The city’s first town hall was built after 1298 on the orders of Świętopełk II,
Duke of Gdańsk-Pomerania. It functioned as an office of the Hanseatic
League.

Work on the current building was begun in 1327. An elegant tower was added in
1486–8, during one of several phases of rebuilding. After a fire in 1556, this
Gothic town hall was remodelled in the Mannerist style. The interior was
lavishly decorated in 1593–1608 by the most prominent painters and craftsmen of
the day, including Hans Vredeman de Vries, Izaak van den Blocke and Simon Herle.
Their combined genius produced one of the finest town halls in all of northern
Europe, proof of the city’s wealth and power. It also served as a royal
residence.

The highlight of the town hall is without doubt the Red Room, which was once the
Great Council Chamber. The Renaissance fireplace is by Willem van der Meer and
the centrepiece of the ceiling paintings is the Apotheosis of
Gdańsk  by Izaak van den Blocke. After being destroyed in 1945, the town
hall was rebuilt and many of its furnishings reconstructed. It now houses the
Museum of the History of Gdańsk.