Ghent City Hall

Overview

Ghent's City Hall (Stadhuis) is a remarkable building that displays two entirely different architectural styles depending on which street you're on. The Hoogpoort facade is Flamboyant Gothic with ornate tracery; the Botermarkt face is sober Renaissance.

Highlights

• Gothic Facade: Intricate Flamboyant Gothic stonework on Hoogpoort, with niches for statues (never fully completed).
• Renaissance Facade: A restrained Italian-style arcade on the Botermarkt side.
• Pacification Room: The chamber where the Pacification of Ghent was signed in 1576.

History

Construction began in 1519 in Flamboyant Gothic style. When money ran out, the Renaissance-era architects switched to the cheaper Italian Renaissance style for the remaining wings. The Pacification of Ghent (1576) — a landmark treaty of religious tolerance — was signed here.

Visitor Tips

• Walk around both facades to see the style contrast.
• Interior visits by guided tour only (weekends).
• Duration: 10–20 minutes.