Grand-Place, the UNESCO-listed central square, is in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Known as Grote Markt in Dutch, it forms the historic and ceremonial heart of the city.
The square is surrounded by richly decorated guildhalls, Brussels’ Flamboyant Gothic Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic King’s House, which houses the Brussels City Museum. Its development began in the 11th century, and much of its present architectural character dates from the late 17th century.
In 1695, French troops bombarded Brussels during the Nine Years’ War, destroying most of the buildings around the square. The Town Hall’s façade and tower survived, and the surrounding guildhalls were rebuilt in later years. UNESCO designated Grand-Place a World Heritage Site in 1998. Every other August, the square famously hosts a large flower carpet, usually made from begonias. It is sometimes confused with similarly named squares in other Belgian and European cities, but this UNESCO landmark is specifically in central Brussels.