Town hall

The town hall is a jewel of late Gothic architecture that began in 1439 under the guidance of renowned master builders. Matheus de Layens modified the original plan in several places. For instance, the planned belfry tower at the corner with Naamsestraat was omitted, giving the imposing building its characteristic shape with four corner towers, two ridge towers, and a parapet all around. Between the windows, there are projections with two niches each. Three corner towers also feature niches. The bases of the niches are sculpted representations from the Bible. The 236 figures in the niches were only added starting in 1850, thus forming the Leuven pantheon. The two rows on the ground floor depict artists, scholars, and notable figures from Leuven's history. The first floor showcases figures that symbolize the municipal freedoms and the patron saints of the parishes. On the second floor are the graves of Leuven's lords and the dukes of Brabant, and on the towers, the biblical figures.

Erfgoed Vlaanderen