The Grote Markt is where Antwerp tells its own story. On one side stands the City Hall, a sixteenth-century Renaissance palace by Cornelis Floris, hung with flags and crowned with gables, which became a model for civic buildings across northern Europe. Around the square, tall guild houses with gilded statues recall the trades that made the city rich. In the middle stands the Brabo fountain, which shows the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo throwing the severed hand of the giant Antigoon, the legend behind the name Antwerpen, which locals connect to hand-werpen, or hand throwing. The cathedral spire rises just behind the rooftops. Walk a few minutes west to the river and you reach Het Steen, the oldest building in Antwerp, a medieval fortress on the Scheldt that now houses a visitor centre, with the riverside promenade beside it.
How it works: the square and the riverside are public and free at any hour. The City Hall is a working town hall and is usually seen from the outside, though its interiors open on occasion for guided visits and events. Het Steen hosts the city’s visitor centre, so it is a useful place to pick up maps, ask questions and buy the Antwerp City Pass if you plan to visit several museums.
What to expect: the square is busiest from late morning to early evening, when café terraces fill up around the edges. It is also the setting for many of the city’s festivals and seasonal events, including winter markets around the old centre, so dates and set-ups change through the year. The Vlaaikensgang, a hidden sixteenth-century alley, lies a couple of minutes away towards the cathedral.
Making the most of it: come early in the morning to photograph the guild houses with the cathedral spire behind, then return in the evening, when the facades are lit. Combine the square with the cathedral, then walk to Het Steen and the Scheldt quays for the sunset over the river.
What to expect
The experience
A free walk around the main square, the City Hall facade, the guild houses and the Brabo fountain, continuing to Het Steen on the river.
Best time
Early morning for photos without crowds, and after dark when the facades are lit.
How long
About an hour including the walk to Het Steen and the riverside.
Tips
Stop at the visitor centre in Het Steen for maps and the City Pass, and look out for the hidden Vlaaikensgang alley.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want to understand the city’s legend and see its finest square.
- Families
- Children love the gory Brabo legend at the fountain and the castle walls of Het Steen.
- Couples
- Return after dark for the lit facades, then walk along the Scheldt.
- Pair with
- The Cathedral of Our Lady around the corner and the MAS a short walk north along the river.
- Time needed
- One hour, plus a café stop.
Good questions
What is the legend of the Brabo fountain?+
It shows Silvius Brabo throwing the hand of the giant Antigoon, who demanded tolls from ships on the river. Locals link the story to the city’s name, from hand-werpen, meaning hand throwing.
Can I go inside Antwerp City Hall?+
It is a working town hall, so most visitors see it from the outside. Its interiors open occasionally for guided visits and events.
What is Het Steen?+
It is a medieval fortress on the Scheldt and the oldest building in Antwerp. Today it houses the city’s visitor centre.
Is the Grote Markt free to visit?+
Yes, the square, the fountain and the riverside promenade are free and open at all hours. You only pay for café terraces around the square.
How far is the Grote Markt from Antwerp Central Station?+
It is about a twenty-five-minute walk through the shopping streets, or a short premetro ride. Most visitors walk one way and take the tram back.
