Town Hall

The Last Judgment in the town hall of Geraardsbergen may well startle you. The monstrous creatures that plague humans in a hellish environment are both frightening and fascinating. Do pay a visit to admire this extraordinary scene.

The originally Gothic town hall dates back to the 14th century but was restored and rebuilt several times in the style in vogue at the time: Classicist around 1750, neo-Gothic at the end of the 19th century. 

For a long time, an Aldermen’s house or town hall was also used as a courthouse. This justice scene, which dates back to 1526 and was meant to warn Aldermen that one day they too would be judged, is displayed in the old Aldermen’s hall. The board commissioned Willem Westvalinc in 1456 to produce the art work but the particular painting was replaced with a copy by Adriaan Moreels in 1526. Pieter van Boven eventually finished the painting. It is a colourful and densely packed work that is unique in Flanders. The main focus is on hell and the deadly sins. The panel was restored in 2003.