Actionreports from The Netherlands

'It was great to do!'

Buy Nothing Day 2002 has met lots of enthousiasm

On Saturday, November 30th 2002, Buy Nothing Day ('Niet-Winkeldag') was celebrated in The Netherlands for the eigth' time. There were actions in fourteen cities: Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Den Bosch, Groningen, Haarlem, Leiden, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Tilburg, Utrecht, Wageningen and Zwolle.

The shared conclusion of the activists afterwards was: 'It was great to do! Buy Nothing Day 2002 has met lots of enthousiasm'.

Activists who went on the streets to celebrate Buy Nothing Day gained almost unanimously sympathatic respond on their protest against the Western consumption-patterns.

Buy Nothing Day gained a lot of media-attention in The Netherlands, both nationwide as well as local newspapers, tv and radiostations.

Below impressions from the actions in Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Rotterdam and Tilburg, as reported by the activists.

AMSTERDAM

'Can't we have such days more often?'

,,On the bridge between Linnaeusstraat and Middenweg in the eastern part of Amsterdam, we had put a table with 'free stuff'. Everybody could take what he or she would like to have, without paying. Whilst (shopping) passers-by looked and asked what this was all about, from all sites yellow balloons (with the text 'Koop Niets!' (Buy Nothing!) were handed out to the children. Not so many people had already heard about Buy Nothing Day, some of them thought it had something to do with the introduction of the 'euro'. But when we explained the backgrounds of Buy Nothing Day, everyone was very positive. Negative reactions could be counted on the fingers of one hand'', says organisor Sylvia van Bruggen from Amsterdam.

,,An old woman found it so difficult to take away a jig saw puzzle for her grandson without paying (she kept showing her purse), that finally she went to a bakery to buy 'oliebollen' for the activists. Many people asked us to organize an event like this more often; being very willing to collect their 'old stuff' to bring in a next time.

Waiting a whole year takes too long, and as far as I know there isn't a 'Give Away-shop' in Amsterdam yet..''.

(In the city of Leiden there is a real 'Give Away-shop', open five days a week, were people can bring in and take out (no more then five) things for nothing...)

DEN BOSCH

Shopping-coaches and a buy-nothing advice

In the crowded citycenter of Den Bosch there was a 'Buy Nothing Place', with a nice 'livingroom in the open air'. Shoppers could take a rest here, 'cause shopping makes you very tired.

A carrier-tricycle served as a 'Give Away Shop'. Books, parfume and lots of other small and nice things were given away for free. The people liked these free things! Many posters showed the meaning of Buy Nothing Day, and there were lots of yellow 'Buy Nothing!'- balloons for the children.

There was also a 'Consume Less Stall', where two well dressed 'Shopping Coaches' gave advice what NOT to buy today. They also offered a rent-a-friend service, for those who don't get enough human affection, and the coaches could help shoppers who were looking for free happiness. Attached to the stall were two city-maps: one showing a consuming tour from shopping-mall to shopping-mall; the other map showed a 'consume-less tour' to quite and green places in the city for those who wanted to see nice uncommercial parts of the city.

MAASTRICHT

Consumption-guru with disciples and a samba-band

A humorfull parade went through the inner-city of Maastricht. There was a consumption-guru, looking excessiveely rich: a lady dressed according to the fashion of 1900, with wings made of banknotes. De guru was followed by lots of disciples and a samba band. The band created a fantastic atmosphere.

The consumption guru showed her disciples where to find happiness: ,,Buy more and you'll be happy''.

Among the disciples there were also a few 'strange' people, with signs saying: 'Happiness costs nothing' en 'Not more, but better'.

The disciples were all very nicely dressed. There was a Batman who made a call to save the earth. And there was a 'scanman', with a barcode on his back.

Two people offered a credit-card cutting-service. And 'portemonNEE stickers' were handed out (portemonnee = purse. Nee = no). These stickers could be sticked on someones purse to lock it, as a reminder that it's Buy Nothing Day.

The reactions of the shoppers in the street were astonished, positive and sometimes negative. When the parade drew nearer, the shoppers thought it was just a samba band, making nice music. People started dancing and smiling. As the parade came closer, people realised is was a sort of a demonstration. Some people smiled even more when they understood what it was about, others looked down at the shopping bags in their hands with a guilty look. And there were some people who were looking a bit grunpy when they realised what the parade was about.

NIJMEGEN

Triumph-parade through Consumption Paradise

,,Around twelve o'clock soms young environment activists (members of 'Jongeren Milieu Actief', youth section of Dutch Friends of the Earth) set themselves - and a stall - at the bussiest cross-over in the shopping district of Nijmegen. This 'Give Away-Shop' seemed to be a real compettitor for the commercial market. Through flyers the shopping audiance got information about the price that has to be paid for the over-consumption in the rich countries.

Around two o'clock another group of activists started their NO LOGO- parade! In the Marikenstraat - the bussiest shopping street - (almost) all commercial signboards were given an alternative message. Logo's like Mexx, KLM en Esprit were replaced by 'BUY MORE' and'HAPPINESS = FREE". The reactions from the public differed from rather enthousiastic to 'don't you guys have anything better to do?'. The NO LOGO-team however could not be intimidated and went on with their triumph-parade through consumption-paradise. After all the signboards downfloors had been covered, the last leaflets were sticked on the first floors''.

ROTTERDAM

Giants and marionets got laughers on their side

,,Six people in Rotterdan knew how to get laughers at their side with their act in which stiltwalkers "Economy" and "Advertisement" sent the marionet "Consumer" into the shop. Specially children found it fantastic. Their parents looked less satisfied, you saw them thinking: "What is this about?", according to Willemien Troelstra from Milieudefensie Rotterdam. She played "Economy", on her stilts she had a good look on all the reactions. The reactions were mainly positive. One woman who could hardly carry all her full-packed bags excused herself by telling this was the first time in two years she'd been buying so many things''.

TILBURG

Golden suitecase full with happiness

For weeks it was a mystery what would be in the golden suite-case of the ladies 'Glad to Give' ('Geef Graag'); from Tilburg, which they were going to open on 'Buy Nothing Day'. Many people, on their way to the shoppingcenter to buy nothing, came to have a look. The contents of the suitecase were eagerly spread...

Godelieve Engsbersen from Tilburg (lady Glad to Give) is very enthousiasic about the reactions she got. The ladies were standing in front of a church with their beautifull decorated mobile shop.

Most of the people who were passing by were impressed by the contens of the golden suitecase. And they choose a lovely card with presents you can't buy for money: love, attention, a nice breakfast....

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