The Town Hall

The Town Hall

The Ghent audio-guided tour presents you with the Town Hall, a vast building with composite architecture, a witness of several centuries of the city's history.

Four centuries of superimposed styles

The construction of the Town Hall, spread over four centuries, presents a strong heterogeneity of styles. The façade one walks along is a veritable declaration of love to flamboyant Gothic, with its details pushed to the extreme, while other parts come from later influences. The building, whose origins go back to the medieval era, when Ghent was in full expansion, has no fewer than fifty-one rooms, including the wedding chapel where the people of Ghent exchange their vows. One also finds there the offices of the burgomaster and the aldermen. In front of the entrance, it is not rare to glimpse grains of rice or rose petals, traces of the weddings celebrated within these walls.

What there is to see

The Town Hall fascinates with the contrast of its façades, from flamboyant Gothic to later styles, the fruit of four centuries of construction. Beyond the architecture, the place remains alive to the rhythm of weddings and municipal life. It is a striking testimony of the history and prosperity of Ghent, to be contemplated in the heart of the historic centre.

Practical information

The Town Hall is in the historic centre of Ghent. Its façade can be contemplated freely from the street; the interior, a place of municipal activity, can be visited according to hours to be checked on site.

How long did the construction of the Town Hall last?

About four centuries, hence the great diversity of styles, from flamboyant Gothic to later influences.

What is the wedding chapel?

One of the fifty-one rooms of the Town Hall, where the people of Ghent still today exchange their wedding vows.