Elckerlyc Antwerpen

Theater Elckerlyc is one of Antwerp's largest theater venues, tucked inside the grounds of a former Jesuit college on Frankrijklei, right at the edge of the historic city center. From the street it's easy to walk past its entrance between the neo-Gothic buildings of the old school, but inside waits an auditorium seating close to 800 people, one that regularly hosts leading Dutch-language theater companies from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Where did this hall come from?

The building that now houses the theater wasn't built for entertainment at all. In 1871, the Jesuits bought a plot of land along Antwerp's former city fortifications, on what is today the Leien boulevard ring. Four years later, in 1875, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege opened there — a Catholic secondary school that welcomed its first 288 students. Shortly after, construction began in 1877 on the neo-Gothic Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Genade church next door, designed by architects Jules Bilmeyer and Joseph Van Riel. The church was consecrated in 1882, though its two distinctive towers weren't added until 1909.

The theater hall itself, known today as Zaal Elckerlyc, came much later. The college needed its own assembly hall for school events and cultural activities, so architect Rie Haan designed a new building in 1955–1956, which opened in 1957.

How did the hall's role change over time?

From early on, Zaal Elckerlyc did more than serve as a school auditorium. In its first decades it hosted film screenings organized by the Catholic film league for Antwerp schools, as well as political party congresses and television recordings for the Belgian public broadcaster BRT. The name "Elckerlyc" refers to a medieval Dutch morality play from around 1470, about a man confronting death — a text considered the source for the English play "Everyman." It was this play that gave its name to the Elckerlyc theater society, which for years programmed performances by leading Dutch-language theater groups in the hall.

Over time the venue's role shifted toward that of a full-fledged theater house operating independently of the school, though still within the same historic building complex. Today the former college assembly hall stands as one of the city's more important theater stages, providing the infrastructure for both large touring productions and local cultural events.

What's worth knowing before a visit?

Theater Elckerlyc sits on Frankrijklei, one of the boulevards ringing Antwerp's historic center, making it an easy walk from most of the city's main sights, including the cathedral and the Grote Markt. The hall is still part of the former Jesuit college complex, next to the neo-Gothic Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Genade church — worth a glance at the architecture before heading inside.

Frequently asked questions

Is Theater Elckerlyc a heritage building? The building is part of the former Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege complex, listed in Belgium's Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed heritage register, though the theater hall itself dates from the 1950s rather than the college's original neo-Gothic expansion.

Where does the name "Elckerlyc" come from? It's the name of a medieval Dutch morality play from around 1470 about a man facing death — a text regarded as the source for the English play "Everyman."

How many people does the hall seat? The auditorium seats close to 800 people, making it one of the larger theater venues in Antwerp.

Who designed the theater building? Architect Rie Haan, who drew up the design in 1955–1956; construction was completed in 1957.