Spoorzone | Tilburg

Spoorzone Tilburg: hip repurposing, together with the city

The community has the solution to municipal problems regarding the rezoning and redevelopment of urban areas. By giving space to creatives, it creates a new form of business activity that can easily be mixed with other, more traditional forms, as well as with residential zoning. The result? The desired vibrancy that ensures that industrial heritage is preserved and derelict areas are once again economically attractive and successful.

The result of this policy flaunts itself in Tilburg's Spoorzone. This 75-hectare area is located in the middle of the city, on the railroad tracks and opposite Tilburg's central station. The area is characterized by large historic buildings formerly owned by the NS, such as the Locomotive Hall, the Koepelhal-Wagenmakerij, the Ketelhuis and the Smederij. In 2011, the municipality of Tilburg acquired the historic buildings from the Spoorzone. Initially, the intention was to demolish the area in its entirety and put up large office buildings. However, a conscious decision was made to preserve these buildings because of their experiential value and because they contribute to the recognition of Tilburg's identity. 

History and atmosphere
Tilburg's Spoorzone has grown into a creative breeding ground. Experimentation and development together with the city resulted in all kinds of initiatives that together make the Spoorzone an attractive place. The former activity is still clearly perceptible around the large halls of the old NS workshops. The recently opened LocHal is an excellent example of this. Since January of this year, this immense building of glass and steel - which once served as a workshop for locomotives - houses the public library, various art and cultural institutions and meeting rooms. The city has now embraced the LocHal as "the new living room of the city. 

LocHal. (Image: Gerdien Wolthaus Paauw)

Because of its history and atmosphere, the buildings are very suitable for events, cultural activities and business meetings. These are therefore organized with great regularity. You can stroll around a covered market in the Koepelhalle or enjoy culinary delights at the Houtloods, RAW or Eve. Both young and old are served: from a special children's party at the Hall of Fame to a swinging evening at Theater de Boemel.

Large-scale transformation
In fact, the Spoorzone is on the eve of a large-scale transformation. The past few years have mainly been marked by "pioneering," using the heritage of the Workshop for culture, hospitality and work functions with an alternative character. In the coming years, many new buildings will be added, integrating old and new. For example, two towers, a bicycle hotel and the urban-economic initiative MindLabs are planned for the coming year. With MindLabs, the Spoorzone also wants to showcase the significance of innovative entrepreneurship in Tilburg. Among others, the Fontys Hogeschool for Journalism, Tilburg University, Publishing House Zwijsen and the Press Group will settle here. 

The pioneering phase is now giving way to a further development in which new target groups will have a place, both in the new building and in the Workshop. Where possible, existing functions in hospitality and culture will be retained. As a result, the Spoorzone will not only be a trendy destination in the coming years, it will also be in full development.