Schepenhuis

Welcome to the historic central market square known as the Grote Markt in Aalst, Belgium. Standing majestically before you is the Schepenhuis, also historically known as the Oud Schepenhuis or the Belfort van Aalst. …

Welcome to the front of the historic main aldermen house of the Schepenhuis complex in Aalst, which stands as the oldest surviving building of its kind in the entire Low Countries. Originally constructed in 1225 using local…

Now, please raise your eyes to admire the most iconic and dominant feature of the Schepenhuis complex, the majestic belfry tower and clock tower constructed in 1460. For centuries, this soaring structure has stood as a vigilant…

Please focus your attention directly on the central portion of the belfry wall facing the market square. On this section of the facade, you will discover an extraordinarily sophisticated arrangement of stone sculpture, heraldic…

We have now arrived before the Gebiedshuisje, a beautifully projecting annex constructed in the late Gothic architectural style facing the Grote Markt. This prominent structure holds immense historical importance as the primary…

You have descended the twenty three stone steps beneath the Gebiedshuisje into the subterranean cellars of the Schepenhuis complex. The transition from the bright, vibrant atmosphere of the Grote Markt above to these subterranean…

Emerging from the underground cellars back into the lively atmosphere of the Grote Markt in Aalst, we bring our audio guide tour of the Schepenhuis complex to a memorable conclusion. Today, we have journeyed together through…