Vieze Hitjes

Onder de Moriaan is a performance and event venue in 's Hertogenbosch, housed in one of the oldest brick buildings in the Netherlands. De Moriaan stands on the Markt, the central square of the city, and dates back to the beginning of the 13th century. Tradition holds that it was built around 1220 by Hendrik I of Brabant for his friend Beckerlijn. It is considered the most complete surviving example of a large brick hall in the city, a gothic structure with a round tower. Thirteenth century beams can still be found in the basement. Few buildings of this kind survived in 's Hertogenbosch. Others from the same era were largely demolished or are no longer recognisable for what they were. De Moriaan nearly followed them. In 1956 the municipality wanted to tear it down to give traffic more room around the market square, but a special meeting led to the minister refusing the demolition permit. A restoration began in 1963, drawing on a famous 16th century painting of the city's cloth market, and the building is now a national monument. Over the years it has also served as the local tourist office and a cafe. As a music venue, the historic hall is used for concerts, club nights and live shows, and it describes itself as a performance and event space. The setting is the main draw: gigs take place inside a medieval brick interior at the heart of the old town, which gives the programme a character quite different from a purpose built concert hall.