Grote Markt & Town Hall

The Grote Markt (Great Market Square) is a town square situated in the heart of the old city quarter of Antwerp. It is a stunning ensemble of 16th-century guildhalls, many of which feature ornate, gilded statues on their stepped roofs, showcasing the sheer wealth and influence the city's guilds possessed during Antwerp's golden age.

On the western side of the square stands the magnificent Antwerp City Hall (Stadhuis), built between 1561 and 1565. Designed by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, the building combines Flemish and Italian Renaissance styles and remains one of the most important Renaissance structures in the Low Countries. The UNESCO-listed building continues to serve as the seat of local government.

In the center of the square stands the monumental Brabo Fountain (Brabofontein), sculpted by Jef Lambeaux in 1887. The fountain depicts the mythical Roman soldier Silvius Brabo throwing the severed hand of the giant Antigoon into the River Scheldt. According to folklore, the giant demanded a toll from passing ships and severed the hands of those who refused. Brabo's action of "hand throwing" (hand werpen) is playfully said to be the origin of the city's name: Antwerpen.