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Square · Antuérpia, Antuérpia
Grote Markt
Antwerp's central square, with the Renaissance Stadhuis, the guild houses with stepped façades, and the Brabofontein, the fountain that tells the legend behind the city's name.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Grote Markt
The Grote Markt is the starting point for almost every walk in Antwerp. The square is a few steps from the Escalda and the cathedral, whose tower rises behind the rooftops. Around it stand the Stadhuis (the city hall) and a row of guild houses with stepped gables and gilded figures at the top.
The Stadhuis was built between 1561 and 1565 to a design by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, and is one of the first large Renaissance buildings in the Low Countries. The long façade mixes arcades, columns and a taller central section decorated with statues and coats of arms. Flags from various countries are often hung on the front.
In the middle of the square is the Brabofontein, made by sculptor Jef Lambeaux in 1887. It shows the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo throwing the severed hand of the giant Druon Antigoon. According to the legend, the giant charged a toll to those who sailed the Escalda and cut off the hand of anyone who did not pay. This is the popular explanation for the name Antwerpen: hand werpen, to throw the hand.
Most of the guild houses were rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries following old paintings of the square. Some, like the guild of Sint-Joris, retain a 16th-century structure. On the ground floor there are cafés and restaurants with tables on the pavement.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half an hour to see the square, the fountain and the façades. More time if you want to sit at a café.
Best time
Early in the morning the square is quieter and good for photos. In the late afternoon and at night the façades are lit. In winter it gets dark early, between November and February, and the lighting comes on already in the mid-afternoon. In December there is usually year-end programming on the square and surrounding streets; check dates before you go.
How to get there
From Antwerpen-Centraal station it's about 2 km on foot along the Meir, the main shopping street, to the square: roughly a 25-minute walk. You can also take the surface metro (premetro) to Groenplaats stop, a few minutes from the square.
Tip
Look out for the bronze hand on the façade and the gilded figures atop the guild houses. Combine the visit with the cathedral and Het Steen, which are a few minutes' walk away.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Grote Markt
What does the Brabofontein statue mean?
It shows Silvius Brabo throwing the hand of the giant Druon Antigoon, who according to legend cut off the hand of anyone who didn’t pay toll on the Scheldt River. The story is the popular explanation for the name Antwerpen.
Can you enter the Stadhuis?
The building is the town hall in active use. Public access to the interior is limited and depends on guided tours or events; check before you go. From the outside, the façade can be seen at any time.
Are the guild houses original?
Most were rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries based on old paintings. Some, like the Sint-Joris guild house, retain their 16th-century structure.