Grote Markt, Central square in Antwerp, Belgium.
Grote Markt is the central square in Antwerp with Renaissance facades lining three sides and the historic City Hall anchoring one corner. The triangular plaza is dominated by the Brabo Fountain in its center, while guild houses with ornate stone fronts frame the entire perimeter.
The square developed during the 16th century when the City Hall was built between 1561 and 1565 on the ruins of an earlier structure destroyed by fire. The guild houses were constructed gradually between the late 1500s and early 1700s as merchant associations expanded their presence and influence.
The guild houses surrounding the square embody the power of different trade associations, with each building displaying distinct ornaments and symbols representing its craft. The names and emblems on the facades tell the story of the professions that shaped Antwerp's identity.
The square is entirely pedestrian and easily accessible from all sides, with numerous restaurants and cafés scattered around its edges. Winter transforms the space with market stalls and festive decorations, significantly changing how people move through and use the area.
The Brabo Fountain features an unusual scene of a Roman soldier throwing a severed hand, drawn from an old local legend about toll collection on the Scheldt River. This distinctive image may relate to Antwerp's name itself, which possibly originates from a Dutch phrase meaning 'to throw a hand'.
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