Williamsbau
On Aachener Straße, the Williamsbau was Cologne's largest post-war event hall and the birthplace of the FC Cologne mascot "Hennes".
since 1947
holds approx. 2,500 people
Opposite the Aachener Weiher pond stood a temporary structure from 1947 to 1956 that, for nearly a decade, became the cultural heart of post-war Cologne. The Williamsbau replaced the city's large halls destroyed in the war — and, almost by accident, gave rise to a Cologne legend.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Location
- Aachener Straße (around no. 120), north side, opposite the Aachener Weiher
- Construction
- Begun in 1946, opened in July 1947
- Architect
- Wilhelm Koep
- Capacity
- 2,500 spectators — the largest hall in post-war Cologne
- Use
- Winter quarters of Circus Williams and multi-purpose hall (1947–1955)
- Demolition
- 1956
- Memorial
- Carola-Williams-Park with a commemorative stele (since 6 May 2018)
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
Construction & Background
Because all of Cologne's large event halls had been destroyed during the war, the city lacked a venue for major gatherings after 1945. From 1946, Circus Williams had a semi-permanent winter building erected to plans by architect Wilhelm Koep, opening in July 1947 as the first new Cologne event building of the post-war era. The circus operated an identically named winter tent in Düsseldorf on Erkrather Straße as well. With 2,500 seats, the Cologne Williamsbau was the city's largest hall of those years.
Use as an Event Hall
Between 1947 and 1955 the circus's winter quarters doubled as a versatile multi-purpose hall, hosting carnival sessions, operettas, jazz concerts, fairy-tale plays, and sporting and political events. On 8 October 1949 local hero Peter Müller boxed the Romanian Jo Neff; on 29 November 1952 Louis Armstrong gave a rapturously received concert; and on 29 June 1953 Konrad Adenauer addressed the CDU middle-class bloc here. The homeland revues of the destroyed Groß-Köln venue also returned here during carnival, and the proclamation of Cologne's carnival trio (Dreigestirn) took place in the hall. Performers included dancer Marika Rökk, musician Lionel Hampton with his band, and singer Grete Fluss. When Alfred Neven DuMont was crowned Prince Carnival on 9 February 1955, the Mainzer Hofsänger celebrated their greatest hit with "So ein Tag, so wunderschön wie heute" — by August 1959 the song had sold over 300,000 copies; Ludwig Sebus also performed at that same event. Thus the Williamsbau became the centre of Cologne's reawakening popular culture.
Demolition & Remembrance
With the rebuilding of the large halls in Cologne's city centre, the temporary building lost its purpose and was demolished in 1956. Only decades later did the site gain a visible memorial: on 6 May 2018 the area around the former location was named Carola-Williams-Park, and a commemorative stele was unveiled in the presence of members of the Williams family.
The Birth of "Hennes"
The most consequential event at the Williamsbau was a carnival prank. On 13 February 1950, during a carnival session, circus director Carola Williams presented the team of 1. FC Köln with a young billy goat. As legend has it, the animal was so nervous in the spotlight that it urinated on player Hennes Weisweiler — whereupon the goat was named "Hennes" and became the club's mascot, still famous today.
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Map
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Address
Aachener Straße 120
50931 Köln
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-08-21
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