Lakenhalle

Lakenhalle Review

Built as the center for the cloth trade in the 15th century, the Cloth Hall was still unfinished when the trade collapsed. Its vaulted cellar was used as a prison for 150 years; currently it houses the tourist information center and serves as the entrance to the Belfort. From the Lakenhalle you can enter a small adjacent building, formerly the prison warder's lodging. Take a look at the ceiling, which dates from 1741; a sculptured bas-relief depicts the ancient Roman story of Cimon who, condemned to death by starvation, was visited daily by his daughter, who breast-fed him. Locals call the building De Mammelokker ("The Suckler").