Districtshuis Merksem

Districtshuis Merksem is the seat of the district administration of Merksem, one of Antwerp's districts, standing on Burgemeester Jozef Nolfplein right next to the Sint-Bartholomeuskerk. The building combines an active municipal office with the status of a protected piece of post-war architecture, making it one of the more interesting examples of civic modernism in the Antwerp region.

Why was this building constructed?

The story of the current building begins with a tragedy. The previous town hall of Merksem, inaugurated in 1894, was almost completely destroyed by shelling in September 1944, during the final phase of fighting in the region. In 1951 the municipality announced an architectural competition for a new administrative building, won by the Antwerp architects Victor Gorlé (1900–1966) and J. Frissen. Construction took place between 1964 and 1968, with the new town hall officially inaugurated in 1968.

Why is it called a "districtshuis" rather than a town hall?

The competition rules specified that the new building had to be coordinated with its surroundings, especially with the neighbouring church, both in scale and in choice of materials. The building's official status, however, changed later than its architecture: in 1983 Merksem lost its status as an independent municipality and was incorporated as a district of Antwerp. From that point the building no longer functioned as a municipal town hall but became the seat of district-level administration — hence its current name, "districtshuis."

What is inside the building?

The interior was designed by interior architect Jan Van Puyvelde in collaboration with the design studio Kunstwerkstede De Coene, creating a coherent concept typical of 1960s design. Much of the original finishing has survived to this day, including wooden and parchment wall panelling and furniture designed specifically for the space. It is precisely the completeness and quality of this interior that led to the building's protected heritage status, granted in 2011, covering both the exterior structure and the preserved interiors.

Functionally, the building is divided into two main parts: the ground floor houses the city service counter (stadsloket), where residents can handle administrative matters, while the first floor is occupied by the offices of the district services.

Can you handle official business there?

Yes, the districtshuis is an active government office. The service counter on the ground floor receives visitors Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 to 16:30. Anyone wishing to contact the district administration can do so by phone or email through the official channels of the Merksem district.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Districtshuis Merksem located? At Burgemeester Jozef Nolfplein 1, in the centre of the Merksem district, northeast of the Sint-Bartholomeuskerk.

Who designed the building? Architects Victor Gorlé and J. Frissen, winners of a competition announced in 1951. The interior was designed by Jan Van Puyvelde together with Kunstwerkstede De Coene.

Is the building a protected monument? Yes, since 2011 Districtshuis Merksem has held protected heritage status.

Is it still a functioning government office? Yes, the ground floor houses a stadsloket (resident service counter), while the floor above holds the offices of the district administration.

What happened to the previous town hall? The earlier building, dating from 1894, was destroyed by shelling in September 1944, which forced the construction of an entirely new building in the 1960s.