Hides Vets Square - Bruges

The square was formerly used by the sellers of scrap iron . In the early 14th century it was leased by the city council to the hides or tanners (hence the name).

It could be closed on both sides with iron gates to prevent theft .

In the middle of the square is a column with two shield-holding lions, so-called "Stellatje" and "Stillietje" . There used to be a scale on the column on which the skins were weighed. Later it became a pillory .

In the 15th century, leather processing came to an end because of the bad smell .

The building adjacent to the fish market served as a municipal reception office, where excise duties on beer and other products were collected. The building was purchased around 1870 by August Vanden Berghe (1828-1884), fishmonger and stockfish farmer . He gained reputation in his profession and had a coat of arms placed above the store entrance with two crowned and crossed gold fish on a blue field.

Until 1920, the Huidenvettersplein was used as a small fish market as it is still known in Bruges vernacular, where the cheaper fish was sold. The surrounding houses became fishmongers or inns. It was the common folk who supplied themselves there, the richer people went to buy fish at the neighboring Vismarkt.

Willem Vandenameele