In yet another incident of Western European nations ignoring sexual assault on locals by immigrants in the name of ‘social integration’ and political correctness, it has been revealed that 125 students made to live with refugees under an experiment faced sexual assaults, violence, and harassment, and their complaints were ignored by the authorities. In this stark example of good intentions gone awry, the Stek Oost housing complex in Amsterdam’s Watergraafsmeer district has become the centre of disturbing allegations involving refugees who were housed with local students under a social experiment to integrate refugees with Dutch students.
Opened in 2018, the facility, housing 125 refugees alongside 125 young locals, has instead been marred by reports of serious crimes and safety failures. Recent investigations, including a Dutch documentary by Zembla, have brought these issues to light, revealing a pattern of ignored complaints and institutional hurdles that allowed dangers to persist.
The complex, managed by housing association Stadgenoot, was hailed as a “dream solution” to both the refugee integration challenge and Amsterdam’s chronic housing shortage. Residents were encouraged to “buddy up,” pairing students with migrants, many of whom were status holders from countries like Syria, to foster cultural exchange and accelerate adaptation to Dutch society. The project, launched in 2016, aimed to create a harmonious mixed-living environment on a former football training field of club Zeeburgia, with 250 apartments in total.
However, former residents have painted a harrowing picture of life inside Stek Oost. Over the past 18 months alone, at least 20 reports of sexual assault and violence have been filed, with allegations stretching back to the complex’s early years. Incidents include harassment, stalking, physical fights in hallways and shared living spaces, drug trafficking, and even a suspected gang rape in one studio apartment. Students described a constant atmosphere of fear, with one resident telling investigators, “You live with the constant expectation that something will happen soon, it’s been too quiet for too long.”
One of the most shocking cases involves a former resident identified as Amanda, who reported being raped in 2019 by a Syrian refugee living in the complex. According to her account, the man invited her to his room under the pretence of watching a film and practicing Dutch, as she had offered to help him integrate. Once inside, he made her uncomfortable, and when she attempted to leave, he allegedly trapped her and sexually assaulted her. Amanda filed a police report, but the case was initially dropped due to insufficient evidence. Six months later, another female resident raised alarms about the same Syrian man, expressing fears for the safety of women in the building. Despite these warnings, authorities claimed eviction from the facility was legally impossible at the time.
The suspect was not removed until his arrest in March 2022. In 2024, he was convicted of raping both Amanda and the second complainant, receiving a three-year prison sentence. Maartje van Megen, a lawyer representing one of the victims, criticized Stadgenoot for failing to act earlier, stating that the delay “put many women at risk of being assaulted in their own homes.”
Other testimonies describe similar pervasive issues. A male student recounted being threatened with an eight-inch kitchen knife by a refugee during a confrontation. Female residents reported repeated harassment and stalking, while other complaints narrated problems with mentally unstable individuals and drug-related activities. Police records confirm seven sexual assault reports from the complex, alongside multiple violence incidents. In 2022, a separate refugee was accused of six sexual assaults between 2018 and 2021, sparking a prolonged legal battle for his eviction.
Critics argue that the integration model’s flaws were exacerbated by inadequate oversight. Stadgenoot manager Mariëlle Foppen admitted the organization was “completely overwhelmed” and unable to ensure resident safety, describing the situation as “too intense.”
In the summer of 2023, the housing association pushed to terminate the project entirely, citing threats against employees and escalating dangers. However, the municipality blocked this move, with Oost district chair Carolien de Heer explaining the legal challenges, “You see unacceptable behavior, and people get scared. But legally, that’s often not enough to remove someone from their home or impose mandatory care. You keep running into the same obstacles.” De Heer also questioned alternatives, asking, “Where would these people go?”
As a compromise, a new agreement was reached in 2024, reducing the proportion of status holders to 30% of the 250 units. Despite this, recent reports from Zembla indicate ongoing unrest, with residents still feeling unsafe. The full contract is slated to expire in April 2028, after which Stek Oost is expected to close.
