City Hall (Haarlem)
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The City Hall in Haarlem is the seat of the city's government.
[edit] History
Around 1100 a wooden building was constructed on the location of the current Gravenzaal of the City Hall. Traces of this building were found in 1955.
After large fires in 1347 and 1351, William II, Count of Holland donated the remains of the Gravenzaal to the city's municipality. A new building was built there. The distinctive façade of the building was designed by architect Lieven de Key and built from 1602-1604.
Every Saturday and Monday there is a big market in front of the City Hall, where on Saturdays mainly flowers are sold and on Mondays mainly clothing, fruit and vegetables. Although the market is frequented by the local population, it is a truly touristic attraction and worth a visit.
[edit] Inside
A large number of paintings can be found inside the building. They depict the various counts of Holland, starting from Dirk I to Maximilian from Austria. In the Middle Ages these paintings were hanging in the Carmelieten Cloister in Haarlem; they were painted between 1486 and 1491. In 1570 it is mentioned that the paintings are hanging in the City Hall; possibly they were moved there in 1566 to protect them from the iconoclastic riots.
