History of the house

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The Burgemeestershuis (Mayor's House) was built in 1898 by order of Petrus Joannes François Van Ham, mayor of Lommel (1904-1921), provincial council member, and arguably the most important figure in Lommel around the turn of the century. At that time, the villa was one of the few houses with a second floor. From July 1, 1946, the villa was occupied by the notary couple Jan Vanduffel and Maria Kerkhofs. Notary Vanduffel purchased the house, its appurtenances, the shed, and Park In de Hoeven (1 hectare, 14 acres, 48 acres) on May 9, 1957, and, as the owner of the property, established the villa as a notary's office. The villa quickly became known colloquially as the new owner's. During the city council meeting of September 5, 1995, it was decided to purchase the villa and surrounding garden, with the deed of purchase being executed on December 13, 1995. Renovation work began in July 1998. This work was part of a single comprehensive project and included construction on the house, the coach house, and the kiosk. The park surrounding the house was also redesigned. The city council renamed the villa and the park the well-known names "Het Burgemeestershuis" (Mayor's House) and "Het Burgemeesterspark" (Mayor's Park). After the renovation, the Burgemeestershuis was equipped to welcome tourists and served as a starting point for exploring Lommel. Since 2000, cultural events have been organized in the public park. It also regularly serves as a backdrop for television recordings. Several times a year, park concerts are held, featuring primarily well-known Belgian artists. Since 2002, it has been managed by the cultural center, and the use of the house and park has been expanded. For example, the house has often been used for receptions and meetings of local political parties. The park remains open to the public, its use unchanged. Since 2014, the city council of Lommel wanted to house a high-quality restaurant in the Mayor's House. The salons were transformed into a luxurious Louis XVI-style restaurant. The old dining room has remained a dining room and is also decorated in Louis XVI style. A classic kitchen with a lot of attention to regional and seasonal products. The upstairs room is furnished as a space for groups of 10 to 26 people. Investment has been made in a beautiful modern kitchen. That is the current restaurant Het Burgemeestershuis.