The 'BHP' in the name stands for 'Bezpieczeństwo i Higiena Pracy', which translates to 'Occupational Health and Safety'.
The August Accords signed here permitted the creation of Solidarity, the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc.
The interior retains the original wooden furniture used during the 1980 negotiations.
The building was constructed in the early 20th century as part of the Schichau-Werke shipyard infrastructure.
It is now under the administrative care of the European Solidarity Centre.
BHP Hall is the historic site where the August Accords were signed in 1980, marking a turning point in the collapse of the communist regime in Poland. Located within the former Gdańsk Shipyard, the building served as the Occupational Health and Safety (BHP) training hall for shipyard workers. The interior houses the original table where the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee signed the agreement with the government. Exhibits display documents, photographs, and artifacts detailing the rise of the Solidarity trade union. The building is officially recognized as a monument of history. It operates as an exhibition space documenting the history of anti-communist opposition. Visitors can explore the preserved space where Lech Wałęsa and other opposition leaders negotiated. The site remains a symbol of the struggle for democracy in Central Europe.
The main table and the backdrop wall used during the 1980 signing ceremony.
Combine your visit with the nearby European Solidarity Centre to get full historical context.
Look for the commemorative plaques on the outer walls marking the site's historical importance.
Check for temporary thematic exhibitions that rotate periodically within the hall.
Do not assume you can freely explore the wider shipyard area, as many sections remain active industrial zones or are restricted.
Closed on Mondays.
