Grote Markt with liberty tree

In 1220 the Duke of Brabant, Henry I, gave Antwerp land for a marketplace: the Grote Markt or Market square. Later this was used to build the city hall. Until the mid-seventeenth century, this is where large annual markets of luxury goods were held, in the spring (Pentecost) and in October.

For centuries there were also weekly food markets, until around 1940. At certain times during the year the Grote Markt is still used actively as a market square, for instance during the Christmas and Rubens markets.

In 1875 Ruyten painted the Grote Markt with its liberty tree. It had stood there from the time of the French Revolution. In 1892 the site was used for the Brabo fountain.