Korenmarkt, Ghent, Square and pedestrian zone in Ghent, Belgium
Korenmarkt is a pedestrian square in the center of Ghent, surrounded by buildings from different periods, including the tall Sint-Niklaaskerk, built in the Scheldt Gothic style. On one side the square opens toward the Leie river, offering a direct view of the old facades along the Graslei and Korenlei waterfronts.
From around the 10th and 11th centuries, this site served as a central trading point where farmers and grain merchants gathered and ships arrived along the Scheldt and Leie rivers. Over the following centuries it also became a departure point for mail coaches, keeping Ghent connected to the rest of Europe.
The name Korenmarkt means 'grain market' in Dutch, a direct reference to the trading activity that once defined the space. The narrow street Klein Turkije, just off the square, takes its name from an old expression meaning 'to hit rock bottom,' and today it is lined with pubs serving local beers.
The square is fully car-free and easy to walk through, connecting the main shopping streets of Veldstraat and Kortemunt on either side, making it a natural starting point for exploring the city center on foot. Visitors who prefer a quieter experience should come early in the morning or in the evening, as the area can get very busy during daytime and especially during the Gentse Feesten festival.
The building that now houses a shopping center and hotel on the square once stood on the site of the Koninklijk Nederlands Toneel, a theater that has since disappeared entirely. On January 26, 1340, King Edward III of England publicly declared his claim to the French throne right here on this square, an event that marked the start of the Hundred Years' War.
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