Vleeshuis - Butcher's House, Antwerp

After 't Steen, this is one of Antwerp's oldest buildings. It was built for the city's butchers, originally around 1250. The current, much larger, hall dates back to 1504. In 1810, occupying French troops under Napoleon abolished all the guilds. So this building was used for other purposes. In 1899, the city acquired it. Since then, it's been a museum.

Somewhat hidden between a renovated (and ugly) residential quarter and the houses alongside the quays of Antwerp, stands the old Meat Hall (or Butcher's hall, or 'Vleeshuis' in Dutch).

The elegant building in Gothic style was built with alternating layers of red bricks and white sandstone (sometimes referred to in Dutch as 'speklagen', or 'bacon layers') between 1501 and 1503. Architect De Waghemakere built it for the guild of the butchers of Antwerp. After the French Revolution, the guilds were abolished and the Meat Hall lost its original function. It was later used as a theater and as a storage building for wine.
At the end of the 19th century the City of Antwerp bought the building and used it to house the Museum of Archeology and Applied Arts.

Het Vleeshuis – the butcher’s house – is one of the oldest buildings in Antwerp. As with many older buildings, it replaced an even older predecessor building. In this case, it was a wooden hall from 1250. Built in 1503, it was once the guild house of the butcher’s guild. Compare the style to the one of the town hall, which is “only” 60 years younger: Highly developed gothic compare to early renaissance. In the 18th century, the guilds lost their power and the guild hall its function. So, the butcher’s house had a very turbulent period, being used as a theater or a storage building. Some painters had their ateliers in it. Since 1913, it is a museum of “archeology and applied arts”. I haven’t visited the museum, so I can’t tell you anything about the exhibitions inside. However, the building is a very beautiful example of late gothic architecture – take your time to admire it.

The Vleeshuis has been near the harbor front, not far from the town center, since the mid 13th century. The present building was built by Herman de Waghemakere at the beginning of the 16th century. One of the oldest buildings in Antwerp, it functioned as a meat market where butchers sold their merchandise. In the last two centuries the building has served as a storage depot, theater and finally museum.

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On the side of the street from the Steen, hidden between residential houses, can be found the old Meat Hall (“Vleeshuis” in Dutch).
The tall Gothic style building was built between 1501 and 1503 for the guild of the butchers of Antwerp, but after the French Revolution, the guilds were abolished and the Meat Hall lost its original function.
Following to different destination, such as theater or storage building for wine, the Meat Hall was transformed in the Museum of Archeology and Applied Arts.

The Butcher´s house (Vleeshuis) is the oldest publical building of Antwerp. The late gothical hall was built between 1501 and 1504 and originally was the only place in Antwerp where there was sold meat. The guild of butchers also had a chapel here, a partyhall, a meeting room and a kitchen. Now it is a museum showing archeological founding, art and historical pieces of the local environment.

You can find paintings, weapons, jewelry, coins and models here. In 2004 the Vleeshuis existed 500 years. This was celebrated with impressive exhibitions.

Entrance fee: € 2,-
60+: € 1,25
-19, inhabitants of Antwerp and handicapped: Free

We discovered this historic building and museum on on of our rambles from our hotel on the river to the main square. The building was constructed in 1501-04 and was the only location in Antwerp where meat could be sold.
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Now it is a museum documenting the history of Antwerp as well as the history of the building. It is well worth your time.

This museum is hiding between the Grote Markt and the Port, but once you found it you'll be very impressed. Built in the beginning of the 16th century this gothic style building served as a meat hall, wine storage and even a theatre. Nowadays the Butchers' House is a museum that shows the history of the building itself, collection of musical instruments, weapons... well actually they have pretty much everything in there, that's why officially it is called Museum of Archeology and Applied Arts.
As in many other museums in the city, the entrance to the Butchers' House is free on Fridays, otherwise you'll have to pay a couple of Euros. Worth every cent!
If you come towards the building from the port you'll be able to see remains of a wall, it looks pretty old which makes me believe that his is one of the pasrt of the city wall. Antwerp was partly destroyed during the WWII so it is very common to see some ruins

Now there is a special exposition in Het Vleeshuis (the Butcher's house). Het Vleeshuis celebrates its 500 birthday.

Het Vleeshuis is one of the oldest public buildings in Antwerpen. It is a great example of middle-class architecture. Since 100 years it is used as a museum with extra ordinary collection.

In this 500 years Vleeshuis exposition you see everything on the building and the architecture of this building.

You also can several movies on the daily popular life in the shadow of Het Vleeshuis.

Open : Tuesday till Sunday from 10.00 till 17.00 Closed on Monday

Entry fee : 2.5 Euro

Date : from April 2nd till October 24, 2004

Het Vleeshuis is Dutch for The Meat Hall. It won't surprise you that this was the home of the guild of butchers. The building was built in 1503. It's red and white striped pattern make it unique in Antwerp.

Nowadays the Meat Hall houses the museum of Applied Arts. You can see old musical instruments and other archeological objects.