This film will be introduced by filmmaker Mirte Jepma. Afterwards there will be a Q&A.
De Zinkende Rafelrand is a documentary that explores the vanishing of a quirky Amsterdam neighborhood, swept away in the name of urban renewal and suburban expansion.
'The Sinking Fringe' (2025, 56’) is a documentary about Amsterdam’s quirky Baaibuurt-West neighborhood, set to vanish by December 31, 2024. This vibrant community of free-spirited, close-knit residents will be transformed as part of an urban renewal project aimed at addressing the Dutch housing crisis. The plan involves raising the sinking land with seven meters of sand to prepare it for conventional housing, earning the area its nickname, 'The Sinking Fringe.' Through interviews and archival footage, the film offers an intimate portrait of a hidden neighborhood caught between hope and fear, grappling with an uncertain future while fighting to secure its rightful place in Amsterdam’s evolving urban landscape.
Bio filmmaker
Mirte Jepma (she/her) is a PhD researcher at the University of Amsterdam, focusing on housing injustices through the lens of grassroots resistance, lived experiences, and alternative self-organization. Her research equips her with critical tools to explore and advocate for housing rights in her hometown, Amsterdam. Using diverse media – writing, drawing and filmmaking – she amplifies the voices of those affected by housing injustice, working toward a more equitable future.