Plans and prospects
What exactly is planned?
Many threads converge at the town hall and cultural centre on Berliner Platz: it is set to become once again both a meeting place with public catering facilities and a first port of call for residents, as well as a cultural venue with a theatre auditorium.
The ground floor and first floor of the building will house the areas with the highest public footfall, including:
- Citizens' Office
- Immigration Office
- District branch office
- Advice desks for residents (e.g. building regulations)
Accessibility within the building is also set to be significantly improved - in compliance with the heritage protection regulations to which the building has been subject since 2016.
Further measures and details:
- Addition of a fourth floor
- Workspaces for 400 city council staff
- Larger council chamber
- Theatre refurbishment with an extended stage
- Renewal of building services
- Energy saving
- Improving accessibility
Curtain up: The municipal theatre
Whether it's a New Year's concert, theatre performance, cabaret or reading: the city's Bühnenhaus is one of the central venues for Bocholt's cultural landscape.
The requirements and legal framework for the operation of a theatre have changed since the 1970s. The current plans for the remodelling of the Bühnenhaus include an extended backstage on the east side of the building to store technical equipment such as lighting and decorations.
The refurbishment of the stage house includes, among other things:
- A complete renewal of the stage and auditorium lighting
- Refurbishment and partial replacement of the stage floor
- New stage technology (machinery, audio and video technology)
- New curtains and other stage textiles
- Refurbishment of the auditorium seating
Total cost of the project:
On 10 June 2026, the City Council approved the updated cost and risk assessment for the refurbishment of the Town Hall on Berliner Platz. It was decided to provide financial coverage for the significant project risks, bringing the new total budget to 114.1 million euros. This targeted provision is intended to safeguard the further progress of the construction work and prevent delays caused by subsequent budget adjustments. This total budget does not automatically mean that all risks will materialise or that the funds will be fully utilised.
The budget adjustment became necessary because the previous budget of €83.9 million - which had been increased to around €92.4 million in April through short-term additional funding - is no longer sufficient for completion.
The basic cost forecast, excluding risk considerations, currently stands at around €102.3 million.
Council decision
In 2018, Bocholt Town Council took a decision in principle to renovate the town hall.
The plans became more concrete as the project progressed. In 2021, various options were presented (see download below) and approved by Bocholt's city councillors.