Turnhalle

Windhoek


The Turnhalle was built in 1909 as a training hall for the Windhoek Gymnastic Club, though in 1975 it was modernised and turned into a conference hall. On 1 September of that year, it served as the venue for the first Constitutional Conference on Independence for South West Africa, which subsequently – and more conveniently – came to be called the Turnhalle Conference. During the 1980s, the building hosted several political summits and debates that paved the way to Namibian independence.

It now houses a tribunal for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Windhoek attractions

1. National Art Gallery

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This art gallery contains a permanent collection of works reflecting Namibia’s historical and natural heritage. The collection displays works by…

2. National Museum of Namibia

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The excellent display on Namibia’s independence at the country’s historical museum provides some enlightening context to the struggles of this young…

3. Owela Museum

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Part of the National Museum of Namibia, located about 600m from the main building, exhibits at the Owela Museum focus on Namibia’s natural and cultural…

4. Old Supreme Court

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Dating from 1908, the gabled brick Old Supreme Court was a court from 1920 to 1930, when the legal system was changing from the German to the South…

5. Trans-Namib Transport Museum

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Windhoek’s beautiful old Cape Dutch–style train station on Bahnhof St was constructed by the Germans in 1912, and was expanded in 1929 by the South…

6. Owambo Campaign Memorial

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At the entry to the train station parking area, you’ll see the Owambo Campaign Memorial, which was erected in 1919 to commemorate the 1917 British and…

7. Gathemann’s Complex

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Along Independence Ave are three colonial-era buildings, all designed by the famous architect Willi Sander. The one furthest south was built in 1902 as…

8. Old Magistrates’ Court

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