Statue of "De Witte Engel" on top of a guildhall at the Market Place in Antwerp, Belgium
The triangular market place - a typical Frankish shape in fact - was named Grote Markt in the 16th century. It is dominated by the City Hall, the guild halls and, in a way, by the Brabo fountain. The City Hall (1561-1565) was realized by Cornelis Floris, an Antwerp architect who lived in this city during the "Golden Age". It was erected on the market place, right in front of the guild halls in Gildekamersstraat, and is considered to be a splendid example of renaissance architecture. The central risalto carries the coats of arms of the Duchy of Brabant (left), the Markgraviate of Antwerp (right) and of Philip II (centre), king of Spain, who once ruled over the Low Countries. In a niche, crowning Philip's coat of arms, is a statue of Our Lady, patron saint of this city. Between the armorial bearings we see the allegorical figures of Justitia (without her blindfold) and Prudentia, both symbols of the righteousness and prudence of all magistrates. On top of the City Hall, the eagle has its eyes fixed on Aix-la-Chapelle, the Imperial city, the markgraviate of Antwerp indeed belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. Grote Markt is surrounded by really beautiful guild halls. Some of them are still the original ones (like numbers 38 and 40), others are reconstructions of buildings which once stood elsewhere (like numbers 15 and 25). The corner house - number 24 - at the Southside may seem somewhat puzzling to the visitor; nevertheless, this is an original building, erected in the 18th century by J. P. Baurscheit, the well-known Antwerp architect. The Brabo fountain (1887) is undoubtedly worth seeing as well. It was conceived by Jef Lambeaux, and represents the legendary Silvius Brabo who, after having slain the giant Antigoon, throws his hand into the river Scheldt. Popular etymology has it, that Antwerp derives its name thereof "throw" in Dutch is "werpen" and "hand" is "hand"; therefore "handwerpen" (to throw a hand) would be the origin of "Antwerp".
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Guildhall De Witte Engel, Grote Markt 3, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, Western Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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