Grote Markt

The Grand-Place of Antwerp, the historic heart of the city

The Grand-Place, or Grote Markt, is the beating heart of Antwerp's historic centre. Lined with magnificent guild houses and dominated by the town hall, it finds its origins in the Middle Ages. The Antwerp audio-guided tour stops here to reveal the soul of the city, around its famous fountain and its gabled façades.

A former medieval forum

The square finds its earliest origins in the Middle Ages, as the forum and central market of the city. Here stand the town hall, completed in 1565, the tourist office and superb guild houses with finely wrought gables. At its centre stands the Brabo fountain, which illustrates the founding legend of Antwerp, that of the giant and the severed hand.

What to see

You admire the guild houses, the Renaissance town hall and the Brabo fountain, which springs in the middle of the square. Lined with terraces, the Grand-Place is a lively place, ideal for soaking up the atmosphere of Antwerp. It is the perfect starting point to explore the lanes of the historic centre and reach the nearby cathedral.

Practical information

The Grand-Place lies in the heart of the historic centre of Antwerp, reachable on foot. It is a public space open at all times, freely accessible and on the level. The terraces and the tourist office that line it have their own hours; the town hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be visited under conditions to be checked on site.

What is there to see on the Grand-Place of Antwerp?

The Renaissance town hall completed in 1565, the guild houses with finely wrought gables and the Brabo fountain, which illustrates the founding legend of the city.

What is the origin of the Grand-Place of Antwerp?

It dates back to the Middle Ages, when it served as the forum and central market of the city, before becoming the historic heart of Antwerp.