Stadhuis Brugge

The town hall of Bruges is one of the oldest town halls in Belgium. In 1280 the old 'ghyselhuus' on the Burg became the meeting place for the city aldermen. This building was an old prison that was no longer used. Between 1376 and 1421 the building was transformed into a 'scepenhuus' for the aldermen. This meeting place became the current town hall. The richly decorated building shows that the city underwent major economic and political growth in the 14th century. The façade of the oldest part of the town hall was extended several times in the southern direction in the 16th and 17th centuries. This facade was, among other things, the source of inspiration for the town halls of Brussels, Ghent, Leuven and Oudenaarde. Between 1895 and 1905, the interior of the town hall was renovated after a fire. The small and large aldermen's room were then combined into one impressive large room with beautiful murals. The town hall is open to the public every day.