A portrait of my great-aunt Marijke ‘Tante Pietje’ Roodhart and her four-story home on the Singel in Amsterdam.

She lived there for over sixty years, supported by social housing that provides affordable options for low-income residents. Her canal house was one of the few not privately owned, giving it a unique, almost time capsule-like feel, reflected in the many mementos on display.

For decades, real estate companies and investors tried to make her move, but she stayed until she passed away in 2024. Now, her house is emptied, and her belongings are gone. This portrait, like the many she owned, is a memento of her and her home, serving as a comment on the ongoing issues in Amsterdam’s housing market and the unchecked power of local real estate interests.