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Oudenaarde · Belgium

Oudenaarde Town Hall and Belfry

Known locally as Stadhuis van Oudenaarde

The richly carved late-Gothic town hall and its belfry reflect Oudenaarde's prosperity during the textile era, with civic rooms and collections linked to the town's tapestry tradition.

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Oudenaarde Town Hall and Belfry Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0
Typical visit
1 hour
Setting
Indoor
Region
East Flanders
Last checked
10 Aug 2026

Why visit

The richly carved late-Gothic town hall and its belfry reflect Oudenaarde's prosperity during the textile era, with civic rooms and collections linked to the town's tapestry tradition. The visit is worthwhile because it brings several strands of Belgian history and landscape together in one clearly legible setting. Time on site can focus on late-Gothic façade, belfry, civic interiors, while the surrounding streets, grounds or scenery provide useful context. It works especially well as part of a regional itinerary because the place adds a distinct subject rather than repeating the experience of nearby attractions.

What you will see

  • late-Gothic façade.
  • belfry.
  • civic interiors.
  • tapestry collections.

History

The town hall was built in the first half of the sixteenth century during a period of commercial prosperity. Its belfry forms part of the UNESCO serial listing shared by civic towers in Belgium and France.

Visitor tips

  1. 1

    Allow enough time to understand the surrounding setting as well as the principal feature, and follow local signs where historic surfaces, protected areas or active public spaces affect access.

About East Flanders

East Flanders centres on Ghent's medieval trading landscape while extending to castles, civic monuments and smaller historic towns along the Scheldt and Leie.

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Combine it with

More to see around Oudenaarde

Gravensteen Ghent · Belgium The counts' castle rises directly from Ghent's historic centre, with thick stone walls, towers and interior spaces that explain medieval lordship within a wealthy trading city. St Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent Ghent · Belgium The cathedral is central to Ghent's religious and artistic history and houses the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, one of the defining works of early Netherlandish painting. Belfry of Ghent Ghent · Belgium Ghent's civic belfry represents the autonomy and wealth of the medieval city, with its bell chamber and elevated views set between the cathedral and the former cloth hall. Graslei and Korenlei Ghent · Belgium The facing quays on the River Leie are lined with restored guild and merchant houses, showing how trade, waterways and urban architecture shaped medieval and early modern Ghent. Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent (MSK) Ghent · Belgium MSK presents European art from the medieval period to the twentieth century, with particular strength in Flemish painting and a setting beside Ghent's Citadelpark museum district. STAM Ghent City Museum Ghent · Belgium STAM explains Ghent's urban development through maps, objects, models and historic buildings, making it useful for understanding how the medieval core expanded into a modern city.