City hall

The central part of the town hall dates from the 15th century. around it are various additions from the following centuries in various architectural styles. The side of the Hoogpoort looks particularly rich with ornate late Gothic elements from the early 16th century. The counts of Flanders are depicted in the niches. The other side of the butter market shows the Renaissance style (late 16th, early 17th century) with the three different types of columns (Doric, Ionic and Corinthian).

Ghent town hall is a four-sided complex of buildings, surrounded by the Botermarkt, the Hoogpoort, the Stadhuissteeg and the Poeljemarkt. The main wings are the late Gothic alderman's house of the Keure and the alderman's house of Gedele in Renaissance style. The building contains 51 rooms.

Ghent City Hall
Schizophrenic flamboyant, political Ghent...
This schizophrenic building consists of two parts and it shows, a fascinating sight in political Ghent. The facade on the side of the Hoogpoort shows the flamboyant late Gothic style of the early 16th century. This style contrasts sharply with the Renaissance style of the facade on the Botermarkt. In this younger wing (1559 -1618) you can see Doric, Ionic and Corinthian three-quarter columns and pilasters, inspired by the Italian palazzi.
A maze behind the Counts of Flanders
In the niches of the facades of the town hall of Ghent you can see the Counts of Flanders, although they were only added in the early 1900s. Behind this facade are no fewer than 51 rooms, including the Trouwkapel, where the people of Ghent give each other their yes with conviction. Many a bride has already dreamed away at the beautiful romantic stained glass windows or got lost in the maze of corridors and rooms in the building.

Source: visit.gent.be/nl/zien-doen/stadhuis-van-gent