Museum The Gdansk Main Town Hall Tour

About the museum

IMPORTANT!!!
READ THIS FIRST!

Before you press 'Start', read this introduction to the audio tour first. If you prefer to listen to the introduction, please scroll to the end of the text, click on the audio icon and the audio will be played. 
 
Make sure your smartphone or tablet is fully charged.
 
By tapping on the images with the yellow arrows you'll get walking directions in audio and on screen. Tap on each image on your screen once you've found the corresponding object in the museum for audio recording. You can also read the text on your screen.
 

Introduction

One of the museums belonging to the Museum of Gdansk is located here in the former Gdansk Main Town Hall. In the Middle Ages, Gdansk was divided into three small towns - the Old Town, the Main Town and the New Town, each of which had its own town hall.
During the Hanseatic period, especially in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, a lot of foreign merchants, architects and artists settled down in this part of Gdansk called the Main Town. Among them many came from the Low Countries, present day the Netherlands and Belgium. With this museum tour we mainly focus on the Dutch and Flemish aspects of the building, its decorations and collection.
 
Although many houses in the center of Gdansk are designed by Dutch or Flemish architects, the Main Town Hall was not. The oldest part of the building probably dates from the 14th century. Over time the Main Town Hall was expanded in width and height, and many renovations were done. After a fire in 1556 the tower was lost, but Dutch master builder Dirk Daniels designed the new spire which he decorated with the gold leaf elements that still adorn this tower.
Thirty years later, a carillon of 14 bells by Dutch bell-founder Johan Moer was installed in the tower. Large parts of the Main Town Hall, including the carillon, were severely damaged by the Russian Red Army in World War II. The rebuilding and refurbishing of the building were done in following decades. In the year 2000 the carillon was replaced by a new and much larger carillon, also of Dutch manufacture.
As you tour the museum, you will encounter various paintings, wood carvings and sculptures of Dutch and Flemish artists.
 
If you haven’t done so already, please buy your ticket at the entrance of the museum. If you also intend to climb the tower, remember to buy a separate ticket for the viewing point.
 
Press START now to take this tour. It will begin at the Courtyard on the ground floor.