Surely many of you have once in your life to deal with the question: “How to deal with a noisy anti social neighbor?”. And so have I. I’ve been living in my apartment for more than twenty three years. It is a small apartment building of six households. Not always the relationship with a neighbor was perfect, but with a bit of talk we were always able to get along.

You must know, the apartments are government subsidized. Over 30% of homes in the Netherlands are subsidized, an OECD record. Last couple of years the government started to allow extra increases in rents for those households who earn average or more and are renting a subsidized house. Now, in subsidized housing you don’t get the upper crust of society, but as a result of this policy change two good and decent neighbors left and bought a house somewhere else in the city.

They were replaced by less than stellar neighbors. “Now, now, be tolerant!”. As I said before a bit of talk works miracles. Unfortunately the young man who moved in next to me isn’t very susceptible to reason. He thinks his apartment is his “crib” and rules are for losers. Well, he doesn’t say that but his action speak volumes. Loud music during the day, shouting and talking deep in the night with his mates. And occasionally extremely loud parties well into the morning.

One gets used to everything. But not able to sleep because the neighbor thinks himself a very cool hipster who needs to entertain his “bros” on a Monday night is something which gets annoying very quickly. Especially if one has to work the next day. I’ve talked to him at lease six times about the the noise he’s producing. But alas, he is just stonewalling me with a fake jolly and upbeat demeanor.

So, the neighbor has zero percent interest in the other dwellers of the building. Fair enough, he’s an immature dick and an anti social neighbor. I can handle the noise during the day. At night I need to sleep though. I was looking for a solution and lo and behold there is something like ear plugs for sleeping. Last year I have used them a couple of times and they work like a charm. If think get really bad at night I pop them in and I’m done.

I accepted this neighbor as he is and they sleeping ear plugs are an excellent backup plan. But this can’t go on for ever. There is a silver lining to this gloomy story. I too will soon be a home owner. Last December 2014 I decided to look for a property. And in about a month I’ll move to my own apartment. No more random politically motivated rent hikes and no more dubious neighbors. And I will talk about my new situation if the future for sure.