The Grand-Place (French: pronounced [ɡʁɑ̃ plas]; "Grand Square") or Grote Markt (Dutch: pronounced [ˌɣroːtə ˈmɑr(ə)kt]; "Big Market") is the main square in Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by grand Baroque buildings from the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger structures: the city's ornate Town Hall and the neo-Gothic King's House or Bread House, which houses the Brussels City Museum. The square is 68 by 110 meters (223 by 361 feet) in size and is fully paved.

Construction of the Grand-Place began in the 11th century and was mostly completed by the 17th century. In 1695, during the Nine Years' War, most of the square was destroyed when French soldiers attacked Brussels. Only the Town Hall's front and tower, which were targeted by artillery, and some stone walls remained intact after the attack. The buildings around the square were rebuilt over time, giving the square its current look, though they were often changed in later centuries. Starting in the mid-19th century, the square's historical importance was recognized, and it was restored thoroughly.

The Grand-Place is the most popular tourist spot and most famous landmark in Brussels. It is also considered one of the world's most beautiful squares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The square often hosts celebrations and cultural events, including a large flower carpet placed in the center every August during even-numbered years. It is also a central location for annual Christmas and New Year festivities, with a Christmas tree set up on the square since the mid-20th century. The area is accessible via the premetro (underground tram) station Bourse – Grand-Place/Beurs – Grote Markt (lines 4 and 10) and the bus stop Grand-Place / Grote Markt (lines 33, 48, and 95).

Naming

The names Grand-Place or Grand'Place (in French, pronounced [ɡʁɑ̃ plas]; meaning "Grand Square") are common names for central town squares in Belgium and Northern France. These squares were once the center of towns and cities in these areas, such as the Grand-Place in Mons, Tournai, Arras, or Lille. In Brussels, the Grand-Place is where the city's Town Hall is located, making it the political center. It also served as the city's largest marketplace, which is why it is also called Grote Markt or Groote Markt (in Dutch, pronounced [ˌɣroːtə ˈmɑr(ə)kt]; meaning "Big Market").

Today, the most common spellings are Grand-Place (with a hyphen) in French and Grote Markt (with one "o") in Dutch. Older spellings, such as Grand'Place (with an apostrophe) in French and Groote Markt (with two "o"s) in Dutch, are no longer standard but may still appear on signs or plaques. The older French spelling is a special grammar rule because "place" is a feminine word, so the modern form is "Grande Place." In the Brabantian dialect spoken in Brussels (also called Brusselian or Marollian), the Grand-Place is known as "Gruute Met."

History

In the 10th century, Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, built a fort on Saint-Géry Island, the farthest inland point where the river Senne could still be used for boat travel. Building a fort here started the development of what would later become Brussels. By the end of the 11th century, a marketplace was created on a dry marsh near the fort, surrounded by sandbanks. A document from 1174 mentions this lower market (Latin: forum inferius) near the port (Latin: portus) on the Senne. It was called the Nedermerckt, meaning "Lower Market" in Old Dutch, and likely grew at the same time as Brussels' trade expansion. The market was located near St. Nicholas' Church and along the Causeway (Old Dutch: Steenwegh), a key trade route between the wealthy Rhineland region (now in Germany) and the County of Flanders.

At the start of the 13th century, three covered markets were built on the northern edge of the Grand-Place: a meat market, a bread market, and a cloth market. These buildings, owned by the Duke of Brabant, allowed goods to be displayed even in bad weather and helped the Dukes monitor trade to collect taxes. Other buildings, made mostly of thatch and wood with some of stone (Old Dutch: steenen), surrounded the Grand-Place. Though none of the stone buildings remain, their names live on in nearby streets, such as Plattesteen, Cantersteen, or Rue des Pierres / Steenstraat. A simple public fountain stood in the center of the market square. In 1302, it was replaced by a large stone fountain with eight water jets and eight basins, placed directly in front of the bread market.

Improvements to the Grand-Place from the 14th century onward showed the growing importance of local merchants compared to the nobility. Because the Duke of Brabant needed money, he gave some control over trade and mills to local leaders, who then built buildings to match their new status. In 1353, the City of Brussels ordered the construction of a large indoor cloth market (French: Halle au Drap), similar to those in nearby cities like Mechelen and Leuven, to the south of the square. At this time, the Grand-Place was still poorly planned, with buildings along the edges having scattered gardens and irregular additions. The city removed some buildings blocking the square and officially defined its boundaries.

Brussels' Town Hall was built in stages between 1401 and 1455 on the south side of the Grand-Place, making the square the center of city government. The Town Hall's spire rises about 96 meters (315 feet) high and has a 2.7-meter (8.9-foot) statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon on top. To balance this, the Duke of Brabant ordered the construction of a large Flamboyant building across from the Town Hall between 1504 and 1536 to house his administration. Built on the site of the old cloth and bread markets, it was first called the Duke's House (Middle Dutch: 's Hertogenhuys), then the King's House (Middle Dutch: 's Conincxhuys), even though no king ever lived there. It is now called Maison du Roi ("King's House") in French but remains known as Broodhuis ("Bread House") in Dutch, after the market it replaced. Over time, wealthy merchants and powerful guilds built homes around the square.

