Stop de Woonlastenstijging by Ben Koster and Bob Goedewaagen

This painting was created by two graphic designers, Ben Koster and Bob Goedewaagen. The project was a response to a request from Aktiegroep Het Oude Westen, an organization dedicated to helping the residents of the Oude Westen neighborhood maintain the area as a socially sustainable place. The goal was to raise awareness about the ever-increasing rental prices in Rotterdam, symbolized by traffic lights. In the red circle, the painting represents the unequal distribution of necessary expenses (where rent takes the most significant portion). In contrast, the green circle signifies the ideal scenario (and the yellow would be the middle term). This theme remains relevant today, underscoring the significance of art in highlighting social movements and desires.

The best part of executing this mural was that it actually changed the rental prices. The residents got an agreement with Woonstad. Woonstad is a construction company and one of the most prominent partners for RSAM. Woonstad has always had strong social roots, as its investments are often directed toward social housing, which is also the case for Oude Westen. However, in the 1980s, the rents in the area were rising, just like in any other place. However, Woonstad once again demonstrated its dedication to social issues by accepting constructive criticism from the peaceful protest and taking immediate action.

Our team has chosen to preserve and include it as part of our collection to showcase the enduring support Woonstad has provided to the community. This support continues today through their assistance to the RSAM, which our team is very proud of!