Jan van Ruysbroeck (architect)

Jan van Ruysbroeck (also known as Jan van den Berghe) was a Flemish architect of the early 15th century (his dates of birth and death are unknown). He served as official architect to the Duke of Brabant.^[1] His best known work was the tower of Brussels' Town Hall (French: Hôtel de Ville, Dutch: Stadhuis). The Brabantine Gothic building, which stands in the city's Grand-Place/Grote Markt (main square), is widely regarded as a masterpiece of medieval European secular architecture.^[2] It was designed by Jacob van Thienen some time around 1402 and van Ruysbroek's tower was added between 1444 and 1463.

Brussels' Town Hall

Other works by van Ruysbroeck include:

• the fountain at the Hospital of Our Lady, in Oudenaarde (1443–1445);
• the tower of the Church of St. Gertrude, in Leuven, (completed 1453);
• part of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter and St. Guido, in Anderlecht (1479–1485);^[3]
• probably the towers of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, in Brussels (1470–1485).