This gothic town hall with bell- tower is dated from the 15th century, and is undoubtedly one of the best examples of the popular brabantion gothic. The left wing wiht little belfrytowers was built between 1401 and 1420 under the orders of the architect Jacob (Jacques) van Thienen. The first stone of the right wing was placed by Charles the bold in 1444 and finished in 1448. The original bell tower that looked to small between the two wings, was rebuilt with the architect Jan van Ruysbroeck into a 97 meter high belfrytower and was finished in 1455. This tower gives a slender, airy impression. This is supported by flying buttresses and is richely decorated (amongst others with gargouilles). The copper statue of five meters high, that is decorated with golden crochets above the spire depicts Saint Michel who beats a dragon. Saint-Michel is the patron saint of Brussels and the statue is of the hand of Maarten van Rode. The fassade contains statues of the duces and duchesses ofBrabant. They look at the Town Square from under baldachines decorated with crochets. The back building is much more recent. It was built between 1706 and 1711 in classicistic baroque. After Eric Francart:: 'I am sorry, but the tower is not the bellfrey of Brussels. This collapsed in 1714. See : http://bruxellesanecdotique.skynetblogs.be/post/6603279/le-beffroi-de-bruxelles . In an old book, I've seen a gravure of the bellfrey, which was in front of the Saint Nicolas' church. ' For the night illumination pictures our thanks go to Bart Van Oudenhove.

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