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Brussels town hall welcomes visitors for more guided tours from February

12:44 27/01/2023

Brussels’ magnificent town hall will be far more accessible to tourists, visitors and city residents From 1 February, announced Brussels Major Events deputy director Delphine Romanus. 

Standing proudly as it does on one of Europe’s most famous squares, the Grand Place, the aim is to make the town hall a “place of heritage accessible to the general public,” she said.

The plan is not to change the building into a museum – the Brussels City Museum is after all just opposite in the Maison du Roi, Romanus explained.

Brussels mayor Philippe Close first announced the change on 16 December when outlining the city’s 2023 budget. He said the administrative services of the town hall, including his own office, would be moving to Brucity. This brand new building lies between the Bourse and Place Sainte-Catherine.  

This means that the Brussels landmark and visitor favourite will be more available for tourism purposes, as well as weddings and other special events. 

The town hall was built between 1401 and 1455, and since 1998 has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It can currently be visited, but only with a guide reserved in advance, on Wednesday and Sunday. From February, there will be 27 tour options spread over four days – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Explore the Gothic building and its treasures

The increased viewing times will give visitors more opportunities to explore this beautiful Brabant and classic Gothic style building that’s crowned by a three-metre statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon.

Treats in store include paintings and sculpture by renowned artists, including Charles Geefs and George Minne, the ‘Life of Clovis’ tapestries, busts of all Brussels’ mayors since 1830, and murals showing how, before the Senne was covered up, Brussels had myriad Bruges-style canals and picturesque bridges. 

Visitors will also be able to discover where to find the underground tunnels beneath the Grand Place and learn if one of the masterpiece’s architects really committed suicide, jumping from the top of the Belfry, when he saw that the tower was not placed in the middle of the building. 

It’s still possible to visit the town hall at the old €8 price for another week. But from 1 February, tickets for guided tours will cost €15 (reduced tariffs include €6 for children up to 18).

 

Written by Liz Newmark