Protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement
Table of contents
Overview of the protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement collection
- Contents: collection of publications of the Provo movement from 1965-1970 and of the squatters’ movement from 1964 onwards.
- Size: more than 300 books, magazines, pamphlets and posters.
- Access: can be found via the KB catalogue. Available for inspection in the Special Collections reading room; cannot be lent out.
- More information: Paul van Capelleveen.
About the protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement collection
The protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement collection provide insight into the progressive protest movements from the 1960s onwards. The collection focuses on the magazines, posters, pamphlets and books published by Provo in Amsterdam, as well as on activities outside the Randstad conurbation, such as Maastricht, Zaandam and Hengelo. Issues from the squatters’ movement from later years have also been added to this collection.
Provo was a slang term, a shortened form of provoceren (to provoke). Provo's non-violent actions primarily targeted consumer society and the authorities, such as the police and mayor. The first publication issued by the Provo movement, Provo magazine, ran from 1965 to 1967. Other well-known Provo titles include Aloha, Hitweek, Tante Leny Presenteert (Aunt Leny Presents) and Spoonful.
The collection also includes examples of publications from the squatters’ movement, which also released pamphlets and magazines, such as Groote Keyser ontruimd? (Eviction of Groote Keyser?), Jongerenhuisvestings-Nieuwsbrief (Youth Housing Newsletter) and De Opstoot (a play on words meaning both The Riot and The Uppercut). The collection also includes works by Bart Huges, Stichting Onafhankelijk Denken (the Independent Thought Foundation) and other alternative action groups.
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Cover of the magazine Gandalf, 2 , 15 april 1964. Application number: KW Provo 0194:2.
Background of the protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement collection
The collection of Provo magazines has been in the KB's care since 2005. They were collected by professor Ferdinand van Dam (1931), an economist from The Hague who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed professor by the universities of Groningen and Leiden. Recognising Provo's social significance, he built up his collection in a systematic and careful manner. Thanks to that, the journals are very well preserved.
Since 2005, the collection has been supplemented with missing publications. Many publications by the squatters’ movement were also added through purchases and gifts.
Accessibility of the protest publications by Provo and the squatters’ movement collection
The collection can be found in the KB catalogue. The publications are available for inspection in the Special Collections reading room. Presentations for groups are organised on request.
