Rathaus and Jan-Wellem-Reiterdenkmal

The Rathaus at Marktplatz 1 forms the civic heart of the Düsseldorf Altstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia. The oldest part of the complex was built in the early 1570s in Renaissance style under the Dukes of Jülich-Kleve-Berg, and it was extended in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which gives the building its composite look with a stone and brick facade, a richly decorated gable and an arcaded section. In front of the building, on Marktplatz, stands the bronze equestrian statue of Elector Johann Wilhelm II, known as Jan Wellem (1658-1716). It was made by the court sculptor Gabriel de Grupello and set up in 1711, and it shows the ruler in Roman costume on a rearing horse, with allegorical figures on the plinth. Jan Wellem turned the town on the Rhine into a courtly city with a famous gallery, an opera and patronage of architects and painters, and he remains a beloved figure in local memory, with the statue often a gathering point for events. Together the Rathaus and the statue present an easy lesson in the layering of Düsseldorf's history: medieval market town, ducal seat, Palatinate court and modern city administration. The Rathaus suffered damage in the Second World War and was repaired afterwards, and the statue has been conserved by the city. Visitors can freely walk around Marktplatz at any hour, and the statue can be viewed up close. The interior is normally accessible on weekdays, though visitors should check opening arrangements with the city before planning to enter. The surrounding market square also hosts Christmas market stalls in winter and other events in warmer months, and the square is bordered by cafés and restaurants.