The Markt
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Michielverbeek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Why go
- The 83-metre Belfry: 366 steps from the inner courtyard to the bells, with views over the square.
- The golden globe on the Bouchoute house, placed in 1837 to set the exact time.
- The Wednesday morning market on the square.
- The Christmas market, set up on the square during the festive season.
Opening hours
Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
Don't miss
- Bronze statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de ConinckThe two men headed the butchers' and weavers' guilds. The bronze figures lean together on a large sword and hold a flag aloft. The sculptor was Paul de Vigne.Centre of the square On the map
- Relief on the marble base of the statueThe relief shows fighting from the Battle of Kortrijk, two months after the uprising the statue commemorates. Four sandstone statues of women around the base each carry a medieval shield, representing a town.Base of the statue, centre of the square On the map
- Bouchoute houseThe oldest house on the square, with a 15th-century screen gable. An eight-sided weather vane was placed on its gable in 1682 for merchants and sailors.Opposite the Provincial Court On the map
- The Craenenburg, No. 16Archduke Maximilian was held prisoner in this mansion in 1488. It has since become a café.No. 16 on the square On the map
Know before you go
- Open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
- Cars may not park on the square, except taxis and tour buses.
Tips for your visit
- The south side is dominated by the Stadthallen, with the belfry in front.
- The Bruges Beer Experience, an interactive beer museum, is around the corner in Breidelstraat.
- The Historium, a historical experience attraction, is on the east side of the square.
- The square's address is Markt in Bruges, West Flanders Province.
With kids
- A semicircular market street runs through the square.
- Decorated gables line the western and northern edges of the square.
- The Stadthallen, with the Belfry in front, dominates the south side of the square.
- The square has drawn crowds since the 10th century.
Interesting facts5
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Bruges is the only place where a Quételet sphere still sits on a building.
Markt (Brugge) - Wikipedia -
Copper nails set in the paving trace the exact meridian line, which begins at the Bouchoute house.
Markt (Brugge) - Wikipedia -
The figure for Kortrijk, at the base of the statue, holds a golden spur, a nod to the Battle of the Golden Spurs.
Grote Markt (Brügge) - Wikipedia -
1220
Around 1220 citizens built small sales houses on the south side, forming one continuous selling area.
Grote Markt (Brügge) - Wikipedia -
The square is shaped like an irregular trapezoid, around 84 m wide and 110 m long.
Grote Markt (Brügge) - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The Waterhall on the east side, where boats from Damme unloaded their goods, was demolished in 1787. A classicist building replaced it and served as the provincial court from 1850. The Provincial Court at No. 3 was originally built as the Waterhall. The Sint-Christoffelkerk stood on the square until it was demolished in 1786. When no trade took place, the square hosted jousts, tournaments and public executions that drew large crowds. The Belfry was built in stages from the 13th to the 15th century. Its wooden spire burned for the second time in 1741 and was never rebuilt.
- 13th centuryA settlement grows around the square, driven by trade.
- around 1200The first international annual fair is held on the square.
- around 1220The first hall for selling merchants' goods is built.
- 1280A fire destroys the wooden-towered hall; stone rebuilding runs from 1291 to 1296.
- 1302Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck lead the guilds to a victory over occupying troops.
Show all
- 1396The fish trade is set up on the square.
- 1745The fish market moves to the Braamberg, where it still is.
- 1807–1810The square is called Place Napoléon.
Accessibility
- Traffic Mostly traffic-free since the 1995–96 renovation.
- Tactile model for blind visitors A tactile model of the Belfry stands at its foot, with text in four languages, a gift from Kiwanis Brugge.
Sources: Markt, Bruges - Wikipedia · Bruges - Wikivoyage (see) · Grote Markt (Brügge) - Wikipedia · Grand-Place de Bruges - Wikipedia · Markt (Brugge) - Wikipedia · checked 18 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Was there a church on the Markt in Bruges?
Yes. St. Christopher's church stood on the square until it was demolished in 1786.
Which towns do the four figures at the base of the Markt statue stand for?
The four sandstone statues of women at the base stand for Bruges, Ypres, Ghent and Kortrijk.
Where is the Markt in Bruges?
Its address is Markt in Bruges, West Flanders Province, in the city centre.
Is the Markt in Bruges in the old town?
Yes. The square lies in the heart of the historic old town and covers about one hectare.
When was the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck unveiled?
The statue was unveiled in July 1887 and formally opened that August by King Leopold II.
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