Description of the attraction
The perimeter of the large triangular Grote Markt is built up with old houses that once belonged to various city guilds. The building of the Town Hall, erected in the Renaissance style in 1561-1565, when Antwerp was experiencing its heyday, is considered to be a real decoration of the square. At first, they wanted to build the city hall in a Gothic manner, but by the beginning of its construction, the Renaissance occupied a leading position in architecture. Architect Cornelis Floris was inspired by Italian mansions built in the same style. However, he not only copied what had already been found before him, but also introduced new elements into the decor of the building, which were later used more than once in the construction of other buildings in Belgium. This is an original ornament, the so-called Florisstyle.
When the Town Hall was already ready, quite dramatic events began to take place in Antwerp. At first, Protestants looted every Catholic church they could reach. To restore order, the king of Spain, a zealous Catholic, sent a garrison to Antwerp. Some time passed, and the Spaniards, whose task was to protect the city and maintain order in it, rebelled, since they had not received payment for service for a long time. The soldiers began to kill civilians and destroy city buildings. The Town Hall also suffered from their actions. It was restored only three years later, that is, in 1579. Another renovation took place at the end of the 19th century. Then all the interiors of the city hall were changed.
The facade of the magnificent four-story building is decorated with three coats of arms of the rulers and a statue of the Mother of God. The lower floor of the Town Hall used to house shops, the owners of which paid rent for the use of the premises in the Town Hall to the city. We can say that it was with this money that the building was reconstructed. Antwerp City Hall can be visited with a guided tour.
