Belfry of Ghent

About

The belfry of Ghent is a 95-metre high belfry tower in the centre of the Belgian city of Ghent. The tower under the control of Ghent's Historical Houses is the middle tower of the famous Ghent tower, along with the St. Nicholas Church and the St. Against the bell fort stands also the Ghent sheet hall.

They probably started building the belfry for 1313, the year from which the first accounts date. A design drawing preserved in the STAM is by Jan van Haelst, master mason. In 1323 four layers (of the six planned) were already ready. Between 1377 and 1380 a provisional wooden tower crown was erected. Then the legendary 'Draak van Gent' was raised. In the following centuries, the spire of the tower was repeatedly modified. After several wooden spires, the belfry was given a neogothic cast iron tip in 1851. Half a century later, however, the state of peak had become too bad, and with the World Exhibition of 1913 in prospect, a competition was written for a new peak. A proposal by Valentin Vaerwyck, based on the medieval rush, was adopted. Because the works had to be done quickly, it turned out...