In 1210, the area of the square came into the possession of the city of Antwerp through a donation by Henry I of Brabant. At the beginning of the 14th century, the first markets, the so-called Forums of Brabant, took place. Merchants from home and abroad met here: English, Italians, Spaniards, Flemish and North and South German merchants sold their goods and concluded business deals.The Grote Markt is lined with magnificently decorated guild houses, a reminder of the city's prosperity during the Golden Age. At that time, Antwerp was one of the most important trading cities in Europe and the various guilds set up shop around the square.In 1576 a fire destroyed the original buildings. The buildings were then rebuilt in the Flemish Renaissance style. No. 38 and No. 40 - where first the weavers then the carpenters had their headquarters - were spared by the fire and are still preserved as originals today.