Overview
Behind Wilhelmina Hall in Lintelo, a nursery school with an unusual history stood from 1962 to 1979. The building had originally served as emergency housing in Zeeland, where it was erected in 1953 after the North Sea flood. Donated by the Swedish government, it had temporarily provided accommodation for two families.
In 1962 the building was moved to Lintelo and converted into a nursery school. A new nursery school was built in 1973, leaving the emergency building vacant.
From nursery school to youth centre
In the early 1970s there were several so-called “chicken-coop discos” where young people gathered. A group of young people in Lintelo, however, came up with the idea of establishing a larger youth centre that would be open to more young people from the region. The vacant nursery school provided a suitable location.
Aalten municipality gave permission for the building to be used as a youth centre. Volunteers from Lintelo worked together to convert it into an inviting space with a bar, a sound system and a billiard table, among other things. In April 1974 the centre opened under the name “i’Varca”, Greek for “The Ark”.
Relocation and demolition
The youth centre soon attracted many visitors, but its growing popularity and the poor condition of the building made a move necessary. In April 1979 i’Varca moved to the former ’t Halt mill on Halteweg in Lintelo. The old nursery school was demolished shortly afterwards.
Address history
Address directory 1967
Lintelo 167/2 > Schooldijk 25
Nursery school