Belfry and town hall

The Belfry is home to several unique anecdotes from history. The first floor, for example, is the authentic treasury of Dendermonde. The old archive case of the city is kept here, containing all the crucial documents.

The Belfry, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was originally a corner tower of the Cloth Hall. With an extension during the 15th century, the belfry was given the function of town hall. The old carillon was also lost during the fire in 1914. Since 1975 a new one with 49 bells has been installed. You will hear a tune playing every 15 minutes during the walk.
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nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfort_van_Dendermonde

The belfry of Dendermonde was originally a corner tower of the cloth halls, whose construction started in 1337 (the left part of the building). Later, in 1377, they are extended with the actual belfry. In the course of the 15th century, the Cloth Hall was given the function of town hall.
The hull of the Cloth Hall in natural stone, with its typical facade and sculpture niches, has withstood turbulent periods of war. The spire of the belfry, on the other hand, has been repeatedly hit, destroyed and replaced. During the First World War, almost the entire city was destroyed, but the outer walls of the city hall were spared.
The town hall was badly damaged on September 17, 1914: the spire of the belfry and the carillon (40 bells) came down and the town archive was lost. The reconstruction (1925 and 1926) put an end to distasteful restorations in the past.
The current function of the building is aimed at the public and is accessible every day from 10 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 4 pm. There is work on display by the Dendermonde-born painters Jan Verhas and Franz Courtens.
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfort_van_Dendermonde