Grupello-Haus

Why go

Look at the house in relation to the Jan Wellem equestrian monument: Gabriël Grupello, after whom the building is named, made the statue. The pairing turns a short Marktplatz stop into a direct link between a sculptor, his former house and the city’s civic centre.

What to look for

• The protected façade faces Marktplatz.
• The portal details reward a closer look from the square.
• Jan Wellem’s equestrian statue nearby is the work of Gabriël Grupello.

The full story

The house takes its name from Gabriël Grupello, the court sculptor linked to the equestrian monument of Jan Wellem in the same square. Historic accounts describe the house as his family residence and part studio after it was given to him in the early eighteenth century. Later owners and uses changed, and the building was badly damaged during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in a simpler form; the protected exterior is the clearest public trace of its earlier life. A new council chamber opened in the building in 1969. These layers make a short stop on Marktplatz more rewarding: turn between the façade and the bronze rider to see the connection between sculptor, civic art and civic government. The chamber’s function does not imply that visitors can enter it on an ordinary sightseeing day.

Useful to know

• View the exterior from Marktplatz as part of an Altstadt walk.
• Do not plan on entering the council chamber without a separately announced visit.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.