On the invitation of Stichting Samenwonen-Samenleven and the Municipality of Amsterdam, the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative conducted two workshops in Amsterdam Nieuw-West on December 10 and 12, 2024, focusing on neighborhood cooperatives. Another workshop was held on December 18 at Buurthuis De Bol in collaboration with Aanpak Noord. In this blog, we discuss the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative and why it serves as an inspiring example of the community economy.
Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative: A Community-Driven Approach to Economic Development
In the Afrikaanderwijk neighborhood of Rotterdam-South—originally a district for dock workers—85% of residents have a migration background, and 80% live in social housing. For a long time, unemployment rates were the highest in the city. In 2009, an art project was initiated, which ultimately led to the founding of the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative in 2013. The initiative aims to develop the neighborhood without displacement, with local residents and businesses as the driving forces. Since 2018, Tuindorp Vreewijk Cooperative has also joined this movement, born out of dissatisfaction with conditions in their neighborhood.
Entrepreneurship with the Community | Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative
The Power of Collective Ownership
What makes the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative so unique? The employees of the neighborhood cooperative are residents who are also collective owners of the cooperative. The revenue generated stays within the neighborhood and is reinvested into local sub-cooperatives that are part of the overarching Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative.
For example, Wijkkeuken van Zuid, a catering service offering authentic international cuisine, has been operating successfully without subsidies since 2011. The cooperative also runs an innovative Resource Station, utilizing the ‘Right to Challenge’ principle to process waste from the local market. Additionally, a cleaning cooperative provides services to local organizations.
The Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative collaborates with other local businesses to ensure that goods and services are procured and offered within the neighborhood. In turn, local organizations also purchase services from the cooperative.
This approach demonstrates how residents take responsibility for their community while strengthening the economic resilience of the neighborhood. This is a key principle of the community economy, which adds economic and social value to the area rather than extracting value from it, as traditional businesses might do.
Equality and Reciprocity
One of the cooperative’s strengths—and challenges—is its commitment to equality. Within the cooperative, everyone is a co-owner, has an equal vote, earns the same, and shares responsibility equally. Running a cooperative is not just about well-crafted statutes, as these do not guarantee smooth operations. Success depends on collaboration and continuous dialogue, even about small matters—such as kitchen towels. This fosters a sense of broad ownership.
In the community economy, economic power is held by the community, meaning decision-making authority is shared among its members. The Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative operates through collective decision-making and shared ownership.
Culture and Inclusivity
Despite its economic focus, the cooperative does not lose sight of its social functions. It provides a safe space and runs programs for diverse communities, including Black and queer initiatives. The cooperative not only facilitates collaboration but also encourages connections between people from different backgrounds. The goal is to build a community that is both economically and socially strong.
Public-Civic Cooperation
Beyond integrating economic and social dimensions, successful collaboration with the municipality is also essential. Initially, the top-down approach of the Rotterdam municipality posed a challenge, as the cooperative struggled to be seen as an equal partner. Over time, the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative learned the importance of highlighting the neighborhood’s specific knowledge and roots. This requires patience and a proactive approach, balancing compliance with municipal frameworks while effectively communicating the cooperative’s values. Networking within the municipality and establishing long-term relationships with officials have been crucial for the cooperative’s success.
The Future of Cooperatives in the Netherlands
The Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative serves as a model not only for other neighborhoods in Rotterdam but also for cities across the Netherlands. It is an inspiring example of how communities can reclaim economic and social value. Neighborhood cooperatives contribute to transforming underappreciated neighborhoods into resilient communities, fostering a thriving community economy.
Cooperative entrepreneurship offers significant opportunities for neighborhood development but requires more than just a good idea. It demands time, patience, and above all, collaboration—among residents, local businesses, and the municipality. Establishing a cooperative is just the beginning; the real challenge lies in collectively building a future where residents share responsibility for and actively shape their neighborhood. The Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative exemplifies this vision.
The Municipality of Amsterdam and the CWB practice network from Amsterdam Nieuw-West will work together with the lessons and inspiration gained from this initiative.
Are you just like us excited about the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative?
On April 16, 2025, the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative will host an Open Day in Rotterdam.