Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle)

The Cloth Hall, known in Dutch as the Lakenhalle, is the most architecturally significant building in Ypres and one of the finest examples of medieval civic architecture in northern Europe. Originally constructed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries as the commercial hub of Ypres’ thriving cloth trade, the building was systematically destroyed by artillery fire during the First World War, reduced to little more than a shell by 1918. Its meticulous reconstruction between 1933 and 1967 stands as a powerful symbol of Ypres’ resilience and its commitment to honouring its past. Today the Cloth Hall houses the In Flanders Fields Museum, the Yper Museum, and the official Ypres Visitor Centre, making it the cultural heart of the city. The building’s soaring belfry, which rises to 70 metres, is a defining feature of the Grote Markt skyline and can be climbed for panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside. Visitors can explore its extensive interior exhibitions or simply admire the magnificently restored façade. The Cloth Hall is an unmissable landmark and the natural starting point for any visit to Ypres.