The Wheelbarrow, Baroque guild house in Grand Place, Belgium
The Wheelbarrow is a baroque guild house at Grand Place featuring a richly decorated stone facade across four stories, displaying Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite architectural orders. The facade combines classical architectural elements with finely crafted decorations that reflect the craftsmanship of the medieval guild.
The house was built in 1644 for the greasers corporation and suffered severe damage from the French bombardment of Brussels. Architect Jan Cosyn undertook major restoration work in 1697 to rebuild the structure and preserve its baroque elegance.
The building displays a statue of Saint Giles created by J. Van Hamme in 1912, representing the patron saint of the medieval greasers guild. This representation connects the craft tradition with religious devotion through a visible symbol on the facade.
The building stands at positions 2 and 3 on Grand Place between adjacent guild houses and currently operates as a cafe. Visitors should note that the interior serves modern functions while the outer facade displays the historical heritage.
The guild raised membership fees to fund the baroque facade, which cost 12,000 florins in total. This financial burden reveals how important the guild considered displaying its status and craftsmanship through an impressive building.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
