Gemeentehuis

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

MUNICIPAL BUILDING built in 1938-1939 in a characteristic Interbellum style to the design of J. Boelens Kzn. from Assen (in collaboration with municipal architect H. Hofstee) Garden layout to the design of J. Vroom from De Punt. Stained-glass windows in the stairwell, signed by J. Wykmans and made by the studio N.E.G. (Noordnederlandsche Electrische Glasslijperij) in Groningen. The opening took place on Friday, 8 June 1939 (façade stone in the porch of the caretaker's dwelling). In the small wall of the dais a façade stone has been placed with: "Inhabitants of the municipality of Eelde have had the clock placed in the Town Hall, as a token of appreciation for what mayor J.G. Legro has accomplished in the interest of the municipality." In 1980 the municipal building was remodelled whereby the caretaker's dwelling was converted into an office and an extension of the building was made on the rear side in a matching style.

Description

Largely parallel to the road, elongated and detached composite built form, consisting partly of two storeys, constructed in purple and yellow Limburg brick (Belvedere brick factory Maastricht) and covered by a composite hipped roof tiled with glazed Romanesque tiles and likewise a gabled roof above the highest part; projecting gutter lines; slender open-worked roof turret with inclined four-sided spire (copper). The facades articulated by heavily executed window frames with original glazing and glazing bars; partly with shutters; arch drums. The representative section with a top gable facing the street with dais with parapet, porch of Bentheim sandstone with block-wise construction passing into the substructure of the balcony above it with wrought-iron ornamental railing; double opening dais doors, flanked by half-columns clad with azure-blue tiles, give access to the dais; relieving arches with keystone and decorative brickwork above the first-floor windows in the top gable; in the top a clock-face; gabled roof with overhang. The northern side entrance has a round-arched door; with above it two narrow and tall stained-glass windows (stairwell to the public gallery). To the left of the entrance a section under a sloping roof in which likewise a door ('entrance to faction rooms') with fanlight. The elongated, articulated side wing with hipped roof has a similar construction; the porch to the former caretaker's dwelling has a column with azure-blue tile cladding and a scroll of Bentheim sandstone; façade stone in the side wall. In the INTERIOR matters of note include the reception hall and the stairwell with cream-coloured Belgian marble (comblancien) bordered with a black edge. The stained-glass window is divided into three parts. The right part depicts aviation; the middle part horticulture crowned by the municipal coat of arms and the left part sailing and swimming sports. In the central corridor in the side wing steel doors and frames; counters of black marble; blue glazed tiles bordered with black edge and small red squares. The GARDEN LAYOUT which reinforces the monumental character of the municipal building comprises plantings of various kinds, a spacious pond, a somewhat undulating lawn with a small herbaceous border and flower bed. In the vicinity of the representative section lies the parking area belonging to the original design which is bounded by a wall of sintered brick and plantings of, among others, linden trees.

Valuation

Municipal building, valuable interior components and associated garden layout are of cultural-historical, architectural-historical, typological, urban-planning significance as well as of significance owing to integrity (with the exception of the otherwise unobtrusively executed rear side).