Jens Bang's House at Østerågade 9 is the most striking private building in Aalborg and one of the finest examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture in Denmark. Built in 1624 for the wealthy merchant Jens Bang, the five-storey sandstone facade is decorated with elaborate carvings, grotesque figures, coats of arms, and — if local tradition is to be believed — caricatures of the town councillors Bang despised. The building has been in continuous use ever since, currently housing a pharmacy in the street-level vaults.
The ground-floor cellar is open as a wine bar in the evenings, which means you can drink in a 400-year-old merchant's basement. The facade is best examined from across the narrow street, which takes some patience given the pedestrian traffic. Nytorv square directly in front gives the best view of the upper floors.