Grote Markt / Big Market square-city hall, Brabo & guild houses, Antwerp

In front of the City Hall you can see the statue of Brabo.

There is a mythological saga that tells that in the beginning of chronology , the curb in the Schelde river was dominated by the giant Druoon Antigoon, who claimed a heavy toll of all passing ships. The ones who refused to pay, well their hand was cut off. This ended when a Roman soldier Silvius Brabo killed the giant, he did cut off his hand and threw it into the Schelde river. From that moment this place was called Handwerpen (werpen = throwing), after sometime the “H” disappeared and the name Antwerpen was born. This is one of the stories about the name of this wonderful city. The statue of this legendary liberator can be seen on the Grand Market place, just in front of the City Hall.

The true story about the name is that it is derived of the word “aanwerpen”, this were spits of land in the Schelde river where ships could moor. And on one of these spits of land the city was born.

The bronze statue (1887) is made by the Antwerp sculpture Jef Lambeaux.

These guild houses have richly decorated stepped gables and, which are mostly richly decorated with graceful pinnacles.

Even the Spanish Fury in 1576 didn't save the Grote Markt, many of the guildhouses did burn down, but soon they were rebuild.

The big square is a good place to start your city walk.

City Hall : Built from 1561 - 1564

A lot of City Halls in Flanders aren't used any more; most of them are only used as monumental decoration or as museum.

In Antwerpen, the City Hall is still used for the reason that it was built so many years ago, the administrative centre of the city.

It is also possible to visit this City Hall.

Points of interests are the stairs and the 19th century furnishing.

At the left side of the Antwerp City Hall you can see the statue 'The buideldrager' (The Bag Carrier).

On the socle of this statue you can read 'Arbeid Vrijheid' (= Labour Freedom). In fact this is a monument to honour the harbour workers and their daily hard work.

Note: the one sitting on the chair is not part of the monument. It is an artist which is playing monument; you can see these artists at different places in the city centre.

The statue of Brabo tells the legend of Brabo who won the fight against the giant Antigoon. Brabo threw the hand of the giant in the Schelde and so the city was called Antwerpen (hand throwing). This is one of the stories that explain the name of the city, there are a few more so I don't know if it is true. In summer you can't sit on the statue because its a fountain.

The City Hall of Antwerpen still radiates the pride and glory of Antwerpen's Golden Century.

It is built in Renaissance style, based on Gothic style.

And sometimes it completely covered with colourful flags. A wonderful sight. I just love the view on the City Hall seated on a bench at the other side of the Grote Markt.

When you're visiting the Grote Markt, take care that you don't forget to visit the Gildekamerstraat; this is the street just behind the City Hall.

So in fact it is very near. It would be a pity if you missed this, the street id filled with wonderful old houses. A masterpiece of architecture.

Best place to start your visit, is the Grote Markt (Big Market square).

Certainly this must be the most photographed tourist spot in Antwerpen, but it fulfils a very important social role in the life of the "Sinjoren".

"Sinjoor" is the nickname of the real inhabitants of Antwerpen.

The "Sinjoor" comes here for several festivities, He comes here to drink some beers, sometimes after a wedding ceremonial, it is always busy over here, and in brief this is his "village-green".

The triangle shape of the Grote Markt points out the Frankish roots of this square. This square is surrounded by Guild houses from the 16th and 17th century.