Leuven Town Hall (Stadhuis)

Leuven Town Hall stands at Grote Markt 9 in Leuven, in the Flemish Region of Belgium, directly opposite the Gothic St Peter's Church. Built in the fifteenth century in the Brabantine late-Gothic style, it is often described as one of the most richly decorated civic buildings in Europe. The three storeys of the facade are filled with niches containing 236 statues, representing saints, scholars, nobles and local figures, most of which were added in the nineteenth century. Slender corner turrets and a steep roof give the building a lace-like silhouette. Inside, visitors can join a guided tour at set times to see the Gothic Hall, the Mayor's Office and other historic rooms with period decoration, and the guide explains the history of Leuven's civic government and its university. Tours last about 45 minutes, and the timetable should be checked on visitleuven.be, as they run only at fixed times and may be in several languages. Adult tickets cost roughly EUR 7, with reduced rates for children. The best photograph of the facade is from the square in front, ideally in the afternoon light, with the church behind to show both buildings together. The Grote Markt is busiest on market days and during university term time on weekend evenings, when the surrounding terraces fill, while weekday mornings are calmer. Leuven station is about ten minutes on foot via Bondgenotenlaan, and the square sits at the centre of the compact pedestrian old town, close to M-Museum Leuven and the university buildings. The interior can close for civic events, so confirming the tour date is sensible.