hands out some of the harshest life sentences in Europe, the Dutch see the benefits of a less punitive approach. On average, only about 30 people receive life sentences in this country.
Having once experienced the Nazi occupation during World War II, the Netherlands holds a 'strong awareness of the danger of a totalitarian state and the horrors of imprisonment,' explained Francis Pakes, a criminology professor at the University of Portsmouth. This means the Dutch use imprisonment less than pre-war, and detainees are often treated more humanely.
Pakes states: “In the UK, being tough on criminals is seen as a solution to the threat of disorder. Whereas in the Netherlands, crime is something the whole system needs to address. They invest in intervention programs for juveniles, electronic monitoring, and residential care for drug-addicted offenders and those with mental health issues. These actions have promoted functional recovery and reduced the time prisoners spend incarcerated.”
Pakes also explains: “In the Netherlands, prisons are generally well-maintained, staff have good attitudes, accommodations are spacious and many places are relatively comfortable. Studies have shown that these are all factors that help offenders have a higher likelihood of successfully reintegrating into society.”
Outdated Methods
Low poverty rates, high social welfare, and a relatively non-materialistic culture play a significant role in reducing crime as the Dutch often value modesty and simplicity in their demeanor regarding wealth.
Rivelino Rigters, a musician, author, and social entrepreneur based in Amsterdam, recognizes the downside of incarceration.
Having lost my father at a tender age, I once yearned to blend in with other young lads. Sadly, I got entangled in drug trafficking and theft, leading to my first prison sentence at the age of 13. However, incarceration only exacerbated my criminal connections.
'I emerged even worse than before,' I lament.
Rigters emphasizes, 'Locking someone up isn't a solution. Sometimes, it only makes a bad person worse because for some, crime becomes their last resort or when they have no other means to survive.'
Instead, Rigters' Criminal Minded organization - an advisory group for current and former inmates - provides access to the skills and networks they need to rebuild their lives. It epitomizes a more personalized approach currently under experimentation.
The organization focuses on harnessing the 'strength, talent, and potential' of offenders and addressing what needs healing for them to take positive steps forward.
Pakes argues that the prison-based justice model may be outdated. He states, 'When talking to high-ranking police officers, prosecutors, or Dutch judges, very few will speak of the positive impact of imprisoning someone. No one truly believes that doing so is effective.'
Repurposed Prisons
Transformed into hotels and restaurants
In the city of Roermond, buildings now house Hotel Het Arresthuis and the Michelin-starred restaurant Damianz. Formerly a state prison from 1863 to 2007, it once housed mostly drug traffickers and illegal immigrants in its final years. Now, it boasts rooms ranging from 'fully equipped cells' to luxurious suites.
Commercial Center and Library
The prison held mostly drug smugglers and undocumented immigrants in its final years. Now, it offers everything from 'fully-equipped cell accommodations' to upscale suite rooms.
Surrounded by moats and towers, the entrance of Blokhuispoort prison in Leeuwarden now welcomes visitors to a cultural commerce center. It's designed to stimulate investment in a province with the lowest GDP nationwide.
Alibi Hostel offers affordable accommodation. The prison's chapel has been converted into the city's central library, completed in 2021.
See Positive News for reference
