It had been standing empty for 2 years and was squatted as a protest intended to highlight the lack of affordable residential housing in Rotterdam.

[1] It was intended to be the administrative headquarters of Rotterdamsche Handelsvereniging, but when the owner (L.Pincoffs) went bankrupt and fled to the United States of America the second building was not built.

On 17 February 2006 the Rotterdam Court of Justice gave the verdict that the rental contract was ended and no alternative housing should be offered.

[6] The Vereniging Poortgebouw had argued that this work was needed because both Woning Bedrijf Rotterdam and de Groene Groep had neglected their contractual obligations to ensure the outside of the building was in a good condition.

In 2010, this court judged that de Groene Groep was not permitted to evict the current tenants, a major victory for the inhabitants.