Het Slaakhuis

Het Slaakhuis is a six-story office building with top-hung windows, randomly placed balconies, and decorative brickwork on its side facades. The ground floor contains a reception area, public counter, and commercial spaces behind a glass facade with a parasol-shaped canopy entrance.

Built between 1951 and 1954, this structure replaced a 1907 building damaged during 1940. It served as headquarters for Het Vrije Volk newspaper, marking the city's post-war reconstruction.

The name comes from the street where it stands, connecting the building to its immediate surroundings. A bronze sculpture by Wessel Couzijn depicting a courier in motion marks the connection between labor movements and left-wing publishing.

The building has a ground-level entrance portal that is easy to find and access, with clear signage for visitors. The glass frontage and distinctive entry area make it simple to orient yourself, even on a first visit.

The building shifted through several different uses: from press headquarters to a popular snooker center hosting international players. It later became a community squat, showing how its role changed over time.

Location: Rotterdam

Inception: 1951

Architects: Jo Vegter, P.A. Leupen

Creator: Wessel Couzijn

Architectural style: reconstruction-period architecture

Part of: Top 100 of Dutch monuments 1940-1958

Address: Slaak 34 te Rotterdam, e.a.

GPS coordinates: 51.92415,4.49955

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:26