City Hall

The town hall, which was built between 1464 and 1468 in Brabantine Gothic style, along with the surrounding patrician houses, illustrates the importance of Damme in the Middle Ages and in later periods. The town hall is a beautiful example of civic architecture with features of a fortified castle. Over the centuries, little has changed about the building, except for the turret which was rebuilt in 1642. Instead of a rooster, a graceful greyhound, which we also find in the coat of arms of Damme, indicates the direction of the wind. The turret houses two of the oldest bells in Flanders, namely the Bell of Neringen from 1392 and the Victory Bell from 1398. The niche sculptures on the front façade made of Balegem white stone tell a significant piece of Damme's history. The figures are the work of the Bruges sculptor Gustave Pickery and were placed there in the 19th century. From left to right, we see Count Philip of Alsace, who granted city rights to Damme in 1180. Next, we find Johanna of Constantinople and Countess Margareta of Constantinople, who supposedly granted permission for the construction of the St. John's Hospital. Furthermore, Count Philip of Chieti, Charles the Bold, and Margareta of York, who married in Damme, are depicted. Those who look closely can see how Charles the Bold offers his consort a ring.
At the corner of the façade hang two peculiar ornaments, called 'justice stones.' Anyone accused of slander would have one hung around their neck and had to proceed from the town hall to the church with it.

Erfgoed Vlaanderen