Toreken

The Toreken displays characteristic Flemish Gothic architecture from the 15th century, featuring a three-level facade with large stone-crossed windows, a cylindrical stair turret, and an octagonal wooden belvedere crowned with slate roofing.

Built between 1451 and 1483 to house the tanners' guild, this building was sold at public auction in 1542 after Emperor Charles V dissolved the guild powers and has belonged to the city of Ghent ever since.

The building represents the significance of craft guilds in medieval Ghent's economy, particularly the tanners' corporation that specialized in leather processing and played a crucial role in the city's commercial development.

Listed as a protected monument since 1943, the Toreken is located on Friday Market Square near Saint James Church and can be admired from the outside, though the interior is not accessible to the public.

The corner turret that gives the building its name likely served as an observation post for monitoring commercial activity and stands as a remarkable example of 15th-century Flemish commercial architecture.

Location: Ghent

Address: Vrijdagmarkt

GPS coordinates: 51.05650,3.72613

Latest update: September 2, 2025 13:33