DE MELKERIJ

What DE MELKERIJ does

GC de Melkerij is a municipally operated community cultural center (gemeenschapscentrum) located in Zemst, Belgium, owned and administered by Gemeente Zemst. It serves as a single-venue cultural hub for the Zemst municipality, hosting theater, comedy, music, film, and family programming, alongside school-time performances for local primary and secondary schools. The facility comprises three rentable spaces: a blackbox Podiumzaal with 250-seat retractable-tribune capacity (and 400 standing for concerts), a Grote Vergaderzaal (70 seated/120 standing) for meetings and receptions, and a Kleine Vergaderzaal (20-seat) for smaller gatherings. Technical infrastructure includes professional lighting (Chamsys MagicQ MQ70 with motorized trusses), audio (Yamaha DM3-Dante, d&b speakers, Electro-Voice), and video projection (Vivitek HD DU9000, Optoma 4K, Barco Clickshare).

The business model combines transactional ticket sales (standard €10–€27, De Filmerij film club at €5, Cinema Zuut with cake and coffee), subscription packages (minimum 3 performances per person, discounted rates, season opens annually in June), gift vouchers (2-year validity), and venue rentals structured on a four-tier category model (A: local schools/municipal services at €125/4-hour block; B: recognized associations; C: non-recognized associations/external artists at €250; D: commercial companies at €600). Catering is mandatory through the on-site Eetcafé de Melkerij under an exclusive partnership. Distribution runs through Ticketmatic's online platform with QR-code validation, supplemented by at-door sales, email newsletters, Facebook/Instagram, and a seasonal brochure available digitally or by post.

Customer segmentation is geography-led, anchored on Zemst residents with priority access and discounted social tariffs, supplemented by local associations, schools, and commercial renters paying premium Category D rates. Operations are supported by a small core staff of 5 supplemented by job students, a volunteer base (including a De Filmerij selection committee and named operational volunteers), and an external technical partner (Ampli) for events exceeding in-house production capacity. The entity is publicly funded through municipal budgets, holds WCAG 2.1 Level AA partial compliance for its website, and shows no private investment, M&A activity, or commercial fundraising in the available data.

Name

DE MELKERIJ

Legal name

Gemeente Zemst

Website

https://gcdemelkerij.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GC de Melkerij is a municipally operated community cultural center in Zemst, Belgium, providing theater, film, music, and family programming alongside venue rentals for local residents, schools, associations, and companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cultural Center Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Venue & Facility Reservations (Private Rooms, Event Spaces) (HSACALAJ)

Keywords

• Community cultural center
• Theater venue rental
• Film screening programming
• Meeting room rental
• Cultural event services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zemst

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual performance and film tickets sold online via Ticketmatic or at-the-door, with standard pricing and social tariff options (50% reduction, max €10 off)
2. Venue Rental: Rental of podiumzaal, meeting rooms, and entire complex to local associations, schools, companies and external events with tiered category pricing (A-D) based on renter type
3. Season Subscriptions: Season subscriptions (minimum 3 performances per person) with discounted rates compared to individual tickets
4. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers valid for 2 years for culture performances and films organized by GC de Melkerij
5. Film Screenings: De Filmerij (€5 per ticket) and Cinema Zuut (with cake and coffee included) film programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GC de Melkerij operates a community cultural center in Zemst, Belgium, offering a professional blackbox podiumzaal (250-seat theater), meeting rooms, and curated cultural programming including theater, music, film screenings (De Filmerij, Cinema Zuut), family shows, and school performances. The center also provides venue rental services with tiered pricing for local associations, schools, companies, and external organizers, complemented by on-site catering via Eetcafé de Melkerij and online ticketing through the Ticketmatic platform.

