After 20 years a demolition hammer through the workplace: Ilse is looking forward to the renovated Hoorn town hall

The town hall is no longer the town hall. When you walk through the entrance, you enter an almost unrecognizable bare space. The public counters were buried under rubble and dust. “I have been here for many years. I still recognize the space, but it is very bare,” says Ilse.

From birth registrations, marriages, address changes and immigrations, Ilse Reus saw everything pass by in those years. In 2002 she started at the public counter at civil affairs. Almost 21 years ago. She is not sad that her workplace is now in ruins. “You have been preparing for it for years and it is good that it is now being addressed. There was a draught, the building was old and used up. It is strange to see, but we are getting a nice place in return.”

From the top down

From the third floor, the demolition works towards the ground floor. Almost everything goes out, explains project leader Pieter van Crosstum out. It is already empty on the third floor and the roof is being weighted down to be able to carry all the solar panels later. A shovel drives around one floor below to remove all the rubble.

At the same time, work is being done outside on the new building. A large concrete basement tank towers above the ground in front of the new garage. Van Kruistum: “Fifteen cars and about 200 bicycles will soon be here.”

They will soon lower the cellar wall into the ground in an ingenious way. With an iron rod that goes through the wall and is fixed 25 meters deep in the ground. “A jack is placed on top of it with pressure, we excavate along the walls and then the basement tank drops down in a controlled manner at 10 centimeters per day.”

Appearance is preserved ‘in honor’

The building dates from the mid-1970s and is a monument. Van Kruistum: “The slates on the outside determine the image. And also the color yellow, blue and red and the use of natural materials. We will also reflect that in the renovated complex. It will be preserved as much as possible.”

About forty men are now working on the demolition. Additional hands will be added in the near future. “By the time of delivery, that will be 120 people.” It will become gasless and the roof will be covered with solar panels. “A lot is reused. The aluminum windows are at the end of their lifespan, but the glass and aluminum are reused.”

Residents can now go to the other side of the street for municipal matters, in the former Rabobank building. However, that doesn’t always go well. “We have now even put an extra sign here, sometimes people with their passports are still here in front of the construction site,” says Van Kruistum, laughing and surprised.

To be ready with the renewed town hall halfway through 2024. “Everything is on schedule. It will be ready before August 1.”