LocHal
LocHal is a public, non-profit cultural center in Tilburg, Netherlands, housed in a renovated 1932 locomotive hangar and operated by Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant. It combines a public library, six themed labs, a café, retail shop, and event venue serving residents, students, makers, and corporate event organizers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTilburg, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LocHal does
LocHal is a public multi-functional cultural center located in Tilburg, Netherlands, housed in a renovated 1932 locomotive hangar (Locomotiefhal) spanning approximately 11,000 square meters behind Tilburg Centraal Station. Opened in January 2019 and operated under the stewardship of Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant on a building owned by the Municipality of Tilburg, it combines a public library, six themed labs (DigiLab, GameLab, FutureLab, WoordLab, TijdLab, plus the KennisMakerij and StemmingMakerij event spaces), an on-site café (StadsCafé), a retail shop (LocShop), and a conference/events venue (LocHal First Floor) including the landmark Glazen Zaal — a demountable concert hall originally built in 1990 for the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, acquired for €1 from the Beurs van Berlage and reassembled in 2018 at approximately €400,000 in reuse costs.
The facility serves a broad civic audience — general public visitors, students, remote workers, makers, gamers, and corporate event organizers — through a hybrid pricing model: free public library and workspace access, paid courses (language, creative, digital skills), quote-based event space rental for 2 to 300+ guests, pay-per-item café and merchandise sales, and ticketed events. Revenue streams are diversified across space rental (LocHal First Floor operated by Bonheur Horeca Groep with catering by Smeer'm), food and beverage (StadsCafé), courses and workshops, retail merchandise, and event ticket sales. The building's monumental architecture and adaptive re-use have earned 15+ international and national awards including World Building of the Year, Europa Nostra Award, Beste Bibliotheek van Nederland 2020, and Dezeen Rebirth Project, positioning LocHal as a globally cited case study in 21st-century public library and civic venue design.
The business model is fundamentally a public/non-profit civic cultural platform: the facility is publicly owned, operated by a non-profit library organization, and delivered through a co-located ecosystem of four core partner tenants (Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant, Kunstloc Brabant, LocHal First Floor, and CAST) plus Stadsmuseum Tilburg, Seats2Meet, and various cultural and educational partners. Marketing runs primarily through owned digital channels (website agenda, social media across Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/TikTok/YouTube, monthly LocHal Update newsletter) and earned media from awards; there is no traditional sales motion for library services, with B2B event revenue driven through direct contact and online quote requests. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
LocHal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LocHal
- Legal name
- LocHal
- Website
- https://lochal.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LocHal is a public, non-profit cultural center in Tilburg, Netherlands, housed in a renovated 1932 locomotive hangar and operated by Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant. It combines a public library, six themed labs, a café, retail shop, and event venue serving residents, students, makers, and corporate event organizers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LocHal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library and Cultural Center Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where LocHal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tilburg
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
LocHal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Meeting and event space rental: LocHal First Floor - Business & Events generates revenue by renting out 16 meeting rooms, event spaces including the Glazen Zaal (capacity up to 220), and workspace desks. Catering is provided in partnership with Smeer'm. Spaces serve 2 to 300+ guests.
- Food and beverage (StadsCafé): The StadsCafé within LocHal serves food and drinks from a sustainable, seasonal, and local menu at affordable prices. Revenue is generated from café sales to all visitors.
- Course and workshop fees: LocHal offers paid courses including language courses (Danish, French, Italian, New Greek, Spanish), creative courses (photography, improvisational theater, writing), lifestyle courses, and digital skills courses. Members receive a 5% discount on language and digital skills courses.
- Merchandise (LocShop): The LocShop sells LocHal merchandise including reusable water bottles, notebooks made from decommissioned library books, Linen bags designed by Anouk van der Putten, coffee cups made from plant-oil waste streams, and Story Tiles.
- Event ticket sales: Various paid events are organized including Magic: The Gathering Commander nights, workshops, and cultural events, many of which have registration/ticket fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Magic: The Gathering Commander nights — free entry |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Language courses — varying fees per course |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Creative and lifestyle courses — varying fees |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Digital skills courses — varying fees with 5% member discount |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Meeting and event spaces — custom quote-based pricing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Glazen Zaal — custom quote-based pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LocShop merchandise — fixed per-item prices |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | StadsCafé — pay per item |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
LocHal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LocHal is a multi-functional public cultural center and library housed in a renovated 1932 locomotive hangar in Tilburg, Netherlands, operated by Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant. It offers free public library access with 200+ workspace and study seats, six themed creative labs (DigiLab, GameLab, FutureLab, TijdLab, WoordLab, plus KennisMakerij and StemmingMakerij), a commercial meeting and event venue operation (LocHal First Floor) with 16 meeting rooms and the acoustically optimized Glazen Zaal, a café (StadsCafé), a merchandise shop (LocShop), an information desk (InformatiePlein), and paid courses in languages, creative arts, and digital skills.
