Münster’s Town Hall has its own interesting history, but it’s the part of this building known as Peace Hall that receives most of the attention from visitors. In was in this elaborate location that the end of Europe’s Thirty Years’ War was proclaimed. Between the cities of Münster and Osnabrück further north, officials of the feuding sides hammered out a deal to bring a murderous period to a close. Imagine these officials, sitting behind the long desk visible at one end of the room, restoring peace to Europe.
Although this accomplishment was of importance to many Europeans, it was particularly crucial to the Dutch as it granted independence to the United Provinces of the Netherlands from Hapsburg rule in Spain. Consider how relieved the Dutch must have been, after Spain and the Netherlands had been enemies for 80 years. Peace Hall had been the original council chamber and was where the delicate negotiations spanned a period from 1644 until the Peace of Westphalia was signed on May 15, 1648.
This treaty had even wider repercussions that affect European relations today by establishing equality for all countries and was the precursor to modern international law. Look around Peace Hall at the art works and portraits of diplomats and emissaries who negotiated the treaty. During World War II, Münster experienced bombing raids but the art treasures in Peace Hall had been moved to safety in 1942.
In 2003, Peace Hall was completely refurbished and since then the town halls of Münster and Osnabrück have been bestowed with the European Heritage Label by the European Commission for being the sites of the Peace of Westphalia. Plan also to tour Münster’s Krameramtshaus guild house where Dutch emissaries to the peace negotiations had lived and is now a science and cultural center.
Visit Town Hall and Peace Hall in Münster’s center, Prinzipalmarkt, except Mondays when it’s closed. Senior citizens, people with severe disabilities and groups with more than 10 visitors are provided a discount on the admission fee. Peace Hall is not wheelchair accessible. Guided and self-guided tours are available.
