The current belfry originally housed a number of halls. Around 1240, the trading elite in Bruges decided to replace the wooden construction with a stone complex and also to build a belfry in stone with a wooden spire, as a symbol of the city's prosperity. The tower had a more administrative function, it contained a treasury, the archive of the city accounts and functioned as the seat of the city aldermen. In 1280, the upper part burned down and with it the archive from before 1280 was lost. Around 1291-1296, the tower was restored with the two lower square building parts and a wooden spire. The city halls were further expanded in the 15th century and from 1483 to 1487 the octagonal Gothic upper part was built, also with a wooden spire on which the statue of Saint Michael appeared. Due to a lightning strike in 1493, this upper part burned down again, as did the city bells. During the restoration, a wooden spire with a rising lion was built. In 1741 the spire burned down again and was restored in 1753, but without a spire. In 1822 the tower was given the current neo-Gothic crown finish instead of a spire. In the 13th century the tower began to lean in a south-eastern direction, probably as a result of a filled-in watercourse. In 1964-1971 the tower was thoroughly restored. However, it turned out not to be necessary to reinforce the foundations further to prevent further leaning. The belfry of Bruges is 83 meters high and leans slightly 87 centimeters towards Wollestraat. To reach the top, 366 steps have to be climbed.