As part of the optional course Interview II for history students at the University of Groningen (RUG), interviewers held discussions with people who were active in the Groningen squatters’ movement between 1977 and 1987. Emphasis is placed on the personal experiences of the individual squatters, the attitude of the squatters’ movement towards (official) authorities and organisations, and the relationships within the squatters’ movement itself.
Some individuals preferred not to appear before the microphone under their own or their full names.
The research resulted in an extensive report entitled: Kraken in Groningen 1977-1987. This report includes transcripts and summaries, a historical overview of the Groningen squatters’ movement and a short bibliography.

Brochure van het Bewonerskollektief Oude Erkazet, Groningen mei 1982.

Interviews with 14 witnesses who tell about their experiences during the occupation and liberation of Groningen and its surroundings.

For many inhabitants of the city of Groningen, the Scholtenhuis was a notorious building during the war. The building on the east side of the Grote Markt served as the headquarters of the Sicherheitsdienst, the German intelligence service. Hermann Conring, the representative of the Reich Commissioner Seyss-Inquart in the north of the Netherlands, also had his seat here. In addition, the building was a prison, where countless (resistance) people were interrogated, tortured and deported to be killed.

On 15 April 1945, one day before the liberation of Groningen, the Scholtenhuis burned to the ground.

Ten people who had to deal with the Scholtenhuis, for example as a prisoner, family member of a prisoner, supplier or typist, have told their story. From different perspectives, their testimonies shed new light on the functioning of the building.

In Hou t was Groningers – the title says it all – tell about their lives in the past. This resulted in interesting, recognisable and sometimes moving stories, which were broadcast by RTV Noord. These television reports generally lasted about seven minutes and were supported by suitable visual material from the collection of GAVA and the Groninger Archives, which can be viewed via filmbankgroningen.

The complete and unedited interviews with these Groningers last on average over an hour.  The stories are also extensively summarised and presented in fragments, in Dutch. The interviews are usually in the Groningen language. This is the language in which the interviewees can best express themselves and feel comfortable with. The setting in which the interviewees tell their stories is also designed for this: their own living rooms, sitting in easy chairs. These unedited interviews can be viewed here by searching for the name of the interviewee.

The stories in Hou t was are eyewitness reports and do not necessarily reflect historical reality. They are people’s personal memories, but that does not make them any less valuable. Their lives have conformed to them.