Product overview
LocHal is a multi-functional public library and cultural center located in a converted 1932 locomotive maintenance hall in Tilburg, Netherlands. The facility operates as a platform combining six thematic labs (DigiLab, GameLab, TijdLab, FutureLab, WoordLab, and KennisMakerij/StemmingMakerij) with event venues, a café, exhibition spaces, and community services. It is managed by four partner organizations (Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant, Kunstloc Brabant, LocHal First Floor - Business & Events, and CAST). Core offerings include library services, digital literacy programs, gaming facilities, heritage projects, creative writing workshops, meeting and conference facilities (including the historic Glazen Zaal), and a rooftop exhibition terrace (StadsBalkon). The venue also provides an information desk (InformatiePlein), a gift shop (LocShop), and a café (StadsCafé), along with a broad curriculum of language, creative, and digital skills courses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GameLab: A gaming lab space within LocHal featuring console games, indie games, retro games, tabletop games, and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as workshops on game design and e-sports.
- DigiLab
- TijdLab
- FutureLab
- WoordLab
- StadsCafé
- LocHal First Floor - Business & Events
Products and services
- Bibliotheek LocHal (Public Library Services) Free public library services housed in the converted 1932 Locomotiefhal, providing books, e-books, audiobooks, films, digital resources, study and workspaces (200+ seats across multiple floors), quiet higher floors, online catalog (bibliotheekmb.nl), and reservation of study cabins and desks. Designed for all residents of Tilburg and Midden-Brabant as the 'house of the city'.
- LocHal First Floor - Business & Events Commercial meeting and event venue offering 16 meeting rooms for 2 to 220 persons, customizable room configurations, AV equipment, Wi-Fi, and optional catering for meetings, workshops, congresses, seminars, product launches, jubilees, and corporate events. Open Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00 and by request evenings and weekends.
- Glazen Zaal (Glass Hall)
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 200 workspace and study seats available in the library
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use LocHal
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LocHal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
LocHal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Bibliotheek Midden-BrabantcoreThe main operating partner of the LocHal, Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant (Bibliotheek MB) is the largest cultural institution in Midden-Brabant with 15 branches. It runs the public library, labs, InformatiePlein, StadsCafé, and LocShop within the LocHal. The organization stimulates the creation, sharing, and accessibility of knowledge and stories. The partnership is the operational foundation of the LocHal.
- Kunstloc BrabantcoreKunstloc Brabant is a provincial knowledge and expertise center for arts and culture in North Brabant. It aims to enable as many Brabanders as possible to participate in arts and culture, from primary school children to professional makers. Kunstloc provides expertise, network, and access to financial support, and organizes De Kunstopdracht talent development program. It runs activities and exhibitions within the LocHal.
- LocHal First Floor - Business & EventscoreLocHal First Floor is operated by Bonheur Horeca Groep and manages 16 meeting rooms, the Glazen Zaal, and event spaces within LocHal. It provides business and event services including room rentals, catering (by Smeer'm), and corporate event facilitation. It is open Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 and by request on evenings and weekends.
- CAST (Centrum voor Architectuur en Stedenbouw Tilburg)coreCAST shapes the conversation about spatial quality of the built environment of Tilburg and the region. It organizes discussions, talkshows, exhibitions, excursions, opinion pieces, and design workshops. It acts as a platform for public and professional encounter about spatial quality and agends societal questions related to architecture, urban planning, public space, and landscape.
- Stadsmuseum TilburgmajorStadsmuseum Tilburg partners with the Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant to run the TijdLab, exploring the history, present, and future of Tilburg. Together they pool collections, knowledge, and networks to connect people interested in heritage. All organizations in Erfgoed Tilburg also use the TijdLab.
- Bonheur Horeca GroepcoreBonheur Horeca Groep operates LocHal First Floor - Business & Events within the LocHal, providing meeting room rentals, event spaces, catering (via Smeer'm), and corporate event management. The group manages bookings via its own website and booking platform.
- VPRO TegenlichtminorVPRO Tegenlicht is a Dutch TV programme that highlights important developments shaping the 21st century. Local Tegenlicht Meetups in Tilburg are organized by the KennisMakerij and labs in the LocHal on topics such as democracy, creative technology, human rights, and future food.
- Fontys Academie voor Kunst, Communicatie en DesignminorFontys students regularly use the LocHal and its labs for projects, exhibitions, and events. In 2021, students held an 'Afstuderen Binnenskamers' exhibition on the StadsBalkon, and in 2022 the BRIC-À-BRAC final-year exhibition.
- Pien den HollanderminorArtist Pien den Hollander designed the entry artwork for the north entrance of the LocHal, winning the De Kunstopdracht competition organized by Kunstloc Brabant in 2018. This was her first work in the public space. The kinetic artwork (slowly moving steel plate on a crane) was officially opened on 7 February 2023.
- Kieu EngineeringminorKieu Engineering engineered and executed the entry artwork (a kinetic door) designed by Pien den Hollander at the north entrance of the LocHal.
