Town Square 't Zand Bruges

't Zand is the largest in the city and is tunneled under by the city ring R30. Under the square is also a large parking garage that can accommodate almost 1,900 cars.

There are various shops, restaurants and entertainment venues around the square. Since 2002, the Bruges Concertgebouw has also been located on the south side of 't Zand.

From the 13th century, the whole square was called "Vrijdagmarkt" , referring to the cattle and horse market on the west side of the square.

In 1838 the railway line Ghent - Bruges - Ostend was put into use. The first two Bruges stations were located on this square and from then on it was called "Statieplaats" .

The name "'t Zand" was given to the square in 1948, after the demolition of the second station, and refers to the original soil composition, in particular a sand ridge that ran from the Burg via the Steenstraat to the Beursplein and beyond.

The function of the square has evolved over the centuries: from a political stage in the 13th century to the most important Flemish cattle market place in the 18th century and a railway and station square with extensive sleeping options for travelers in the 19th century. Today the square is again the site of a weekly market, the Saturday market.

Willem Vandenameele