The Grote Markt in Antwerp is the main market square of the city. Here the town hall (Stadhuis) is also situated. The square is dominated by the extravagantly designed guildhouses (nederlands Gildehuizen), mainly in the left half, which were built in the 16th century. In its glory and with its golden figures these are probably only surpassed by the guildhouses on Brussels Grand Place/Grote Markt. The third street block to the right is not standing on the Grote Markt, but is already a part of the Kaasrui, which starts here. Visible through the architecture is that Antwerp was once one of the most important cities and harbours of all europe. Up to the war with spain in the 16th century it was the centre of the Netherlands, a status it lost to Amsterdam afterwards.