Groenplaats

We are now standing on Groenplaats, right in the historic heart of Antwerp. Around us are lively terraces, busy cafés, and people enjoying the view of the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady. Despite its name, this is not a green oasis but a square full of history and urban energy.

Once, this was Antwerp’s main cemetery. In the eighteenth century, Emperor Joseph II decided it should become a public square, but locals kept calling it the “green cemetery” for years. In eighteen forty-three, the square gained its most iconic feature: the bronze statue of Pieter Paul Rubens, the city’s most famous painter.

Over the years, Groenplaats evolved with the city. In the nineteen nineties, an underground parking garage was built, and new buildings like a postmodern complex and the Hilton Hotel – housed in a former department store – gave the square a more modern look.

Today, Groenplaats is full of life. It’s the starting point for tram tours through the city, a popular meeting spot, and the perfect place to enjoy a Belgian beer on a terrace with a view of the cathedral. Still, plans are underway to redesign the square, making it greener with more open space and sustainable solutions for water and traffic.