It must have been quite a shock for the employees of the Baarle Cultural Center, on the border of Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands) and Baarle-Hertog (Belgium). On Monday they discovered that the ceiling had collapsed in one of the rooms. Both mayors then decided to close the building immediately. “Structural research will be carried out as soon as possible,” says Bert Jansen, spokesperson for the municipality of Baarle-Nassau.
The room where the ceiling came down is also the room where the local band holds their rehearsals. The Baarle Cultural Center on Pastoor de Katerstraat houses the Theek 5 library. Activities are also held and various associations use the spaces.
“We’re glad no one was in the room at the time.”
Harmony is the hardest hit association. No one was in the room at the time of the collapse, probably over the weekend. “The band practices in this room, but their instruments are also stored. The ceiling has damaged at least one drum set. Other instruments may also have been damaged, which is still being investigated. It is impossible to predict when something like this will happen. We are I’m glad there was no one in the room at that moment.”
“Construction investigation as soon as possible.”
The Baarle Cultural Center is located exactly on the Belgian-Dutch border. It is located in an old monastery. Jansen: “Both mayors immediately decided to shut down activities and classes for safety reasons. The building is closed until the structural investigation has been completed. That investigation will start as soon as possible.”
According to the spokesperson, no defects have been identified in the building in the past. “A tender has been requested for a new cultural center. The tender has been stopped due to excessive costs. That procedure is separate from this event. The plans are on hold for the time being and work is being done on a new design.”