Stadhuis (Brugge City Hall), Bruges (must see)

Housed in a magnificent Gothic building, Brugge City Hall is one of the oldest surviving town halls in the Low Countries. Constructed between 1376 and 1421, it was among the first monumental civic buildings designed specifically to house a municipal government. Its impressive architecture reflects the wealth and political influence Brugge enjoyed during its medieval Golden Age, when it was one of Europe's leading commercial centers and may have had a population of between 35,000 and 45,000 inhabitants.

The richly decorated Gothic façade is one of the building's greatest attractions. It features tall pointed windows, slender corner turrets, and elaborate stone carvings. Niches on the façade contain 48 statues representing the Counts and Countesses of Flanders alongside biblical and historical figures. Although the original medieval statues were destroyed during the French Revolution, the present sculptures are faithful 19th-century replacements. Around the windows, visitors can also see the coats of arms of Brugge and the towns that once formed part of the Liberty of Brugge, the surrounding administrative district.

Inside, the highlight is the spectacular Gothic Hall on the first floor, reached by a grand ceremonial staircase. Completed in the late 14th century, the hall impresses with its soaring painted polychrome wooden vaulted ceiling, richly carved corbels, and colorful neo-Gothic murals added during a major restoration in the late 19th century. Painted by Albrecht De Vriendt and his brother Juliaan, the murals illustrate key moments in Brugge's history, celebrating the city's civic freedoms, prosperous trading past, and the Counts of Flanders.

Adjacent rooms contain a small museum dedicated to the history of Brugge's administration. Historical documents, paintings, maps, archaeological finds, and interactive displays explain how the city was governed from the Middle Ages to the present day. Visitors can also see the former council chamber and learn about the development of Brugge as one of medieval Europe's most influential trading cities.