Grote Vleeshuis, Utrecht, Guild house and former meat hall in Utrecht, Netherlands
The Grote Vleeshuis is a guild house and former meat market at Jansveld 24a in Utrecht featuring a distinctive stepped gable of natural stone blocks. The building displays typical Dutch architecture with cross windows and preserves its original facade to this day.
The building was constructed between 1637 and 1638 under architect Paulus Moreelse's direction. The construction integrated elements from an older meat market hall that had stood on this site since the 15th century.
The building symbolized the economic power of Utrecht's butchers guild, which held a monopoly on meat trading in the city. This guild shaped the city markets and daily food supply for generations.
The building sits at the intersection of Voorstraat and Jansveld in central Utrecht and is easily reached on foot. Today it serves commercial purposes, so access to shops is possible, but the interior of the guild space is not typically open to visitors.
Members of the butchers guild were involved in the assassination of Utrecht's mayor Beernt Proys, a political drama that shook the city. This revealed how deep guild power extended into local conflicts.
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