The Nieuwpoort City Hall is a beautiful example of a smaller Flemish grain hall in late Gothic style, probably built around 1480. The first mention of a hall in Nieuwpoort dates back to 1280, which indicates a flourishing trading activity. After a city fire in 1383, the building even served as a temporary City Hall.
During the First World War, the hall tower was blown up by the Belgian army on 17 October 1914 to prevent it from serving as a target for the enemy. The subsequent bombardments left hardly anything left of the medieval building. Architect Jozef Viérin led the reconstruction in the original style and material.
In 1940, the hall was again damaged by an air raid, but was subsequently restored. From 1956, the building was given a museum function, first with a bird and shellfish museum, later with a museum for history and folklore. Since the restoration in the 1990s, the building has mainly served as an exhibition and reception area.
The belfry of the Stadshalle was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, together with 23 other Flemish belfries — a sign of its historical and cultural value.