- Gemeente Tilburg (Municipality of Tilburg)majorThe municipality owns the LocHal building (as part of the Spoorzone redevelopment), the StadsBalkon, and the entry artwork (part of the municipal art collection). It purchased the former NS Hoofdwerkplaats (maintenance workshop) site in 2011 and oversaw the redevelopment. The municipality also funds cultural programming and partner organizations.
- Seats2MeetminorSeats2Meet operates a coworking and meeting space within the LocHal. The organization was one of the commissioning users for the entry artwork (along with Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant and Kunstloc Brabant). Seats2Meet contributed to the crowdfunding for the entry artwork.
- Smeer'mminorSmeer'm is the catering partner of LocHal First Floor, providing lunch, borrel (drinks reception), and dinner for meetings and events held in the meeting rooms and event spaces.
- Kone CranesminorKone Cranes supplied the crane mechanism for the kinetic entry artwork at the north entrance of the LocHal.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
LocHal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dokk1 (Aarhus Main Library): Dokk1 is Aarhus's flagship public library and citizen-service center combined with event spaces and meeting rooms on the harbor. Like LocHal, it blurs the line between library, civic services, and event venue, and serves as a comparable benchmark for new-generation public libraries.
- Calgary Central Library: Calgary's flagship public library with a striking architectural design, multi-functional spaces, maker facilities, and event programming. Like LocHal, it is an award-winning new-generation public library that redefined its city's cultural infrastructure.
- OBA Oosterdok (Amsterdam Public Library): Amsterdam's flagship public library on Oosterdokseiland with extensive programming, themed spaces, study/work areas, and event programming. As a large Dutch public library with cultural functions, it is a direct comparable to LocHal in the same country.
- Oodi Helsinki Central Library: Helsinki Central Library (Oodi) is a flagship 2018 public library designed as a multi-functional cultural venue with maker spaces, meeting rooms, cinemas, and a café, very closely mirroring LocHal's library + thematic labs + event venue + café model. Both are award-winning next-generation public libraries repurposing landmark buildings.
- Deichman Bjørvika (Oslo Public Library): Norway's main public library in a striking new waterfront building, offering library services, makerspaces, gaming zones, and event venues under one roof. Closely comparable to LocHal as a landmark, multi-functional cultural venue that redefined the public library typology.
- Forum Groningen: Forum Groningen is a Dutch library, museum, and cultural venue that combines reading rooms, exhibition spaces, a rooftop terrace, a cinema, and event spaces. Its Dutch context and library-plus-cultural-campus positioning make it a very direct peer to LocHal.
- Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Rotterdam's main public library operates a multi-floor cultural venue with workspaces, event programming, and digital maker facilities. It is a Dutch peer operating in a comparable regional context to LocHal.
- Library of Birmingham: The Library of Birmingham is a landmark public library with cultural programming, event venues, and a rooftop terrace. Its role as a flagship municipal cultural venue in a UK city is analogous to LocHal's position in Tilburg.
Others
- Beurs van Berlage: Historic event and congress venue in Amsterdam that sells meeting rooms, conferences, and cultural events. Comparable to LocHal on the meeting/event rental side, particularly relevant given that Beurs van Berlage was the original owner of the Glazen Zaal.
Broad incumbents
- Seattle Central Library: Seattle Central Library is an iconic Rem Koolhaas-designed public library with extensive programming, event spaces, and study areas. As a globally recognized modern public library, it is a comparable reference point for LocHal's architectural and typological positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LocHal social profiles
Digital presenceLocHal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LocHal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
LocHal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LocHal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LocHal
What does LocHal do?
LocHal is a multi-functional public cultural center and library housed in a renovated 1932 locomotive hangar in Tilburg, Netherlands, operated by Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant. It offers free public library access with 200+ workspace and study seats, six themed creative labs (DigiLab, GameLab, FutureLab, TijdLab, WoordLab, plus KennisMakerij and StemmingMakerij), a commercial meeting and event venue operation (LocHal First Floor) with 16 meeting rooms and the acoustically optimized Glazen Zaal, a café (StadsCafé), a merchandise shop (LocShop), an information desk (InformatiePlein), and paid courses in languages, creative arts, and digital skills.
Is LocHal a public or private company?
LocHal is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LocHal founded?
LocHal was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LocHal based?
LocHal is headquartered in Tilburg, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does LocHal make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Meeting and event space rental is the primary driver. The others are food and beverage (StadsCafé), course and workshop fees, merchandise (LocShop) and event ticket sales.
Who are LocHal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dokk1 (Aarhus Main Library), Calgary Central Library, OBA Oosterdok (Amsterdam Public Library), Oodi Helsinki Central Library, Deichman Bjørvika (Oslo Public Library), Forum Groningen, Bibliotheek Rotterdam and Library of Birmingham. Beurs van Berlage is listed as an others. Seattle Central Library is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does LocHal have an API?
No public API is recorded for LocHal.
What industry is LocHal in?
LocHal's product category is Public Library and Cultural Center Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of THAHAAAG, Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.