"Palace of Justice : finished" a Antwerp Travel Page by irisbe

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entrance of the Palace of Justic of Antwerp

Palace of Justice of Antwerp

At the Britse Lei you will find this impressive building that is the courthouse of Antwerp.
Soon most of the different courts will be moved to a modern building still in construction near the highway.
It costed double the price that was put on the public order.

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Assisen

Assisen

One of the most famous courts is the one of Assisen. Here you will be witness of the most severe trials.
Famous cases have been handled here (e.g. the murder on Karel Van Noppen, a vetrinarian who was killed by the hormone maffia), or the case of a hooker who was killed and that was a garant for some spicy testimonies and defilés!
Some people are so hooked they sit here all day long. Commenting and making prognoses on the cases that are handled.

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Palace of Justice - Assisen

Palace of justice

In the Assisen court every one has his own seat.
The prisoner is brought in by a seperate door.
In front of you (if you can watch it) there is still a pile of documents and proof of evidence of the case that was handled just before we entered.

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door of justice

the door of justice

Well it is a little bit dark, but here is the door where the addicted walk through.
They come in as innocent until proven guilty.

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a last view in the court before going to explore the rest of the "Palace".
You can attend some of the cases but you are not allowed to make any pictures then.
We witnessed one of a car seller who's 2nd car got confiscated because he didn't had the rigth licence plate on it. He decided he would defend himself because his lawyer was on a more important case he claimed.
His story was so funny!
He drove many miles to Antwerp to buy a cheap coffeemachine at the Russian area. A guy in black asked if he could drive with him, when he accidentaly stopped at the streetlights at the former dancing Zilion. It happened they both were going to the Russian Falcon Plein.
But on arriving there the guy disappeared. Then all of a sudden his car was stopped, it got searched and they found some heroine. Very suprising as the heavy guy said "do I look like a heroin addict with my 96 kilo's?. but the young female judge (who he called mr judge) didn't go for that story, as he could have got it to sell and not to use it himself. He even accused the police of stealing 7100 Euro! (LOL to buy a cheap coffee machine you sure need to have 7100 Euro with you).
His story was so weird every one was laughing but he got one thing done: his case was not postponed another 2 months but only a few weeks.

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balcony

Upstairs

Upstairs you have several rooms and in each one you will find a court, some are of first apeal, some are about trading cases.
You also find the "rooms"of the advocacy up there.
This is a picture of the balcony, it looks quite idylic but after all it is a "Palace"of justice!

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ceilin and balcony

I am told that the ceiling (look at the bends) is made by the same person who made the iron construction at Central stations (that should be Bogaert then?).
He first gained some experience building this smaller construction before heading to the big thing!
Look at each bend : they are all decorated with weapen shields

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Palace of Justice

the hall with ceiling and balcony

Here is a look at the main hall direction entrance.
In the back you will notice the reception desk and a statue at the right.

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Ekeren emblem

Detail on the ceiling

Here you see the emblem of Ekeren: the three baskets.

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Palace of justice

view from the balcony

Looking down you will see the tables and benches where advocates come to discuss, to linger, to read or to wait unit they are needed for a next case.

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Palace of justice

view from the balcony

At the left side from the entry you will find the administrative part of the courthouse.

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palace of justice

another view from the balcony

Here is another view on the main hall with statue, reception desks, the tables and benches in the middle, the pillars supporting the balcony on both sides.

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Palace of Justice

one in action!

For those who doubted this was a court house with no lawyers: here I found one!!!

Guess they were all working or were all but one on leave `-)

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palace of justice

the reception desk

When you enter the main hall you can ask where to go at the reception desk.

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sculpture

This sculpture is based on a real story. It is so long ago that I can not recall it exactly.
It is made by a procureur.

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Palace of justice

A last idylic look on the place where so many tears have been flown...
if walls could talk... what would they tell us?