monument full of art, history and cooperation House of Waalwijk

Architect Kropholler is the brain behind the extraordinary design of Huis van Waalwijk. When a town hall was to be built in the 1930s, determining the style caused quite a bit of choice stress. Would you prefer modern and a touch futuristic or classic and historic? Kropholler sketched his design for the stepped gable building, submitted it and not much later he heard: this was going to be it. Construction was completed in 1932 and since then Waalwijk House has marked the Town Hall Square.

You quickly pick out Kropholler's creations because of the characteristic stepped gable and stately landing. He often included small details in his buildings as a nod to their location and history. This is also the case with Huis van Waalwijk. I peer at the building, curious to see if I can spot them. Not much later I discover it: the stone cow and ox standing guard at the stairs refer to the tannery past.

Today I have an appointment with Jozef, he has been retired for a number of years and since a few weeks coordinator at Huis van Waalwijk. Together with a building manager and another volunteer who does support tasks, they form the core team that manages Huis van Waalwijk.

Jozef and I meet in the central hall where you are immediately taken back in time. "What a beautiful light here," it's pretty much the first thing I say after we shake hands. Joseph points to the colorful stained glass windows next to the stone staircase to our left. A watery autumn sun peeks bravely through them, bathing the entire room in a soft, orange light. Each window depicts a different constellation I notice. Jozef explains that architect Kropholler's sister made stained glass and fitted all his buildings with the most beautiful window creations. What a good duo, that Kropholler and his sister.

From the hall you have access to the rest of the building. The various doors draw my attention, what exactly is here in Huis van Waalwijk? "A lot!" laughs Jozef. "You can divide everything we do into three pillars: the exhibition of architect Kropholler, various art exhibitions and events such as lectures and living room concerts. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon we are open as a museum and for the individual events it is best to keep an eye on our calendar. Admission is always free, by the way."

Time for a tour of the building, I just got more curious. First we step into the front room. The large windows give a beautiful view of the Raadhuisplein. This room is all about Kropholler and his work as an architect. Information panels on the wall tell me about the design and construction of House of Waalwijk.

I admire an exhibited building block in the corner of the room. "Guess how heavy that thing is," Jozef says. I'm way off with my three kilos: it turns out to be no less than eight. "Tough job putting this building together," he laughs.

The other rooms on this floor are exhibition rooms. Jozef and his wife Marian, together with Martin Peulen, form the permanent artist company that fills the rooms. The focus is on sculpture, painting and poetry. I feast my eyes on the permanent exhibits. The combination of the historic rooms and the surprising works of art makes the visit a hugely stimulating experience.

Besides the permanent exhibitions, there is also an area where there are changing exhibitions by some smaller, regional artists. For some, Huis van Waalwijk is even where they exhibit for the first time. "Every six weeks you can admire something new here," says Jozef. "This way we give a stage to creative people from the region and there is always something new for visitors to see. Win-win!"

Huis van Waalwijk has no less than three floors and one room is even more beautiful than the other. Jozef also shows me the Council Room where lectures, musical afternoons and other events are regularly organized. For children, Huis van Waalwijk undoubtedly also captures their imagination. During their visit, they can embark on a photo scavenger hunt through the building and, by answering the questions correctly, receive their prize at the end.

Cooperation is the magic word at Huis van Waalwijk and they don't sit still here. In November, the building will be renamed the House of St. Nicholas, where children can experience the story of St. Nicholas in the various rooms. In addition, there are already many collaborations with schools in the region where students are introduced to art, culture and history. The cooperation with musicians and artists from the neighborhood ensures a lively agenda full of activities and also for the future there are many great collaborations on the shelf."

Did you know that Huis van Waalwijk runs entirely on volunteers? This allows admission to remain completely free. The team now has 24 committed members but there is always room for more according to Jozef: plenty to do in this vibrant place. Another nice to know is that Huis van Waalwijk has been completely wheelchair friendly since a few years thanks to the arrival of the elevator. So everyone can come and admire this iconic building from the inside. Are you visiting with a group? Then book the Kropholler Complex Guided Tour On our website.

I thank Jozef for this fine tour, close the door behind me and walk back down the steps. As I walk back across the Raadhuisplein I look back once more; this pearl from De Langstraat has only become more interesting.

Extend your visit to Waalwijk or Huis van Waalwijk further? View our offer of tours and excursions.