Meat hall

Since 1386, the Vleeshal has been located at the corner of Spekstraat and Warmoesstraat, a meat hall where meat was sold by butchers. Due to the rapid growth in the number of inhabitants in Haarlem, the meat hall became too small. From 1592 onwards, 26 stalls of butchers were allowed to stand outside the hall, but the meat spoiled faster outside. For the construction of a new meat hall, several properties on the Grote Markt were purchased on October 11, 1601. By the end of 1604, the butchers took up residence in the building.

The Vleeshal is a beautiful example of the Dutch Renaissance.

The Vleeshal continued to be used as a sales place for meat until the 19th century. Afterwards, the building had a very different function: from 1840 to 1885, it served as a storage place for a garrison stationed in Haarlem. Subsequently, the building served as the National Archive and later as a depot for the city library. During World War II, the building was taken into use by the Distribution Service. After the war, the mayor and aldermen decided that the building should become exhibition space. And that is what it has remained to this day.

Dromos