Located in the Bryggen district, this hall is a recreation of a medieval assembly room from the days of the Hanseatic League. Here, League merchants from around the Baltic would meet, conduct business, and dine. An assembly room had several functions. In the winter it was used as a classroom for the apprentices. Daily services and funerals were also conducted in the assembly room. The annual meeting was held here and once a year a court session, at which the employees that had committed crimes were punished (lashes from a bull-whip, fines paid off in cash, flour or in beer). The sinners had earlier been pointed out to the staff and their names had been noted on the blackboard.