Friday´s Market Square
Jacob van Artevelde: there he stands, with his arm outstretched towards England. The statue in the middle of the Vrijdagmarkt is a reminder of a grandiose age gone by. It is almost as though he were pointing the market stallholders in the direction of prosperity. The Vrijdagmarkt has a rich history, but there is a dark side to the story. Celebrations have been held on the square throughout the centuries. It is here that royalty were officially received at the ceremonies known as Joyous Entries. And, sadly, where people were also executed. No need to panic though: it is a long time since anyone has been guillotined or burned at the stake. The last public execution was in 1863. The Little Tower, which was already here in the 15th century, is pretty much the only remaining building to have witnessed these gruesome practices. The others were built in the 19th century.