Brussels, Belgium - City and Town Halls on Waymarking.com

The Town Hall currently comprises a large collection of works of art and, in particular, tapestries made in Brussels. But, in fact, it is not in any way a museum because the building still houses today some of the local council departments (the offices of the deputy burgomasters, the local council secretariat, the protocol department, etc.). All the rooms on the first floor are still used on a daily basis, whether for meetings, functions or weddings.

The first stone was laid in the spring of 1402. This original town hall (which is now the left wing) was completed in 1405, together with a small tower. The architect is believed to be JACOB VAN THIENEN. However, on March the 3rd 1444, the original building was extended with a smaller right wing, which was ready in 1449. In that same year the architect JAN VAN RUYSBROECK built the tower that still crowns the building today. This extension of the town hall was a result of the rivalry between Brussels and the neighboring city of Leuven. Leuven also aspired to the title of 'capital of the Dukedom of Brabant' and had therefore constructed a massive and extremely prestigious town hall

After the destruction of Brussels in August 1695 by the French troops of DE VILLEROY, only the tower and the outside walls of the town hall had been saved. Restoration works started almost immediately after the catastrophe. In the 17th and 18th centuries the original decorative statues withered away or disappeared. By 1840 a complete restoration was necessary. It was then that the entire facade became decorated with a total of 203 little statues representing the Dukes and Duchesses of Brabant who ruled the dukedom between the year 580 and 1564.

The town hall is still the seat of the Mayor of Brussels . The city administration is located elsewhere, on Boulevard Anspach. In the first half of the 1990's the tower has been completely restored. In the following years the facades of the building has been cleaned and restored where necessary.

Name: Brussels Town Hall Address: Grote Markt 1 Brussels, Belgium B-1000 Date of Construction: 1402/1420 Architect: Jacoc van Thienen Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications: Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link]

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