ACU (Utrecht)

ACU
The ACU
Location
General information
Status	music venue, social centre, squat
Address	Voorstraat 71, Utrecht
Coordinates	52.0950°N 5.1219°E / 52.0950; 5.1219
Opened	1935
Closed	ongoing
Owner	Stichting Voorstaete
Website
acu.nl

The ACU is a political-cultural venue in the city center of Utrecht, the Netherlands. The name ACU is derived from "Auto Centrale Utrecht" (Car Center Utrecht) and is one of the many signs of its origin as an old squat. Nowadays it is still run by volunteers as a social centre in order to keep it an independent and non-profit harbor within Utrecht's nightlife. The ACU hosts a wide range of activities including: anarchist library, benefits, concerts, meetings poetry events, political info nights and a vegan restaurant.

History

The car center ACU existed from 1935 to 1967. In 1976, the premises were squatted and adapted for habitation. In the course of the years multiple small businesses settled there as well, for example a bike-shop. The residents started a cinema in the former showroom in 1979. After two years the cinema was replaced by a coffeehouse to be able to provide a public space for the squatting community. Eventually this developed into a venue providing a stage for local and international bands since 1985.

After almost being evicted the squatters realized the premises had to be bought. A foundation "stichting Voorstaete" was established to buy the property. In 1994 Stichting Voorstaete bought the ACU and the squatted premises around the corner, which currently houses the hostel Strowis. After years of refurbishing the building, the ACU reopened in 1998, and was completed as the current venue in 1999.

External links

• Official website ACU
• Kitchen Punx
• Strowis