De Vishal is a historical building dating from 1769 on the Grote Markt in Haarlem, the
Netherlands
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
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It is built up against the St. Bavochurch. As the name Vishal (fish-hall) literally indicates, it was constructed as a hall for selling fish to replace a much more extensive fish market that extended further into the town square and which dated from 1603, the same year as the Vleeshal (meat-hall) across the square. It was originally an open air market in the middle and the roof with skylight was installed in 1899. It functioned as a fish market until 1941. Today it serves as a gallery for temporary exhibitions of modern art.
File:Pieter Jansz. Saenredam 010.jpg, Drawing by
Pieter Jansz Saenredam
Pieter Jansz. Saenredam (9 June 1597 – buried 31 May 1665) was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his distinctive paintings of whitewashed church interiors such as ''Interior of St Bavo's Church in Haarlem'' and '' Interior of the S ...
in 1629 of the Grote Markt with the northern edge of the old fish market extending across the market to the
Hoofdwacht, Haarlem
The (''Head Watch'', or " Civic guard headquarters") is a historically important . It was built in the 13th century and it is considered the oldest building in Haarlem, Netherlands.Gerrit Adriaensz Berckheyde in 1696 with the old Vishal and the church.
File:Grote Markt, Haarlem.jpg, View of the Vishal and church behind it today.
