The work of Antonius van Opbergen, it was built at the beginning of the 17th century and, like most of Gdańsk’s architecture, clearly shows the influence of the Low Countries. It was inspired by Vleeshal, the meat-hall in Haarlem, the Netherlands. The main eastern facade, framed within two side towers, is floridly decorated and guarded by figures of soldiers on the top. Military motifs predominate, and the city’s coat of arms guards the doorways. It served to store weapons.The inside of this unique magazine included a collection of weapons, armours and harnesses, as well as pieces of art, until the end of 18th c. In 1920's the building was demilitarized and a trade hall was opened on the ground floor. During WW II, the Great Arsenal building was burned (in 1945), and then meticulously rebuilt. The ground floor was used as a shopping mall until 2007, and the upper was handed over to the Academy of Fine Arts.