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Monument · Ypres, West Flanders
Cloth Hall (Ypres)
The old cloth hall, with the 70-metre Belfort, occupies an entire side of the Grote Markt. It was destroyed in the war and rebuilt as it had been.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cloth Hall (Ypres)
The Lakenhalle of Ypres was built between 1200 and 1304, when the town was one of the great centres of the wool cloth trade in Flanders. The façade is about 125 metres long and, in its middle, rises the Belfort, the 70-metre civic tower that housed the bells and the town's records.
During the First World War the building was bombed and set on fire in 1914 and ended up in ruins, with only a section of the tower left standing. Photos of the destroyed Lakenhalle circulated around the world. Reconstruction began in 1933 and was not completed until 1967, under architects J. Coomans and P. A. Pauwels, following the pre-war appearance.
Since 1999, Ypres's tower has been included on the UNESCO list of Belgian and French belfries. On the east side, the 17th-century Renaissance annex called Nieuwerck, also rebuilt, serves as the town hall.
Inside the Lakenhalle are the tourist office and the In Flanders Fields Museum. The climb to the Belfort is done via the museum and offers views of the Grote Markt, the cathedral, the Menenpoort and the plain of the former front. Every three years in May the Kattenstoet, the parade of the cats, ends with a jester throwing toy cats from the top of the tower.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half an hour to see the façade and the square. With the museum and the climb up the Belfort, allow two to three hours.
Best time
In the morning light falls directly on the façade facing the square. At night the Lakenhalle is illuminated and the Grote Markt is quieter.
How to get there
It is on the Grote Markt, in the town centre, about a ten-minute walk from Ieper station. Follow Stationsstraat and Boterstraat to the square.
Tip
The tourist office on the ground floor of the building hands out maps for bicycle and car routes around the old front. Stop by before you set out for the cemeteries.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cloth Hall (Ypres)
Is the Lakenhalle original?
No. The building was destroyed in World War I and rebuilt between 1933 and 1967, following the medieval design.
Can you climb the Belfry?
Yes, access to the tower is via the In Flanders Fields Museum, with a separate ticket. Check before you go whether the climb is open on that day.
What is the Kattenstoet?
It’s the cats’ parade, a festival held every three years in May. At the end, a jester throws stuffed cats from the top of the Belfry, recalling an old city custom.