The lower part of the building housed a department store of the Dutch chain Vroom & Dreesmann (V&D).

In the first half of the 20th century Heerlen developed from an insignificant rural town into the dynamic urban centre of the Dutch coalmining district.

The architect Frits Peutz played an important role in this transformation with buildings like the Glaspaleis, the former offices of Oranje Nassaumijnen, the Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House and the Town Hall.

There were 30 dishwashers that could clean and dry up to 9200 dishes per hour,[2] In the early 1990s the building's facade was updated to a more contemporary design, which changed its appearance dramatically.

It was demolished in 2019 to make room for a new municipal office building by Dutch architects Mecanoo which pays hommage to the adjacent Peutz town hall.