VrijCoop is a Dutch association of housing cooperatives dedicated to securing long-term affordable housing by collectively purchasing properties and removing them from market speculation.126 Its mission centers on creating collective ownership of buildings for housing and workspaces, where residents manage operations themselves, including rent collection, maintenance, and long-term planning, while ensuring use and voting rights remain independent of financial contributions.12 Inspired by the German Mietshäuser Syndikat, VrijCoop supports self-organized initiatives through knowledge sharing, mutual aid, and joint decision-making on acquisitions and sales, requiring approval from both the organization and resident groups to prevent individual sales or centralization.268
Key activities include vetting and admitting member projects with detailed plans, establishing separate property associations co-owned by VrijCoop and residents, and holding quarterly member meetings for consent-based decisions.2456 Members pay annual dues and participate in governance.4 The first project, Ecodorp Boekel, was accepted in June 2018, followed by the first property association in November 2018; current efforts emphasize small-scale, sustainable communities like Het Nieuwe Bajesdorp near Amsterdam, focusing on durability, diversity, and social solidarity.56
VrijCoop operates primarily in the Netherlands, addressing pressures on the social housing sector through community-driven alternatives that prioritize affordability and sustainability over profit.16 It remains in development, refining structures for efficient, non-hierarchical operation.6