The Roma

The Roma was built in 1928 as a cinema and named after the builder, the Italian stonemason Jean-Baptiste Romeo and his wife Ludvina Malev.

With its 2000 seats, it was for a long time the largest cinema in Antwerp. Well-known figures have also performed there: Gaston Berghmans, Leo Martin, Charles Janssens, Co Flower, Mireille Mathieu, and Zarah Leander. In the 1970s, it became one of Belgium's rock and pop temples with performances by Lou Reed, Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Marvin, Welch & Farrar, Olivia Newton-John, Iggy Pop, Paul McCartney, Nils Lofgren, and Ry Cooder. In 1982, the hall was closed, but culture enthusiasts dreamed of reviving the Roma.

In 2003, the doors of the former Cinema Roma were reopened. The invaluable efforts of many volunteers ensured that the majestic cinema hall was renovated – a process that was only fully completed in 2015. Today, De Roma still shows films. But it is also primarily a hotspot for concerts and socio-cultural activities.

Erik