Product overview

GC de Melkerij is a community cultural center (gemeenschapscentrum) in Zemst, Belgium, operated by the municipal government. The offering is structured as a multi-venue facility combined with a curated cultural program. Physical venues include the blackbox Podiumzaal (main stage, 250 seats), the Grote Vergaderzaal (large meeting hall, 70–120 capacity), and the Kleine Vergaderzaal (small meeting room, 20 seats), available for rental individually or as a full complex. Cultural programming is organized into branded sub-products: De Filmerij (art-house film club, €5/ticket), Cinema Zuut (premium cinema with cake and drinks included), Familiefilms (school holiday family screenings), and Schoolvoorstellingen (curated school performances). Ancillary services include on-site catering via Eetcafé de Melkerij, online ticket sales via Ticketmatic, gift vouchers, subscription packages, and social pricing tiers. The venue also hosts a "Te Gast" (Guest) program enabling external organizers to use the infrastructure with optional ticket-sales and communications support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Podiumzaal (Main Stage) Blackbox theater venue with retractable tribune seating up to 250 persons (199 for film screenings), equipped with professional lighting, sound, motorized trusses, and a Vivitek HD projector. Backstage and dressing rooms included with rental.
• Grote Vergaderzaal (Large Meeting Room) Polyvalent hall (12m x 9m) with bar area, seating up to 70 persons or 120 standing, equipped with Electro-Voice speakers, wireless microphones, 4K Optoma projector, Samsung mobile display, and Barco Clickshare.
• Kleine Vergaderzaal (Small Meeting Room) Compact meeting room (8m x 6m) with fixed seating for 20 persons, equipped with 55" LCD display, Clickshare for hybrid meetings, 4K IRIS webcam, and flipchart. Direct daylight and complimentary Wi-Fi included.
• Zaalverhuur (Venue Rental) Full-complex and individual room rental service for events including company events, performances, and association gatherings, with tiered pricing across four rental categories (A through D) based on renter type.
• De Filmerij Curated biweekly film program running October through May, featuring handpicked quality films selected by a dedicated volunteer committee. Tickets priced at €5 each.
• Cinema Zuut Premium cinema experience with a slice of cake and coffee or tea included with every ticket, targeting viewers seeking a more elevated film outing.
• Familiefilms (Family Films) Family film screenings programmed during each school holiday period, complementing the regular family performance offerings.
• Schoolvoorstellingen (School Performances) Curated school-time performances for children and youth, selected annually to bring cultural experiences aligned with curriculum objectives to Zemst schools.
• Cultuurprogramma (Cultural Programming) Diverse cultural programming spanning theater performances, comedy, music concerts, family shows, film screenings, lectures, and educational events for the Zemst community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seated capacity of 250 for theater, 199 for films, 400 standing for concerts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eetcafé de MelkerijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive catering partnership for venue rentals. All catering services during rented events must be provided by Eetcafé de Melkerij. Part of integrated venue experience.
• De Maan & BronksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company for school performance 'Puppy/Poppy' included in 2025-2026 school programming for Zemst schools
• Collectief VerlofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company for school performance 'Defect' included in 2025-2026 school programming
• Collectief FiatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company for school performance 'Pobre Pollo' included in 2025-2026 school programming

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cultuurcentrum Mechelen: Flemish municipal cultural center operating a multi-venue facility (theater, meeting rooms) with a mixed cultural program of performances, concerts, and film — the closest direct analog to GC de Melkerij, scaled to the Mechelen municipality.
• CC De Factorij (Zaventem): Municipal Flemish community center running a comparable mix of theater, music, and film programming with venue rental for local associations and companies — same Flemish gemeenschapscentrum operating model as GC de Melkerij.
• De Warande (Turnhout): Regional cultural center in Flanders offering theater, concerts, lectures, and rentals across multiple halls — a slightly larger but functionally identical community-event operating model.
• CC Zwaneberg (Heist-op-den-Berg): Flemish gemeenschapscentrum serving a similar-sized municipality, with a comparable Podiumzaal, film programming, and tiered pricing for associations vs. companies.
• Schouwburg Kortrijk: Flemish municipal theater and event venue with tiered hall rentals and a curatorial programming model (theater, dance, family) — directly comparable in operating concept, scaled to a larger Flemish city.
• CC Hasselt: Flemish cultural center combining a programming division, venue rental, and an on-site café — essentially a scaled version of the same community-center operating model that GC de Melkerij runs.

Regional players

• Theaters Tilburg: Dutch municipal theater and multipurpose cultural venue offering programming plus hall rentals for corporate and association clients — comparable operating model in a nearby cross-border regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Southbank Centre: Major UK civic arts complex offering theater, music, film, and venue hire across multiple halls — a much larger but structurally similar publicly-supported cultural center.

Others

• Ticketmatic: Ticketing SaaS provider already integrated into GC de Melkerij for online ticket sales, subscriptions, gift vouchers, and waitlist — included as an ecosystem/technology enabler rather than a competitor.
• Avansa Halle-Vilvoorde: Flemish regional socio-cultural education partner that already co-promotes programming (e.g., the Terrazzo workshop) through the venue — a programmatic partner in the Flemish cultural-education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gcdemelkerij
• Instagraminstagram.com/gcdemelkerij
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-melkerij

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DE MELKERIJ