🇧🇪 Bruges
Market Square (The Markt)
Must-See
★ 4.7 · 16k reviews
The Markt ('Market Square') of Bruges is located in the heart of the city and covers an area of about 1 hectare. Some historical highlights around the square include the 12th-century belfry and the West Flanders Provincial Court (originally the Waterhall, which in 1787 was demolished and replaced by a classicist building that from 1850 served as provincial court and after a fire in 1878 was rebuilt in a neo-Gothic style in 1887). In the center of the market stands the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck.
Visitor Info
Rating
★ 4.7 15,729 reviews
Visit Time
~30 min
Best Time
Early morning or after sunset
Insider Tips
- · Go early before the day-trippers fill the square
- · Come back at night for the lights and the Christmas market if you are here in winter
- · Use the square as the starting point for the whole old town
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Markt so important to Bruges? ▾
The Markt has been the commercial and civic heart of Bruges since the 10th century, where merchants, guilds, and city government all converged. Its guild houses, now mostly restaurants, date from the 15th–17th centuries and reflect the city's golden age as a major European trading hub.
What is the large tower I can see from the square? ▾
That's the Belfort (Belfry), a medieval bell tower built between the 13th and 15th centuries. It stands 83 metres tall and houses a 47-bell carillon that still plays hourly.
Is there still a market held here? ▾
Yes — a general market takes place every Wednesday morning, and a Christmas market fills the square each December, complete with an ice-skating rink.
What is the neogothic building on the east side? ▾
That's the Provinciaal Hof (Province Court), built in the 19th century on the site of the former Waterhalle. It served as the seat of the West Flanders provincial government for over a century.
Can I walk around the square for free? ▾
The square itself is entirely free to enter at any hour. Entrance fees apply only to the Belfry tower (€14) and other nearby attractions.
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Market Square (The Markt) — offline map & tips