Jan van Ruysbroeck (also known as Jan van den Berghe) was a
Flemish
Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
of the early 15th century (the dates of his birth and death are unknown). He served as official architect to the Duke of Brabant.
His best known work was the tower of
Brussels' Town Hall (''Stadhuis'' or ''Hôtel de Ville''). The
Gothic building, which stands in the city's
Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
(''Grote Markt''), is widely regarded as a masterpiece of medieval European secular architecture.
It was designed by
Jacob van Thienen
Jacob (or Jaak, or Jacques) van Thienen (also called van Gobertingen)Sidenote: Gobertingen, is a hamlet (in Dutch, Gobertange in French) of the former municipality of Mélin (Malen in Dutch) that now belongs to Jodoigne (Geldenaken in Dutch), where ...
some time around 1402 and van Ruysbroek's tower was added between 1444 and 1463.
Other works by van Ruysbroeck include:
* the fountain at the Hospital of Our Lady in
Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde (; french: Audenarde ; in English sometimes ''Oudenarde'') is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, H ...
(1443–1445);
* the tower of the Church of Ste-Gertrude,
Leuven, (completed 1453);
* part of the
Collegiate Church of St. Peter and St. Guido,
Anderlecht (1479–1485);
* probably the towers of the
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
nl, Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele
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, image = Saints-Michel-et-Gudule Luc Viatour.jpg
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, landscape ...
, Brussels (1470–1485).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruysbroek, Jan van
Year of birth unknown
1486 deaths
Burgundian Netherlands architects
Gothic architects