Grote Markt (Leuven)

The Grote Markt  listen  (Dutch for "Grand Square") of Leuven, Belgium is situated between the Oude Markt (Old Square) and the Rector De Somerplein (De Somer Square, named for Pieter De Somer, the first rector of the autonomous Dutch-speaking University of Leuven in 1968) and near both the Bondgenotenlaan (Avenue of the Allied Forces) and the Muntstraat (Mint Street).

Its location on the crossing of some of Leuven's most famous and most touristic spots makes the Grote Markt one of the city's busiest squares. However, it has been pedestrian-friendly for some years; only public transportation buses from De Lijn are allowed to use the square.

Buildings

This location is one of the oldest and most historic in all of Leuven. The square has existed in its present form since the 14th Century, when the Catholic University Leuven, or K.U.Leuven, was established. Most of the square's buildings are built in the Gothic style, of which the town hall is a prime example.

Other buildings on the Grote Markt are the Church of St. Peter and several guild houses. As throughout Leuven, there are also many pubs, taverns, and eateries on the Grote Markt. There is a significant contrast between the more formal and traditional style establishments on the Grote Markt and the more trendy, youth-oriented and student entertainment spots on the nearby Oude Markt.

Grote Markt

Grote Markt  listen  (Dutch for "Grand Market") is a common name of a centrally located historic market square in many cities in Belgium and the Netherlands.

See also

Grote Markt (Kortrijk)

The Grote Markt  listen  (Dutch for "Grand Square") of Kortrijk is the central square in the Belgian city of Kortrijk.

Its location on the crossing of some of Kortrijk's most famous and most touristic spots makes the Grote Markt one of the city's busiest squares. However, it has been pedestrian-friendly after its renewal in 1999-2000 since the largest part of the square is now a pedestrian area.

History

The square got its current shape and surface after the demolition of the old Cloths Halls around the still existing Kortrijk Belfry. Its L-shaped form is due to the contours of the Medieval Castle of Kortrijk which used to border the eastern side of the current square.

Events

The Grote Markt is often used for cultural and other events, as is the case for Kortrijk's other big squares, such as the Schouwburgplein (Theatre Square) and the Veemarkt.

Annually events that are organised on the Grote Markt include:

Every Monday morning, the food and clothes market is held on the Grote Markt.

Grand Place

The Grand Place (French, pronounced: [ɡʁɑ̃ plas]; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, pronounced [ˌɣroːtə ˈmɑrkt]) is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse (French: Maison du Roi, Dutch: Broodhuis) building containing the Museum of the City of Brussels. The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft), and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

Early history

In the 10th century, Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine constructed a fort on Saint-Géry Island, the furthest inland point at which the Senne river was still navigable. This was the seed of what would become Brussels. By the end of the 11th century, an open-air marketplace was set up on a dried-up marsh near the fort that was surrounded by sandbanks. The market was called the Nedermerckt, or Lower Market.

The market likely developed around the same time as the commercial development of Brussels. A document from 1174 mentions a lower market (Latin: forum inferius) not far from the port on the Senne river. The market was well situated along the Causeway (Dutch: Steenweg), an important commercial road which connected the prosperous regions of the Rhineland and the County of Flanders.