The Almelo municipal government has officially approved the long-delayed relocation of the Stedelijk Museum Almelo to the Hofkeshuis.
The decision was made on Friday, June 5, 2026, during a meeting that also addressed safety concerns about youth trespassing in vacant buildings.
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Renovations at the new location on Grotestraat 62 are set to begin in June 2026. The move aims to prevent further financial strain on the museum.
Museum officials expressed relief after the approval. Chairman Gerrit van Hofwegen confirmed that the municipality had promised the museum could move into the Hofkeshuis.
Scaled-Down Relocation and Renovation Plans
The relocation will proceed in a scaled-down format to manage costs. Further municipal meetings are scheduled to finalize operational details.
Van Hofwegen stated that renovations are expected to conclude by the end of the year.
"There are still some loose ends," Van Hofwegen said. "We need to discuss with the municipality to see how everything will look."
The municipality purchased the Hofkeshuis in 2023 for 1.7 million euros. The move had faced repeated delays due to renovation costs and budget uncertainties.
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Youth Trespassing and Vacant Building Hazards
City officials issued an urgent public safety warning after a 12-year-old boy was apprehended inside the heavily vandalized Regional Medical Service (RMD) building on Haven Noordzijde.
Online trends on TikTok have driven teenagers to illegally enter abandoned structures for adrenaline and social media views.
Vandalism at the RMD site has severely damaged internal asbestos-containing materials, creating structural instability and significant health risks.
Security measures have been upgraded to 24-hour surveillance at the property.
Specialized teams from remediation company REKO Raalte are preparing for immediate asbestos removal ahead of final demolition.
The site is part of the Westerdok urban development plan, which aims to construct 500 to 600 new residential units.
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"These kinds of places are also popular locations for copper thieves," said Frans, an asbestos removal supervisor from REKO Raalte.
