Grote Markt, Central market square in Veurne, Belgium.

The Grote Markt in Veurne is a square with Renaissance buildings that feature stepped gables and pointed towers, forming a coherent architectural ensemble. The space is bounded by several structures that define the heart of this town.

The square became an important trading center during the rule of Albert of Austria and Isabella of Spain around 1609, when monumental buildings were constructed. This period shaped the architectural character that remains visible today.

The name Grote Markt simply means "Great Market", recalling the square laid out around 1609 under Archdukes Albert and Isabella to concentrate the town's commercial activity. The north side keeps a row of five stepped gables rebuilt in 1920, and house number 26, De Valk, dates from 1624. Look for the Spanish Pavilion, the remnant of the old town hall on the east side.

The Grote Markt is the central square of Veurne, reached on foot from the surrounding streets of the town centre. The paving is flat and open, with benches and planters near the facades, so it is easy to cross on foot. The town hall, Landshuis and belfry stand along the edges, and the Sint-Walburgakerk and Sint-Niklaaskerk are a short walk away.

The Old Town Hall stood on the east side of the square; only its so-called Spanish Pavilion survives. The Landshuis, with its UNESCO-listed belfry, stands on the east side, not the north, where the derelict Oude Vleeshuis and Oude Landshuis were demolished by the end of the 16th century.