The Grand-Place saw many sad events in its history. In 1523, the first Protestant martyrs, Jan van Essen and Hendrik Vos, were burned by the Inquisition on the square. Forty years later, in 1568, two leaders, Lamoral, Count of Egmont, and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn, were beheaded in front of the King's House for opposing King Philip II's policies in the Spanish Netherlands. This event started the armed rebellion against Spanish rule, led by William of Orange. In 1719, François Anneessens, dean of the Nation of St. Christopher, was beheaded on the Grand-Place for resisting changes to city government that weakened the guilds and for suspected ties to uprisings in the Austrian Netherlands.

On August 13, 1695, during the Nine Years' War, a French army of 70,000 soldiers led by Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy, attacked Brussels to distract the League of Augsburg's forces from their siege of Namur in Wallonia. The French bombarded the mostly undefended city with cannons and mortars, causing fires and destroying most of the Grand-Place and surrounding buildings. Only the stone structure of the Town Hall and parts of other buildings remained. It is ironic that the Town Hall survived, as it was the main target of the attack.

After the attack, the Grand-Place was rebuilt quickly over four years by the city's guilds and other property owners. City leaders and the Governor of Brussels required that rebuilding plans be approved by authorities, with fines for noncompliance. Building alignments were improved again, creating a harmonious layout despite the mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Louis XIV styles.

Over the next two centuries, the Grand-Place suffered damage. In the late 18th century, French revolutionaries called the sans-culottes destroyed statues of nobility and Christian symbols. Guilds lost importance as economic systems changed and proto-capitalism grew. They were abolished in 1795 under French rule, and their furniture and records were seized and sold on the square in 1796. Buildings fell into disrepair, with their facades painted, stuccoed, and damaged by pollution. The square was renamed "Square of the People" in 1795, and a "Liberty tree" was planted. In 1830, during Belgium's independence, fighting occurred on the Grand-Place, briefly making it the "Square of Regency."

By the late 19th century, people began to value the historical buildings on the Grand-Place. A turning point came in 1853 when the L'Étoile (Dutch: De Sterre) guildhall was demolished to widen a street for horse-drawn trams. Under the leadership of Mayor Charles Buls, the Grand-Place was restored to its former grandeur, with buildings repaired or rebuilt. In 1856, a fountain celebrating King Leopold I's 25-year reign was placed in the center of the square. It was replaced in 1864 by a fountain with statues of Counts Egmont and Horn, later moved to the Square du Petit Sab

Buildings around the square

The Town Hall (French: Hôtel de Ville, Dutch: Stadhuis) is the main building on the Grand-Place. It was built in stages, from 1401 to 1455, on the south side of the square. This made it the center of city government. It is the only medieval building still standing on the square. The Town Hall housed the city’s magistrate and, until 1795, the States of Brabant. These were the representatives of the three groups (nobility, clergy, and commoners) who advised the Duke of Brabant. In 1830, the temporary government during the Belgian Revolution also used the building.

The oldest part of the current building is its east wing (on the left when facing the front). This wing and a shorter tower were built between 1401 and 1421. The architect was likely Jacob van Thienen, who worked with Jean Bornoy. The young Duke Charles the Bold laid the first stone of the west wing in 1444. The architect of this part is unknown. Historians believe it might have been William (Willem) de Voghel, who also designed the Aula Magna at the Palace of Coudenberg.

The building’s façade has many statues. These represent local nobility, such as the Dukes and Duchesses of Brabant and knights from noble families in Brussels, as well as saints and symbolic figures. Most of the statues today are from the 19th and 20th centuries. The original 15th-century statues are stored in the Brussels City Museum, located in the King’s House or Bread House across the Grand-Place.

The 96-meter-high (315 ft) tower, built in Brabantine Gothic style, was designed by Jan van Ruysbroek, the court architect of Philip the Good. The tower narrows above the roof to an octagonal openwork with many pinnacles. At the top stands a 2.7-meter-tall (9 ft) golden statue of Saint Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, defeating a dragon or demon. This statue was created by Michel de Martin Van Rode and placed on the tower in 1454 or 1455. It was removed in the 1990s and replaced by a copy. The original is now in the Brussels City Museum.

The Town Hall is asymmetrical because the tower is not centered, and the left and right sides are not identical. A legend says the architect jumped from the tower when he noticed this "mistake." More likely, the asymmetry resulted from the building’s long construction period and space limitations.

