In the heart of Herentals is the Lakenhal, the most important witness of Herental's rich past. The building was built in the early fifteenth century by wealthy wool weavers and cloth makers to conduct their trade. In 1512 the building was almost completely destroyed by fire. In 1534, reconstruction was a fact. Over time, many repairs and renovations were made to the town hall. The last major renovation dates back to 2010.
The Lakenhal is a sober rectangular building. The height of the tower is approximately 35 meters. A carillon has hung in the belfry tower since the mid-sixteenth century. The fifty bells together weigh almost four tons. The carillon is still played regularly.
The oldest sources call the building the “gulden huys”, “meethuys” or “loothuys”. Around 1430 the building was officially given the name 'town hall'. Since 1998 it has been officially called Lakenhal. The belfry is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Now the Lakenhal has a socio-cultural function. Exhibitions and concerts are regularly organized. The Lakenhal is freely accessible during exhibitions. The belfry is not accessible to the public.