Beyaert

Description

The former city hall of #Mechelen (Antwerpen), called "Beyaert" now serves as Mechelen's post office. Its name derives from a 13th-century pilgrim hostel opposite the St. Rombouts carillon. In the 14th century, Leonard de Gardetes rebuilt and sold it to the city in 1383. Expanded mid-15th century with the "Grote Beyaert" it survived a 1462 fire, became city hall in 1474, and grew in 1508. Heavily altered in 1715 by F. Langhemans, it was restored to pre-1715 neo-gothic style in 1907-08 by P. Van Boxmeer using Euville stone. City services left in 1914 for postal use; enlarged in 1934. The complex L-shaped main building of sandstone features cross-windows, a stepped gable facade with Louis XVI portal (1773), Mechelen coat of arms, lion sculptures, and craft statues. It includes a 10-bay longitudinal wing, renewed side gables, a brick "Kleine Beyaert" with entresol, and a 20th-century neo-gothic extension.