After many restorations, the interior now has a neo-Gothic style. Key rooms include the Maximilian Room, the States of Brabant Room, the Municipal Council Room, the ballroom, and the Wedding Room (once a courtroom).

The King’s House (French: Maison du Roi) was originally a wooden building where bread was sold, which is why it was called Broodhuis in Dutch. It was replaced in the 15th century by a stone building that housed the Duke of Brabant’s administration. It was first called the Duke’s House and later renamed the King’s House when the Duke became King of Spain. In the 16th century, Emperor Charles V ordered it rebuilt in late Gothic style, similar to other buildings of the time but without towers or galleries.

The King’s House was rebuilt after damage from the 1695 bombardment. A second restoration in 1767 added a neoclassical entrance and a roof with three oeil-de-boeuf windows. It was rebuilt again in its current neo-Gothic style by Victor Jamaer between 1874 and 1896, following the design of his mentor, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Jamaer added two galleries and a central tower, decorated the façade with statues, and built a new wing in Flemish neo-Renaissance style. The building was officially opened in 1896. Since 1887, the King’s House has housed the Brussels City Museum, which displays the original sculptures from the Town Hall.

The Grand-Place is lined with guildhalls and private homes. These buildings, now grand, were mostly rebuilt after the 1695 bombardment. Their façades have rich decorations, including pilasters, balustrades, and gables inspired by Italian Baroque and Flemish styles. Architects involved in the reconstruction included Jan Cosijn, Pieter Herbosch, Antoine Pastorana, Cornelis van Nerven, Guilliam or Willem de Bruyn, and Adolphe Samyn.

Each building on the Grand-Place has its own name, in addition to the guild’s name. Numbering starts at the northern corner of the square, moving counterclockwise. The most notable houses are numbers 1 to 7 on the northwestern side. On the southwestern side, between Rue de la Tête d’or and Rue Charles Buls, is the Town Hall, with houses 8 to 12 on its left. On the southeastern side, between Rue des Chapeliers and Rue de la Colline, are houses 13 to 19. On the northeastern side, the King’s House is located between Rue des Harengs and Rue Chair et Pain, to the right of houses 20 to 28 and to the left of houses 34 to 39.

• From right to left: Le Roy d’Espagne, La Brouette, Le Sac, La Louve, Le Cornet, and Le Renard
• From right to left: L’Étoile, Le Cygne, L’Arbre d’Or, La Rose, and Le Mont Thabor
• House of the Dukes of Brabant
• From right to left: Le Cerf, Joseph et Anne, L’Ange, La Chaloupe d’Or, Le Pigeon, and Le Marchand d’Or
• From right to left: Le Heaume, Le Paon, Le Petit Renard, Le Chêne, Sainte-Barbe, and L’Âne

Events

The Grand-Place often hosts celebrations and cultural events throughout the year. During the Christmas and New Year season, sound and light shows are part of the "Winter Wonders" event, and concerts are held in the summer. Two major events that take place in the summer are the Flower Carpet and the Ommegang. The Belgian Beer Weekend, which began in 2010, brings together breweries from across Belgium to showcase their beers at the Grand-Place. The square is also used for public gatherings, such as welcoming athletes after sports competitions.

Every two years in August, the Grand-Place is covered with a large flower carpet for three to four days. This event, which aligns with Assumption Day, features nearly one million begonias or dahlias arranged in colorful patterns. The flower carpet measures 24 by 77 meters (79 by 253 feet), covering an area of 1,800 square meters (19,000 square feet). The first Flower Carpet was created in Brussels in 1971 by Etienne Stautemans, a landscape architect from Ghent. The tradition continued due to its popularity and has been held every two years since 1986, with each event having a unique theme. The Flower Carpet now attracts between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors annually.

Twice a year, in June and July, the Ommegang of Brussels takes place. This medieval-themed event includes a colorful procession with floats, traditional figures like Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, and groups dressed in medieval clothing. The event reenacts the Joyous Entry of Emperor Charles V and his son, Philip II, into Brussels in 1549. Since 2019, the Ommegang has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Christmas and New Year celebrations have been held on the Grand-Place since 1952 or 1954. These events became official part of the "Winter Wonders" in the city center in 2000. A decorated Christmas tree is placed on the square, and a light display is shown on nearby buildings. These festivities usually occur from late November to early January and draw many visitors.

In popular culture

The Grand-Place is shown in the album The Last Pharaoh, which was published in 2019 and is part of the comic book series Blake and Mortimer.

The second and third seasons of the BBC television series Secret Army were filmed in that location in 1978 and 1979, specifically near the building that is now Maxim's bar and restaurant.

Gallery

• A painting of the Grand-Place in 1887 created by Cornelis Christiaan Dommersen
• A view of the Grand-Place showing the direction of the King's House
• A depiction of the Grand-Place during the blue hour
• A panoramic view of the Grand-Place