History

1835 – 1906

Yes, we go way back! Or at least, the history of our location does. Probably longer, but the canal that runs up to Moira is called ‘Plompetorengracht’, named after the Plompetoren (Plump tower) that used to be in the place where the current Moira building is.

In 1835 the Plompetoren was demolished, and some bourgeois bastards built a big villa there. Baroness Van Reede van ter Aa lived there. After her death in 1905 in Scheveningen, the villa was sold and in 1906 Jan Lambeek let the villa be demolished, so he could build three big houses, big enough to also have a home office.

1907

Gymnastics teacher G. Plijnaar develops and opens a gymnastics hall: the current Zaal, at Plompetorenbrug 2-4. It is used to teach gymnastics to children from surrounding schools in the Utrecht centre. He lived in the house above the Zaal.

1919

In this year, the N.V. Verzekeringsbank Moira (Moira insurance bank Ltd.) moved to one of the houses on the Plompetorenbrug. It is this insurance bank we have to thank our name for!

1928

The Zaal is turned into a dancing institute, a balustrade is added to be able to watch the dancing couples. Chr. Zegers, owner of the institute, buys the house and starts living there. The institute becomes a renown Catholic dancing school.

1952

In 1952 N.V. Moira acquires the middle of the three houses. Now they own the whole building, big renovations were set in motion. In 1953 the front facade of the Moira building as we know it today was built.

1959

The place obtains its name: an insurance company named Moira buys the building. Moira comes from “Moirai”: the greek goddesses of fate who spin the thread of life. Quite the appropriate name. The insurance company turns the Zaal into their canteen and it also turns out to be very suited for company parties.

1960’s

A big renovation plan was made. Having incorporated all the separate buildings over time, N.V. Moira wanted to build a big modern building.

Alas, after the construction of the Neudeflat, there’s a lot of pushback from citizens and the municipality to make more modern monstrosities within the canals.

An internal renovation was done, to connect the buildings on the inside. The dance hall became a staff cafetaria and the basement housed the first computers.

1970's

The insurance company moves out and they leave the building vacant. The building stays empty for years. The municipality starts making plans to tear it down and build a parking garage. Residents of the neighborhood strongly disagree with this plan.

Early 1980’s

This is where we come in!

In the 1980’s, N.V. Moira relocates to the Janskerkhof. The old buildings were left empty.

1983

A group gathers on a november night. They are a collection of diverse young people, mainly students, all of them idealists, who want to make a fist against the useless vacancy of buildings while the housing market is extremely tight in this quickly growing student city. With support from the neighbourhood, they squat the building. Yes, in the 80s this was legal. The police interferes, but after discussions with the municipality, they are allowed to occupy a part of the building.

1984 – 1988

In multiple attempts, the entire Plompetorenbrug (and part of Wolvenstraat… Or not?) becomes squatted, except for a small part (addresses), in which ‘kraakwacht’, ‘anti-squatters’, take residence. A diverse crowd interested in squats finds their way into the building and the group strongly diversifies. Diverse political convictions between residents make things messy every now and then. The Zaal serves as a venue for concerts and parties in the Utrecht alternative scene. The Moira corner becomes known as a good place to celebrate the Dutch sovereign’s birthday.

Throughout these years, the municipality makes several attempts to contact the residents with the request to turn the building into formalized living space. After a long negotiation they come to an agreement. The building is bought by a housing cooperation, who together with the residents make a reconstruction plan to turn the building into a ‘woongroep’; a large living community consisting of smaller units gathered around multiple kitchens, creatin affordable shared living space in the city center.

1989

After 1,5 year of rebuilding, people take up residents in the spaces they could help design. Not everybody stayed – a part of the group moved on to other squats to further their cause and fight against empty living space. The Zaal becomes run by the residents and a group of volunteers and keeps hosting parties and concerts, with a non-commercial purpose.

1990

After renovations and legalisation, Stichting Moira (the Moira foundation) was established to manage the building.

This was the start of the current Moira!