Town Hall

The town hall of Antwerp was built in the period from 1561 until 1565 and is inspired by Italian palazzi. It was built in the Renaissance style during the city’s Golden Age. The city’s artillery was stored in the cellars and on the ground floor of the building for quite some time, in order to defend the city during turbulent times. The building sustained substantial damage during the Spanish Fury (1576) as the Spanish occupying forces mutinied and set the town hall on fire. The roof and the northern wing of the building were destroyed as a result.