Ghent has two main squares. This one is called Vrijdagsmarkt which literally means the Friday Market. There are a number of interesting sites in this city square.

Numerous times in the past the fate of Ghent has been decided upon in the Vrijdagsmarkt market square. It was here that King Edward II of England was proclaimed king of France in 1340 by the guilds under the command of Mayor Jacob Van Artevelde whose statue now occupies a central spot on the market.

The trade guilds imported many raw materials from England, like wool which their weavers turned into fine cloth. They always needed to keep on good terms with their trading partner from across the English Channel. This often brought them in conflict with their landlords the Counts of Ghent who held allegiance with the French King. On Sunday there is a small pets market where you can buy fluffy bunny rabbits, budgerigars, canaries and pet food or supplies.

Vrijdagsmarkt Art Nouveau Socialist guild hall

In the north west corner of Vrijdagsmarkt square there are a collection of cafes and restaurants with seats outside where you can people watch whilst you sample a Belgium waffle with your coffee. In between them is the dramatic Socialist guild hall. Socialism and unionisation became more and more prevalent during the turn of the second to last century. The house of the socialist trade union was built around the beginning of the 20th century in Art Nouveau style.

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