Give-away shops, freeshops, or free stores are second-hand stores that are starting to appear in Northern European towns and cities, especially in the Netherlands and Germany. They are similar to charity shops, only everything is available free (no-cost). Whether it is a book, a piece of furniture, a garment or a household item, it is all freely given away. They reflect a switch over from scarcity to abundance brought about by increased material wealth due to technological advances. The idea of free goods still carries some stigma, so many people who use these shops are those who are lead to either by need (financially poor, such as students, single parents & the elderly) or by conviction (anti-capitalists).
The slogan of the stores is:
- There is enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed
The first Give Away Shop was opened in Leiden (Netherlands), by members of the anarchist Eurodusnie Collective.
Give-away shops are often housed in squats. Naturally the shops don't make any profit, and are run by volunteers only.
Give-away shops in the Netherlands and Belgium
- Amersfoort: Keerkring 18. Saturdays 1300-1700
- Amsterdam: Singel 267. Tuesdays and Thursdays 1700-1900 and Saturdays 1200-1700
- Antwerp: Ploegstraat 25. Mondays to Fridays 1400-1800
- Arnhem: Huize Werfzicht aan de Rijnkade 89 and 90
- Den Bosch: Vereniging Ontspoord Maijweg 64a Saturdays 1200-1700 website ontspoord (in Dutch)
- Deventer: locatie de Zijbeuk, Kleine Poot 8 in Deventer Thursdays 1800-2100
- Dordrecht: Spuiweg 72. Thursdays 1900-2100 & Saturdays 1300-1700
- Groningen: Op Drift, 1ste Drift Spilsluizen 2, Groningen Tuesdays & Thursdays 1300-1700
- Hengelo: Deldenerstraat 3 Mondays 1100-1700, Tuesdays 0930-1130, Thursdays 0900-1130 Hengelo give-away shop's website (in Dutch)
- Leiden: Hooglandse Kerkgracht 4. Thursdays & Fridays 1400-1700, Saturdays 1100-1700
- Rotterdam: Hang 4, Thursdays 1200-1330 and Tuesdays 1700-2200
- Utrecht: Vredenburg 29. Tuesdays 1400-1800 and Saturdays 1400-1700
- Zwolle: Het Nieuwe Werk Saturdays 1300-1630
See also
External link
