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Grand Place

Old towns ·Brussels
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#1Old towns in Belgium#1Old towns in BrusselsTravelers' Choice 2026
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About

Grand Place (Grote Markt) in Brussels: the central square, a UNESCO site lined by guild houses and the Town Hall tower.

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Why go

  • The 96-metre Town Hall tower, with a gilded statue of Saint Michael slaying a dragon at its summit.
  • The city museum in the King's House (Maison du Roi), with original Town Hall sculptures and Manneken Pis costumes.
  • The flower carpet, 1,800 square metres of flowers laid over the square every two years in August for three to four days.
  • The Town Hall, the square's only surviving medieval building.

Don't miss

  • She-wolf over a guild doorAbove the door of one guild house, a she-wolf suckles Romulus and Remus.One guild house around the square, above its door. On the map
  • Charles Buls monument (Karel Buls)Victor Horta designed this monument to the mayor who led the square's restoration; Victor Rousseau made it.Under the arcade gallery on the square.1899 On the map
  • Le Pigeon guildhallVictor Hugo stayed in the guildhall in 1852.The Le Pigeon guildhall on the square.1852 On the map
  • Musée des BrasseursOne guildhouse of the brewers' guild holds the Musée des Brasseurs.On the square. On the map
  • Belgian waffleA Belgian waffle with caramelized sugar.Small shops off the square's northeast corner. On the map

Photo spots

  • Looking back from a narrow streetStand where one of the seven narrow streets meets the square and look back at the guild houses lining it.Where one of the seven narrow streets into the old town meets the square On the map

Tips for your visit

  • The square has been pedestrian-only since 1990, so reach it on foot.
  • Houses are numbered from the northern corner, counter-clockwise. Use the numbers to find the guild house with the she-wolf above its door.
  • Seven narrow streets lead from the square into the old town, so you can walk out of it in several directions.
  • Breweries show their beers on the square during the Belgian Beer Weekend, held there since 2010.

Best time to visit

  • August of even-numbered years, for three to four days: the flower carpet has had a new theme each time since 1986. The first was made in 1971.
  • June and July: the Ommegang procession ends with a large spectacle on the square.
  • Since 1930 the procession has reenacted the 1549 Joyous Entry of Charles V and Philip II; UNESCO listed it in 2019.
  • Evenings: the square is brightly lit, and some evenings a music and light show uses the buildings as a canvas.
  • Christmas: a Christmas tree goes up on the square every year, with Christmas and New Year celebrations held there.

Legends and hidden details

  • Legend says Jan van Ruysbroek, who designed the tower, jumped to their death from it after noticing an error.

Interesting facts6

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  1. The Town Hall tower is not a belfry and never held a carillon, despite its look.

    Grand-Place de Bruxelles - Wikipedia

  2. The Town Hall is asymmetric: its left wing has ten bays, the right only six.

    Grand-Place/Grote Markt - Wikipedia

  3. Victor Hugo considered it one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

    Grand-Place de Bruxelles - Wikipedia

  4. In Dutch the square is still called the Grote Markt, meaning Big Market.

    Grand-Place - Wikipedia

  5. The Town Hall is central to Brabanter Gothic and became a model for later town halls.

    Grand-Place/Grote Markt - Wikipedia
  6. 300 years

    The square is surrounded by the city tower and buildings about 300 years old.

    Brussels/Centre - Wikivoyage (see)

Shorts

History

The Town Hall followed on the south side, built in stages through the 15th century. Among the few parts that survived were the Town Hall façade and tower, which still stand beside the rebuilt guild houses.

  1. 11th–12th centuryThe marshy ground was drained, and the square grew into the city's centre.
  2. 13th centuryBakers sold bread from a wooden stall here, later the King's House.
  3. 1455The Town Hall was completed on the square's south side.
  4. 1523Protestant martyrs were burned on the square by the Inquisition.
  5. 1568Egmont and Hoorn were beheaded on the square.
Show all
  1. 1695French bombardment destroyed most of the square.
  2. late 19th centuryMayor Charles Buls led the restoration of the façades.
  3. 1998UNESCO added the square to its World Heritage list.

Accessibility

  • Paved surface The whole square is paved.
  • Parking on the square Parking is banned, and the square is pedestrian-only.

Sources: Grand-Place - Wikipedia · Brussels/Centre - Wikivoyage (see) · Grand-Place/Grote Markt - Wikipedia · Grand-Place de Bruxelles - Wikipedia · Grote Markt (Brussel) - Wikipedia · checked 17 Oct 2026

Where
Brussels Main Square, Brussels

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Which stations serve the Grand Place in Brussels?

Central Station and De Brouckère are the stations to reach the Grand Place from.

Can you drive or park on the Grand Place in Brussels?

No. Parking on the square is banned, and the square is pedestrian-only.

When is the flower carpet on the Grand Place in Brussels?

It is laid every two years in August, for three to four days. Each time it has a new theme.

How tall is the Town Hall tower on the Grand Place?

The tower is 96 metres high. A gilded statue of Saint Michael, 2.7 metres tall, stands at its top.

Where can you eat Belgian waffles on the Grand Place?

The best waffles are sold in small shops off the square's northeast corner. They come with caramelized sugar.

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