Grote Markt & Brabo Fountain

Overview

The Grote Markt is Antwerp's magnificent central square, dominated by the ornate Renaissance City Hall (Stadhuis), a ring of gilded guild houses, and the Brabo Fountain with its legend of the city's founding.

Highlights

• Brabo Fountain: Bronze fountain depicting the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo throwing a giant's severed hand — the myth behind Antwerp's name (hand-werpen = hand-throwing).
• City Hall (Stadhuis): A 1565 Renaissance masterpiece, the first major Renaissance building north of the Alps.
• Guild Houses: Restored 16th-century guild headquarters with stepped gables and gold detailing.

History

The square has been Antwerp's commercial heart since the 14th century. The guild houses were rebuilt after a fire in 1576 (during the Spanish Fury). The Stadhuis was designed by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt and completed in 1565.

Visitor Tips

• Best photographed from the fountain looking toward the Stadhuis.
• Terrace cafés ring the square — expensive but atmospheric.
• Duration: 15–30 minutes.