Grote Markt Antwerp

About

The Grote Markt is the beating heart of Antwerp’s old town, a sprawling square where the city’s medieval power and legendary origins collide. At its center stands the magnificent Brabo Fountain, which tells the mythical story of how Antwerp earned its name. According to legend, a giant named Druon Antigoon once guarded the River Scheldt, demanding a heavy toll from passing sailors. Those who refused had their hands cut off and thrown into the water. This continued until a brave Roman soldier named Silvius Brabo defeated the giant, cut off the giant's own hand, and threw it into the river—an act known as "hand werpen," or "throwing the hand," which is said to have given the city its name. Dominating the western side of the square is the Antwerp City Hall, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Built in the 1560s, it reflects the immense wealth Antwerp gained as a global trading hub during its Golden Age. Surrounding the rest of the square are the iconic guildhalls, with their slender, ornate facades topped by shimmering golden statues. These buildings once served as the prestigious headquarters for the city’s professional associations, representing everyone from archers to cloth merchants.

Antwerp Belgium

Location

Grote Markt Antwerp is located at the heart of the historic old town, bordered by streets like Hoogstraat and Kaasrui, just 400m from the River Scheldt and a 20-minute walk from Antwerpen-Centraal station. This iconic triangular square, dating to the Middle Ages, centers around the Renaissance City Hall (Stadhuis) at Grote Markt 1 and ornate guildhalls like De Valk and Den Engel, with the Brabo Fountain commemorating the city's legendary founding. Nearby lie the towering Cathedral of Our Lady to the north, vibrant Groenplaats square with cafes 200m south, Rubens House museum 500m away, bustling Meir shopping street eastwards, and riverside quays with Het Steen fortress; the area teems with restaurants, bars, pedestrian zones, and trams at Groenplaats stop, forming Antwerp's lively cultural and commercial core.