The Oude Markt (
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
for "Old Market") is a rectangular square in the centre of
Leuven,
Flemish Brabant, Belgium, that largely consists of catering establishments. This is why it is nicknamed the "longest bar in the world".
History and buildings
As the historical residence city of the
Counts of Leuven
The Counts of Louvain were a branch of the Lotharingian House of Reginar which from the late 10th century ruled over the estates of Louvain (''French'') or Leuven (''Dutch'') in Lower Lorraine.
History
The likely ancestor of the Reginars, Gilbe ...
, the square was given market rights in 1150, when the first stone ramparts were built, so that economic activities started to develop. A market was held up to three times a week. In the 20th century, parts of the market escaped the bombing of the two world wars, but reconstruction was still necessary.
The cobble-stoned square is encicrcled by many historical buildings, dating from the 18th century to present. The classicist wing of the
Old University of Leuven's University Hall also opens on the Oude Markt. The university library was housed there until its destruction in 1914. The facade of the
Holy Trinity College is well visible at the southern end of the square. ''De Kotmadam'', a statue from 1985 by the sculptor , is located on the Oude Markt. In addition, the square has two water pumps: the , which is still in function, and the , a relic from 1724.
Events
The Leuven fair is held annually in the first three weeks of September on the Oude Markt, while the Student welcome is held annually at the end of September. There is also ''Hapje-Tapje'' (literally: ''a little snack-a small drink'', approximately pronounced in English as ''hap-yeh, tap-yeh''): a gastronomical ''market'' with a bartender race, at the beginning of August (first Sunday). Since 1989, the , a series of concerts that revolve around a specific theme, is organised every Friday in July.
Gallery
File:Leuven-2017-13156 (32903556435).jpg, View of the Oude Markt
File:Oude markt - panoramio.jpg, View of the Oude Markt
File:Leuven-Oude Markt 53.JPG, Buildings, to the right: the burgher's house ''Adam and Eve''
File:Leuven-Oude Markt 44 (1).JPG, Burgher's house ''De Weerelt''
File:Leuven-Oude Markt 45.JPG, Corner building on the Drie-Engelenberg
File:Oude Markt 16 Leuven.jpg, Corner house
File:Leuven-Oude Markt 48.JPG, Burgher's house ''Den Peylkoker''
File:Sint-Janspomp in Oude markt, Leuven.JPG, The
See also
*
Belgium in "the long nineteenth century"
References
Notes
{{reflist
Squares in Belgium
Buildings and structures in Leuven
Tourist attractions in Leuven
Baroque architecture in Belgium
Car-free zones in Europe
Art by Peter Van Dievoet