De Nieuwe Vrede

De Nieuwe Vrede is a theatre and community centre in Antwerp’s old Berchem district, near the railway station and major roads. Its neo-Gothic building began as a parish house for Saint Willibrordus parish in 1895. An expansion in 1936 created a theatre complex where amateur groups rehearsed, performed and joined the regional Landjuweel event.

Today, the main theatre seats up to 210 people and has a stage twelve metres wide and seven metres deep. Dressing rooms, lighting equipment, a scenery room and a loading bay support performances and productions. Eight additional rooms include a dance hall with a sprung floor and several meeting rooms. These flexible spaces host rehearsals, exhibitions, meetings, workshops, lessons, receptions, concerts and film nights.

A café adds a relaxed meeting place for sewing workshops, board-game evenings, neighbourhood meetings and information sessions. Volunteers handle maintenance and technical support, while professional and amateur artists use the rooms for creative work. The centre’s community focus also includes sustainable improvements and ongoing efforts to renovate the historic building. Look up at the theatre hall: its twelve-metre stage gives this former parish house a clear theatrical scale.