Hotel de Ville (Town Hall), Brussels (must see)

The landmark Town Hall of Brussels is the seat of the local municipal government. Erected between 1401 and 1455, this is the only remaining medieval building of the Grand Square and is a masterpiece of Brabantine Gothic architecture. It was officially recognized as a historic monument in 1936 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

The Town Hall was severely damaged by French bombardment in 1695, during the so-called Nine Years' War, which caused fire and completely gutted the building, destroying all its archives and art collections.

Despite the substantial damage, the building remained structurally intact. The addition of two rear wings in the 18th century transformed its L-shaped configuration into the present quadrilateral, with an inner courtyard. Restorations in the 19th century introduced a neo-Gothic interior and significantly reshaped the facade, adding nearly three hundred statues (featuring nobles, saints, and allegorical figures from the city's past), and enriching it with historical tapestries and artworks. Additional decorative elements include gargoyles, turrets, and expressive corbels.

The building played a central role in the Belgian Revolution of 1830 and served as a makeshift hospital during World War I.

The edifice is noted primarily for its asymmetrical layout. Urban legend has it that the architect Jan van Ruysbroek, who failed to notice it right away, leaped to his death from the same spire after discovering his error. This is probably just a legend, as the asymmetry was likely an accepted consequence of the scattered construction history and space constraints.

The 96-meter tower of the building is crowned with a gilded spire topped by a statue of Saint Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, slaying a devil. Originally crafted in 1455, the current statue is a 1990s replica.

Inside the building is a string of lavish official rooms with many different decorative styles. These include the Prince's Gallery (with portraits of Belgian rulers), the Maximilian Room (named so after a double portrait of Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy), the Mayor's Cabinet, the Gothic Room (showcasing neo-Gothic wooden cladding and tapestries representing the Guilds of Brussels), and the Wedding Room. The most dazzling of them, however, is the 16th-century States of Brabant Room, a meeting place for the Brussels City Council, with a superb ceiling fresco by Flemish painter Victor Janssens. If you want to explore them, take a 45-minute guided tour.

Tip:
Make sure to buy your guided tour tickets in the mornings to view the building from the inside – there are just a few tours each day and they do sell out. Tickets are on sale only the day of the guided tour, starting at 9 am, at the information desk.

Guided Tours (French/English/Dutch/Spanish):
Mon: 1pm (EN); 2pm (FR); 3pm (SP); 4pm (FR); 5pm (EN);
Wed: 1pm (FR); 2pm (EN); 3pm (NL); 4pm (FR); 5pm (EN);
Fri: 3pm (FR); 5pm (NL); 6pm (FR); 7pm (EN);
Sat: 3pm (FR); 4pm (EN); 5pm (NL); 6pm (FR); 7pm (EN);
Sun: 10am(EN); 11am (FR); 12pm/2pm (EN); 1pm (FR); 3pm (NE,SP); 4 pm (FR); 5pm (EN); 6pm (FR);
CLOSED: Jan 1, May 1, Nov 1, Nov 11, Dec 25