Feasibility study Poppodium Boerderij

Poppodium Boerderij is an important pop venue for Zoetermeer, but it also attracts regional, national and international visitors. To maintain Boerderij's good position, expansion and further professionalization are needed. The capacity of the venue (maximum 750 visitors) is too small and the current building is not suitable for new developments.

In 2024, the municipality in consultation with Boerderij prepared a business plan. The plan focuses on Boerderij's desired expansion to a large auditorium for up to 1,300 visitors of which 250 seats. In addition, a small hall for 400 visitors and a Podium Café for 200 visitors. Coffeeshop Casa will also move to the new building.

Visitor growth is estimated at about 50,000 now to over 113,000 per year when the new building is completed. The program will be expanded to include "indoor festivals," major and "upcoming" Dutch artists, education activities and talent development together with education and music schools in the city. It is also important for talent development that the practice rooms that are now in the Boerderij building are returned when the new building is built.

City Council decision Feb. 17, 2025

Monday, Feb. 17, the City Council made a positive decision on the college's proposal to provide funds to study the feasibility of the plans for Poppodium Boerderij.

Continuing with 2 new construction variants

The municipality is conducting a feasibility study for 2 different new building variants. In consultation with Poppodium Boerderij, a program of requirements is drawn up which the new building must meet. The urban design principles are established and various investigations are started such as ecological and soil investigations. Parking research is also an important topic in the feasibility study.

Here is the memo to the City Council dated June 24, 2025. This states that the municipality is continuing to work with Poppodium Boerderij on a carefully crafted Program of Requirements for the new building. This will serve as the foundation for the further elaboration, tendering and realization of Poppodium Boerderij. The City Council is expected to decide on the feasibility of the plans in the fall.

Documents

Questions and answers about new building Poppodium Boerderij

In response to council proposal to build new Poppodium Boerderij - choice of variant.

Why is there going to be a new building for Poppodium Boerderij?

Poppodium Boerderij (hereafter the Boerderij) aims to maintain its good position in the national and international concert market and wants to maintain and strengthen its position in competition with other pop venues. To achieve this, according to the Boerderij, an increase in attendance and further professionalization of the premises is necessary.

Will the building be very different from what is there now?

The Boerderij's new building plans to have a large auditorium for 1,300 visitors (including 250 seats), a smaller auditorium for 400 visitors and a stage café, which will have space for 200 visitors. In addition, coffee shop Casa will remain in the new situation, as will the six practice rooms. The building will be located on the vacant lot next to the current Boerderij.

What will the environment around Farmhouse look like?

The new Farm building sits between the current Farm and Gymworld property. The entire lot will be occupied by the new building.

What is meant by the feasibility study?

The feasibility study means examining whether the plans of the new Farm building are realistic and feasible. It looks at the surroundings, parking, noise, ecology and ideas of different buildings.

What will happen to Casa?

Coffeeshop Casa will join the developments of the new Farm and thus move to the new location.

When will construction start?

Currently, the choice of a variant is being presented to the City Council. Following this, an architect will be selected and the feasibility phase will be completed by the end of 2026. After this, construction will begin. The start of construction is expected to be in 2029.

When will the plans become final?

The plans are final after going through the feasibility phase. The variant choice presented to the council in November this year is an intermediate step in the feasibility phase.

Why is the municipality involved in this new construction?

The municipality owns the current Farm building and is responsible for the new Farm building.

What about the number of gigs? Are they increasing and by how much?

The new Boerderij will have 2 halls, a large hall for up to 1,300 visitors, and a smaller hall with up to 400 visitors.

What about increasing noise pollution? What will the municipality do about it?

Care will be taken to ensure that the building is virtually soundproof and sustainable. This is one of the components that will be figured out in the upcoming feasibility phase.

As a local resident, will I be more inconvenienced by traffic from the visitors?

The increase in visitor numbers will also increase parking pressure. The number of parking spaces will also increase as a result. The parking pressure will not increase and would not affect you as a resident.