Welcome to the Ketelhuis at De Meelfabriek, where modern comfort and historic charm come together in a unique loft-living experience. This listed national monument dates back to 1894 and is the oldest and smallest warehouse on the De Meelfabriek site.
With its ornate cast-iron columns, vaulted concrete ceilings, arched windows and distinctive curved roof, the building exudes timeless elegance. It is now entering a new chapter, transforming into a place where living, culture and architecture come together.
Each floor accommodates a single loft of approximately 130 square metres, while the top-floor loft beneath the dome enjoys exceptional ceiling heights. Throughout the interiors, historic features remain visible, creating a truly distinctive living environment. At the same time, the lofts are equipped with the latest sustainable technologies for contemporary comfort. Discover the possibilities these remarkable lofts have to offer.
Construction is now underway and only the fourth-floor loft remains available.
Interested? Contact us to explore the opportunity of living in the Ketelhuis at De Meelfabriek, Leiden.
Phone contact
071 – 36 10 714
Available by phone: Monday to
Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
E-mail
info@demeelfabriek.nl
PO BOX: Postbus 37,
2200 AA Noordwijk
ARCHITECTURE
The transformation design by Studio Akkerhuis Architects respects the original building while enhancing its overall quality. The characteristic brick façade will be preserved, existing window openings will be carefully adapted, and new openings will integrate seamlessly with the original architecture. The result is a harmonious interplay of light, space and historic detail. A later-added stairwell will be removed, strengthening the connection between De Meelfabriek site and the green surroundings of Ankerpark.
FLEXIBLE LAYOUT OPTIONS
The fourth-floor apartment offers 135 square metres of living space. Historic features remain visible and, together with modern technologies, create a unique living concept where character and comfort go hand in hand. The loft is well insulated and equipped with a heat pump system, underfloor heating and cooling. Within the technical framework, the layout can be tailored to individual requirements.
Working closely with the purchaser adviser, buyers can determine the position of internal walls, choose more or fewer bedrooms, opt for a generously sized open-plan kitchen or a more enclosed design: virtually everything is open for discussion. Generous allowances for sanitary fittings and tiling are included, enabling buyers to personalise the apartment to their own tastes. In addition, the listed building status offers potential tax advantages for future maintenance costs through the owners’ association.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is central to the redevelopment of De Meelfabriek. The reuse of existing buildings is inherently sustainable, as it avoids the need to manufacture new construction materials such as concrete and bricks, resulting in significant CO₂ savings. The apartments are entirely gas-free and equipped with a sustainable climate-control system based on heat-pump technology. Underfloor heating and cooling provide a comfortable indoor climate throughout the year while ensuring low energy consumption and significantly reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
LIVING SURROUNDED BY GREENERY
The Ketelhuis is situated within the Singelpark, a 6.5-kilometre green city park encircling Leiden’s historic city centre. Walking and running routes follow the waterways, creating a unique connection between the city and the surrounding landscape. The park’s enthusiastic volunteer organisation brings people together through shared activities ranging from gardening to guided tours.
From the Ketelhuis, residents enjoy views across the green Ankerpark. De Meelfabriek is also home to the renowned garden designed by Piet Oudolf in collaboration with LOLA Landscape Architects. The garden evolves with the seasons, offering a different atmosphere throughout the year.
ACCESSIBILITY
Leiden is conveniently located close to The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and is also within easy reach of the beaches of Noordwijk and Katwijk. Its location between the A4 and A44 motorways ensures excellent accessibility.
Parking is provided in De Meelfabriek’s underground car park, designed in a striking architectural style featuring raw concrete and weathered steel. The historic city centre is just a five-minute walk away, while cycling routes, public transport and waterways are all close at hand.
KETELHUIS HIGHLIGHTS
- Exclusive development comprising just five lofts
- Listed national monument dating from 1894, designed by architect W.C. Mulder
- Sustainable transformation by Studio Akkerhuis Architects
- Freehold property (no leasehold)
- Views across Ankerpark in the heart of the Singelpark
- Garden designed by Piet Oudolf in collaboration with LOLA Landscape Architects
- Centrally located near the A4 and A44, and only a five-minute walk from the city centre
- Part of the award-winning De Meelfabriek development
LOFT HIGHLIGHTS
- 135 m² gross internal floor area (including storage)
- Flexible layout options
- Generous finishing allowances
- Dedicated personal purchaser support
- Construction underway, with completion anticipated in mid-2027
QUALITY
At Van der Wiel Bouw, we are passionate about quality: quality in design, materials, space and comfort. That is why we only develop and build homes in which we would be happy to live ourselves.
As a family-owned company with roots in Noordwijk stretching back more than a century, we have delivered many successful projects where homeowners, professional clients and visitors alike enjoy living, working and spending their leisure time.
Our commitment to quality extends beyond the finished product to the entire process and our relationship with customers. We constantly ask ourselves: “What would we want, and how would we wish to be treated ourselves?”
A successful construction process, with genuine attention to both the customer and quality, should ultimately result in a building in which we ourselves would be proud to live, work or relax. We applied exactly that philosophy when developing De Meelfabriek.
HISTORIE
KETELHUIS - Listed National Monument
The building dates from 1894 and was designed by the Leiden architect W.C. Mulder. It was originally constructed as a flour warehouse. Over time it was used to house boilers (from which it derives its name ‘Ketelhuis’, Dutch for boiler) as well as various engines for heating systems, and from the 1970s onwards compressors were installed in the building.
Because of its architectural and cultural-historical significance, the Ketelhuis is regarded as an outstanding example of an industrial utility building featuring exceptional detailing and an early use of concrete and iron construction. It is now a rare surviving example from the pioneering period of reinforced concrete construction combined with an iron structural frame.
The barrel-vaulted concrete roof is strengthened every three metres by iron profiles that follow the shape of the vault. It is the only building within De Meelfabriek to feature a curved roof.
Year of construction: 1894
Transformation: commenced in 2025, completion expected mid-2027
Original architect: W.C. Mulder
Transformation architect: Studio Akkerhuis Architects