Brussels Town Hall

Brussels, Belgium

The oldest part of the present Town Hall is its east wing together with a shorter belfry. It was built and completed in 1420 under direction of Jacob van Thienen. Initially, future expansion of the building was not foreseen, however, the admission of the craft guilds into the traditionally patrician city government apparently spurred interest in providing more room the building. As a result a second, somewhat longer wing was built on to the existing structure, with Charles the Bold laying its first stone in 1444.

The facade is decorated with numerous statues representing nobles, saints, and allegorical figures. The present sculptures are reproductions; the older ones are in the city museum in the 'King's House' across the Grand Place.

The 96 metre high tower in Brabantine Gothic style emerged from the plans of Jan van Ruysbroek, the court architect of Philip the Good. By 1454 this tower replacing the older belfry was complete. Above the roof of the Town Hall, the square tower body narrows to a lavishly pinnacled octagonal openwork. Atop the spire stands a 5-metre-high gilt metal statue of the archangel Michael, patron saint of Brussels, slaying a dragon or devil. The tower, its front archway and the main building facade are conspicuously off-centre relative to one another. According to legend, the architect upon discovering this 'error' leapt to his death from the tower. More likely, the asymmetry of the Town Hall was an accepted consequence of the scattered construction history and space constraints.

After the bombardment of Brussels in 1695 by a French army under the Duke of Villeroi, the resulting fire completely gutted the Town Hall, destroying the archives and the art collections. The interior was soon rebuilt, and the addition of two rear wings transformed the L-shaped building into its present configuration: a quadrilateral with an inner courtyard completed by Corneille Van Nerven in 1712. The Gothic interior was revised by Victor Jamar in 1868 in the style of his mentor Viollet-le-Duc. The halls have been replenished with tapestries, paintings, and sculptures, largely representing subjects of importance in local and regional history.

The Town Hall accommodated not only the municipal authorities of the city, but until 1795 also the States of Brabant. In 1830, a provisional government assembled here during the attempt of the Third French Revolution which provoked the separation of the Southern Netherlands from the Northern Netherlands. resulting in the formation of Belgium as is known presently.

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Details

Founded: 1420-1444
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Belgium

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

SY (7 months ago)
I visited here in the morning, although it was raining, the view was beautiful and it was even more historic which made me feel like walking in the street several hundreds of years ago. The staff at tourist information centre was very friendly and helpful who provided valuable advice for me.
Razvan S (7 months ago)
There are two types of tickets / tours available: classic and panoramic. On both you will be accompanied by an official guide. This review is for the classic path. The guide will chronologically explain important events in the history of the city and area, from occupations, territorial administration, catastrophes, etc. Going through the rooms, you'll find an impressive collection of tapestries, some of which are among the best most preserved and detailed in the world. Other nicely crafted objects are on display and every room is nicely decorated. Unfortunately the chamber room was under restoration, but some details can be seen through the scaffoldings. You'll find lots of interesting things about the city's history, even how the landscape was different in the past. Next stop: mayor's office. While currently his business is conducted from the new city hall building, he still uses this office once a week. The tour continues in the wedding hall, where wedding ceremonies are still held to this day.
Rajkiran Natarajan (10 months ago)
Impressive architecture. Energetic vibe. This is an open area located in the downtown and surrounded by interesting buildings. The main building is a fine specimen of architecture. Aside from the overall shape, the detailed figures that line its span are themselves art pieces. The area is generally crowded and sometimes a theater for special events like beer tasting festivals and concerts. Lots of souvenir and flagship chocolate shops nearby. Opposite the hall are some good traditional Belgian restaurants. The people in this area are generally upbeat and in constant awe of the historic buildings around them. A nice place to be.
Reza Sattarzadeh Nowbari (10 months ago)
This is the main building at the heart of Brussels and one of the most beautiful ones in the entire city. The place can be visited only on a guided tour, and it does not run the entire day.
Bel Zi (13 months ago)
The awe-inspiring "Grand Place" is a landmark square located in Brussels, Belgium, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Magnificent buildings, including the Town Hall and St. Michael's Cathedral, surround the square.
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