The restoration of the Great Butchers' Hall

On August 5, 2024, the great restoration of the Great Butchers' Hall began! For 2 years the building will stand in scaffolding, to be slowly taken apart, part by part, and put back together again. All the slates will be looked at piece by piece, restored where possible, and replaced where necessary. The meter-long beams are removed one by one, taken apart and recovered or restored as much as possible. All metal parts (such as anchors) are individually checked and replaced. The facades are also skillfully restored and cleaned. Masonry and joinery is repaired and repainted.

One of the oldest oil painting murals

The Great Butchers' Hall also houses a mural, attributed to Nabur Martins, dating to 1488, rediscovered in 1855. The mural is one of the oldest recovered experiments in oil painting, decades before Andrea Mantenga or Leonardo Da Vinci experimented with it.

The painting, The Adoration of Christ, was chalked over at an unknown time, possibly to avoid destruction. In the center, at the bottom of the painting, the infant Jesus lies beaming on a bundle. Centrally above him kneels the Blessed Virgin. In the foreground, kneeling on either side, Duke Philip the Good and his third wife Isabella of Portugal. Their sons, Charles the Bold and Adolf of Cleves can also be recognized. In the foreground, two angels flank a man in a wide cloak, who stands with his back to the viewer. One suspects that this is the patron, Jacob de Ketelboetere, dean of the butchers' craft. Flying angels on either side hold the coats of arms. Above the group appears the half figure of the eternal Father in the clouds.

The mural is not visible at the moment. It will be completely shielded during the works. Gauges will be installed to continue monitoring the relative humidity during the works. After the works, the mural will be restored and made visible for the general public.