Grand Place

On the Grand Place, there is little left from the Burgundian era, thanks to Louis XIV, who bombarded the historic heart of Brussels to bits in 1695. The town hall survived the inferno. Van Loo turns back the clock to 1444, when Brussels decided that its already impressive town hall could be even more impressive to outshine Leuven. An additional wing was built. The first stone was laid by Charles of Charolais – or rather little Charles, he was only 11 – the future Charles the Bold, with a silver trowel. Fast forward to 1452: Little Charles has become Charles and steps onto the Grand Place to take part in his first knight tournament. Cheers are heard, “a mexican wave avant la lettre rolls over the Grand Place,” says Van Loo with a sense of drama. Charles emerges victorious from the battle, under the approving gaze of his father Philip, who watches from a balcony of the town hall.

Mediahuis België