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Raadhuis Usquert

The town hall of Usquert was designed by H.P. Berlage between 1928 and 1930 and is the only town hall he ever realised. The building was commissioned by the municipality of Usquert and officially completed in April 1930. Today, it is one of the best-preserved examples of Berlage’s late architectural work.

The building is a clear expression of Berlage’s rationalist approach. Its composition is based on a strict modular system of 1.10 metres, derived from the dimensions of the brick. Brick, reinforced concrete and iron are deliberately expressed rather than concealed, reflecting Berlage’s principle of an honest architecture in which materials speak for themselves.

The town hall consists of several interconnected volumes with flat roofs and a distinctive tower. Because the site runs at an angle to the road, Berlage rotated the main façade by approximately 20 degrees, allowing the building to respond directly to the village and its urban setting. The tower was ultimately raised by two metres during construction because Berlage felt that its original height was insufficient; he reportedly paid the additional cost himself.

The Gesamtkunstwerk principle is evident throughout the building. Berlage designed not only the architecture but also the fixed interior, furniture, garden and smaller details. Glazed tiles, stained glass, lighting and furniture form a coherent architectural ensemble with the exterior.

The building remained in use as a town hall until 1990. It is now owned by Vereniging Hendrick de Keyser and is used as an office and for cultural and public activities. A major restoration has returned much of the original colour scheme and character of the building.