De Vishal

Vishal

Inside

De Vishal is a historical building dating from 1769 on the Grote Markt in Haarlem, the Netherlands.

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.

• 
  Drawing by Pieter Jansz Saenredam in 1629 of the Grote Markt with the northern edge of the old fish market extending across the market to the Hoofdwacht, Haarlem.
• 
  Same view today with Hoofwacht on the left and corner of the Vishal on the right.
• 
  Painting by Gerrit Adriaensz Berckheyde in 1696 with the old Vishal and the church.
• 
  View of the Vishal and church behind it today.

References

• Website