Afrikahuis, Amsterdam, house in Amsterdam
The Afrikahuis is a church building in Amsterdam constructed in 1968 on the site of an older church. The structure comprises five linked octagons made of concrete with limestone facades and contains a large church hall seating about 900 people, offices, staff housing, and underground spaces.
The original Sint Willibrorduskerk was demolished in 1970 and replaced in 1968 by the current building. Church authorities soon found the new structure difficult to use, and from the 1970s it served various purposes, from a mosque to a community center before being renamed Afrikahuis in 1994.
The building was renamed Afrikahuis in 1994 to serve African Catholic communities living in the Netherlands. Today, Casa Migrante operates from within it, supporting Spanish-speaking migrants, showing how the space continues to adapt to the needs of minority groups.
The building is visible from Van Ostadestraat where the main entrance sits beneath the church hall. Visitors should note that spaces are only partially and irregularly in use, so checking ahead is wise before planning a visit.
The building was designed in 1968 with an unusual shape of five linked octagons, a rare example of structuralism applied to religious architecture. This geometric design enabled flexible space use, later confirmed by its shifting use among different communities.
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