Stadhuis (City Hall), Maastricht

The historic Stadhuis is the Town Hall of Maastricht. This detached five-storey building, completely clad in Namur stone, with a sloping slate roof, was designed by Pieter Post and is considered to be an important example of Dutch classicism.

The foundation stone was laid in 1659; also, buried in the southwest corner of the structure, is a lead box containing coins and a copper plaque. The municipal council moved in here in 1664, although it wasn't until 1684 that the Town Hall's tower was completed, delayed by the lack of funds. Today, inside this 25-meter structure is the carillon of 49 bells which toll automatically every half hour.

The front façade decoration includes sculpted figures: the city maiden depicted with the Maastricht coat of arms, flanked by the seated Mars (symbol of resilience of Maastricht) and Minerva (with the head of Medusa and an owl symbolizing wisdom).

The rich, largely 18th-century interior, emerged after the French bombardment during the Siege of Maastricht (1793) which had heavily damaged the building. It reflects the duality of Maastricht, whereby the edifice is divided in two: the north half – Liège, and the south half – Brabant. The Liège rooms are on the main side because the Prince-Bishop of Liège, as a cleric, was considered higher in rank than the Duke of Brabant. The front, western part of both halves was intended for the judiciary (schout and aldermen), while the rear, eastern part was for the city administrators (mayors and councillors).

Up until the 19th century the Town Hall had housed an entire civil service of Maastricht, including the municipal library, archives, prison, weigh house and the carpentry yard. Interrogation rooms, prison cells and jailers' quarters were located on the ground floor and in the cellars.