Vrijburcht

**Vrijburcht: A Sustainable Cohousing Project in Amsterdam** Vrijburcht is a multipurpose living-and-working complex located on Steigereiland, an artificial island in Amsterdam's IJmeer lake. Initiated in 2000 by a group of residents, the project was developed through collective private commissioning, with residents jointly financing and designing the complex. Vrijburcht features 52 apartments, a care home, a day-care center, a café, a theater, and a shared courtyard garden designed to adapt to climate change. The garden includes solutions to prevent flooding, minimize water scarcity, and reduce heat stress. It features trees, a vegetable garden, lawns, flowers, benches, and a greenhouse, providing a cool environment during warmer summers and storing rainwater for irrigation in dry periods. The project is managed by the Vrijburcht Foundation and the Homeowner Association, ensuring residents have influence over the project and its maintenance. Vrijburcht serves as a model for sustainable and community-driven housing, offering a variety of shared social amenities for both residents and the local community.