The Grand-Place of Brussels

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

The Grand-Place [plan] is considered as one of the most beautiful places of the world. The Grand-Place of Brussels was registered on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1998.

History of the Grand-Place

At the Grand-Place, numerous historic events took place:

• 1523: the first Protestant martyrs, Hendrik Voes and Jan Van Essen, are burned by the Inquisition there
• 1563: the counts of Egmont and Hoorn are beheaded there
• August 1695: during the War of the League of Augsbourg, most of the houses on the Grand-Place were destroyed during a bombardment of the City by the French troops of marshal De Villeroy. Only the facade and the tower of the City Hall, which were the target, and some stone walls resisted the flaming canon balls. The houses surrounding the square were quickly reconstructed, in stone this time, by the various guilds. Among these, the house of the Brewers guild which shelters the Brewers Museum today.

Events on the Grand-Place

Nowadays, numerous festive or cultural events are organized on the Grand-Place:

• the Flower carpet (77 x 24m, event organized every 2 years in mid-August and with more than 500.000 begonias
• the Ommegang which commemorates the tribute created in 1549 during the coming of Charles the Fifth in Brussels to present it his son, the future Philippe II
• the Christmas tree
• the daily flower market
• the procession of the Meyboom
• concerts
• ...

The events and life on the Grand-Place can be seen via the webcam of the Grand-Place.

• pictures from the Grand-Place

COMMUNITY NEWS : Grand-Place: presentation new pedestrian zone

COMMUNITY NEWS : Copy of t'Serclaes statue at the Grand-Place

ON THE AGENDA : Brussels Tango Festival 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Scarecrow contest on the Grand-Place

ON THE AGENDA : Brussels Jazz Marathon 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Folklore. Ommegang 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Music. Day of the Flemish Community

ON THE AGENDA : Flower Carpet 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Sports. Brussels Marathon & Half Marathon 2012

ON THE AGENDA : Winter Wonders 2012