Het Depot

Het Depot is a concert hall and music centre located at the Martelarenplein in Leuven, Belgium. It is managed by the non-profit organisation vzw Het Depot, which was founded in 2003. The venue grew out of a local initiative: around the year 2000, Leuven had lost all suitable music halls, and local music experts and politicians pushed for a proper music centre. The request was included in the cultural policy plan in 2001, and vzw Het Depot was established in 2003. Initially without a permanent location, the organisation organised concerts at various temporary sites. In 2005, the former cinema Zaal Eden at the Martelarenplein became available, and Het Depot moved in. The venue closed between 2011 and 2012 for a thorough renovation, during which concerts were held at the old nursing school on the Kapucijnenvoer. The renovated hall reopened in November 2012. The main concert hall has a maximum capacity of 960 people (290 seated, 670 standing). The foyer holds 150 people, and the Lounge is a multifunctional space for up to 50 people. There are also rooms for rehearsals and pre-production, as well as an audiolab. The name Het Depot derives from the original plan to house the centre in the monumental Entrepot building at the Vaartkom in Leuven; the founders initially considered the name "Het Entrepot", but because a youth centre called "Entrepot" opened in Bruges at that time, they chose the more colloquial name for an entrepot: "Het Depot". The name was kept even after the location changed in 2005.

In Leuven, around the year 2000, all suitable music halls had disappeared. Local music experts came together and approached several local politicians. In 2001, progress was made and the demand for a proper music centre was included in the cultural policy plan. In 2003, "vzw Het Depot" was founded. Initially, Het Depot had no permanent location and was forced to organise performances at varying locations. In 2005, the former cinema Zaal Eden at the Martelarenplein became vacant, and Het Depot was able to move in. Between 2011 and 2012, it closed its doors for a thorough renovation. During the renovations, concerts were organised in the old nursing school on the Kapucijnenvoer. In November 2012, the renovated hall reopened. The original plan was to house the music centre in the monumental Entrepot building at the Vaartkom in Leuven. The first name the founders had in mind in 2003 was simply "Het Entrepot". Just at that moment, the youth centre "Entrepot" opened in Bruges, so in Leuven the more colloquial name of the entrepot was chosen: "Het Depot". Only in 2005 was the location changed, but the name was retained.

• 2012

  Renovated hall reopened in November.

• 2011

  Closed for thorough renovation.

• 2005

  Moved into the former cinema Zaal Eden at the Martelarenplein.

• 2003

  vzw Het Depot founded.

• 2001

  Demand for a proper music centre included in the cultural policy plan.

A community-oriented music venue and music centre in Leuven, offering concerts, rehearsals, and production facilities.

• Main concert hall

  Maximum capacity of 960 people (290 seated, 670 standing).

• Foyer

  Capacity for 150 people.

• Lounge

  Multifunctional space with a capacity of up to 50 people.

• Rehearsal and pre-production rooms

  Various rooms available for rehearsals and pre-production.

• Audiolab

  An audiolab is also available.

1. 1Het Depot - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Het Depot (muziekcentrum) - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org