The Hilversum Public Library and People's University Foundation has sold its current location at 's-Gravenlandseweg 55 in Hilversum to HF Vastgoedontwikkeling. The library plans to move into a new location in the Gooische Brink shopping centre in the summer of 2025.
Villa Erica is a building with a rich history. The building was built in 1844 as a boys’ boarding school. Twenty years after its construction, the villa was used as a country residence by a securities broker from Amsterdam. In 1889 the villa changed hands again and the villa was given its current neo-Renaissance appearance during a renovation by architect Isaac Gosschalk. He gave the villa the name ‘Villa Erica’. Gosschalk is known, among other things, as the architect of the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam and the main railway station in Groningen. The villa (including fencing) has been designated as a national monument. The Oranjehotel was established in the building in 1897. After serving as a hotel for several years and again as a private residence, the library bought the villa in 1932 for 32,000 guilders. During the Second World War the building served as a canteen for German soldiers. Immediately after the liberation, the villa was used as a meeting place for Canadian soldiers, the Maple Leaf Club. In January 1946, the library put the building back into use. Since then, the villa has undergone various renovations and extensions, the last of which was the large extension at the rear in 1995.
To ensure a transparent sales process, the sale took place by tender. The property was also offered by tender in the spring of 2023, but the bids did not meet the library’s expectations at the time. This new attempt once again showed sufficient interest with a better result.
The buyer, HF Vastgoedontwikkeling, will in the coming period in consultation with the municipality of Hilversum develop plans for the new phase of Villa Erica. The exact details are as yet unknown. HF Vastgoedontwikkeling is an independent project developer that focuses on (inner) urban (re)development. It is mainly active in the Gooi and Vecht region, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Eemland. It previously developed the Vesting Hotel and the Municipal Office in Naarden. The developer is currently realising offices and business premises at the former TBS site in Soest.
The library is currently busy preparing the move to the Gooische Brink shopping centre. Here the library purchased approximately half the existing retail space to convert it into a ‘new style’ library. It will house the library and the public university, but will also provide a home for various other social organisations.
The move of the library to the Gooische Brink is part of the formation of the Mediaplein. Hilversum Library already works closely with Beeld & Sound and Museum Hilversum to make media accessible to all residents of the municipality. The municipality of Hilversum is redesigning the Kerkbrink with various cultural and social functions for a wide audience.
The Hilversum Library was advised by Redept on the sale of Villa Erica and the purchase of the Gooische Brink.
The Hilversum library is not just a library; it is the library of Hilversum Media City. When the library was founded, books, newspapers and magazines were the main forms of media; they are still important, but a wide spectrum of media has been added, audiovisual and digital. And it is precisely with these media that Hilversum has grown. Hilversum Library connects what Hilversum is good at (media) with what the library is good at (talent development and access to media).
Contact us or plan a meeting.
