The ornate facade faces the Burg square; this exterior view of the back is taken beyond the canal which runs below the railing in this view.

The decorative statues were destroyed by the French in 1792, but later renovated. The bronze statues represent Justice, Moses and Aaron. This was the government center for the Brugse Vrije, the Liberty of Bruges, the district beyond the city itself. Inside this building is the famous monumental chimney designed by Lancelot Blondeel, built between 1528 and 1581 in oak wood, alabaster and marble, to commemorate the victory of Emperor Charles V over the French king François I at Pavia. Since 1883 the building was used for the city courts, together with the building on the left in Neo-classical style (the former Courts of Justice), rebuilt 1722-1727 by January Verkruys, which now houses the Tourist Information center of Bruges.