Besetzer

Besetzer is a German noun that refers to a person who occupies property or land, typically without the owner’s permission. The term is often used to describe individuals who move into a building or site as a form of protest, political statement, or social action. In common usage it is frequently paired with the more specific Hausbesetzer, meaning a person who occupies a house.

The act of occupying is called Besetzung, and Besetzer can thus describe both the person and the broader movement or action. The word can carry varying connotations depending on context: it may describe activists seeking to draw attention to housing, land use, or urban policy concerns, or it may be used in a legal or journalistic sense to refer to occupants of property in disputes with owners or authorities. The term is gender-neutral in contemporary use, with female occupants described as Besetzerinnen.

Legal and social context varies by jurisdiction. In many places, occupying property without permission can lead to eviction proceedings, criminal charges, or civil actions for trespass or damage. In some urban movements, Besetzer activities are linked to broader campaigns around housing rights, housing policy, or anti-gentrification efforts. Public reception ranges from sympathetic support among housing advocates to negative depictions by property owners and authorities.

Historically, Besetzer movements have been associated with leftist and social activist circles, particularly in the late 20th century, though individual occupations have occurred in various periods and locales. The term remains in use in German-speaking media and discourse as a descriptive label for people who occupy property as a form of protest or social action.