Ruigoord: The vanishing island

Ruigoord (© Jur Engelchor)

25 years ago, a group of idealists squatted an entire Dutch village and created a utopian art colony and unique nature reserve: Ruigoord. It’s all over now. With plans to expand it harbour facilities, the city of Amsterdam recently evicted all of Ruigoord’s residents and ended the dream. Neville Powis recounts the colony’s last days. 

Producer: Neville Powis

Broadcast: December 18, 1998