Over here in the Netherlands a building needs to be unoccupied for a year. This doesn't apply if developments are going on. It is still legal to squat but there's new law underway which would make this more difficult. To the dismay of some city councels. I know Amsterdam is very much against this new law. Squatting is also somewhat a stick behind the door to prevent specularting.
I don't think our housing problems can be compared to Detroit. Demand way surpasses the supply. There are enough houses, just not enough in the social ranges.
One of the more famous squatter palaces over here is Vrankrijk.
Lately they had some legal problems of a whole different order...
You can also read some of the history behind squatting in the Netherlands scrolling down. I understand the need to live somewhere but I detest the anti-globalists who seem to refuse to earn a decent living and make living miserable for everyone else.
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