De Meerpaal

De Meerpaal is a cultural centre in Dronten, a planned town in the Flevoland polder region of the Netherlands. The building was designed in 1965 by architect Frank van Klingeren, whose concept drew on an idealistic vision of an open, accessible community space. The structure has had an eventful physical history: it was partially demolished and rebuilt in both 1987 and 2005, and each round of changes provoked heated debate among residents and at the political level, giving De Meerpaal a degree of regional fame that extends well beyond its modest surroundings. Today the building carries the status of a municipal monument while continuing to function as a working cultural venue, an unusual combination that sets it apart from many heritage structures that have been retired into purely archival roles.

Under one roof, De Meerpaal brings together a theatre hall, a cinema, a music and dance school, a library, and several multi purpose performance and event spaces. The programming reflects that breadth: over the decades the venue has welcomed Golden Earring for concerts in January 1977 and again in February 1989, South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo in November 2005, and more recently Edsilia Rombley on her piano ballads theatre tour in January 2019, Waylon performing material from his country influenced show in April 2022, and saxophone player Candy Dulfer in March 2023. The mix of Dutch pop, world music, theatre productions, film screenings and arts courses makes De Meerpaal the primary address for live culture in the Flevoland region, serving both local residents and visitors drawn from across the surrounding province.