Groenplaats

Last updated
Groenplaats
City square
Antwerp July 2015-1a.jpg
Opening date1805
Area1.051 ha
Location Antwerp, Belgium
Coordinates: 51°13′9″N4°24′6″E / 51.21917°N 4.40167°E / 51.21917; 4.40167

The Groenplaats (Green Square) is a large square in the center of the Belgian city of Antwerp, situated south of the Antwerp cathedral. There are various trees with benches on the square, which is a 'resting place'. A statue of Rubens, designed in 1840 and erected in 1843 by Willem Geefs, is in the center of the square. Adjacent lie many cafes as well as a Hilton hotel, located in the old Grand Bazar building. An underground parking garage and the Groenplaats metro station are situated underneath the square.

Contents

History

At least since the 13th century, the south side of the Cathedral of Our Lady served as an Antwerp cemetery, for the poorer residents who could not afford to be buried in the church itself. The cemetery was a part of the allodial land owned by the Cathedral chapter without any feudal obligations. In 1784, Emperor Joseph II forbade the burial of deceased within the city walls

In 1795, the grounds of the cathedral, were claimed by the French. A few years later, in 1799, the walls around it were demolished. Construction of the Place de l’égalité (Equality Square) began in 1803. The houses located in the area were demolished and three rows of lime trees were planted. In 1805 it was solemnly inaugurated as Place Bonaparte (Bonaparte Square) in honor of Napoleon, and retained that name until 1815.

It was the intention of the French revolutionaries to place a memorial in the center of the square in honor of Freedom. In 1797, during the disputes between the church and the municipal administration about the expropriation of the cemetery, the municipal officer François Roché was murdered in the cathedral.

Between 1819 and 1877 the Court of First Instance resided in the south of the Cathedral grounds, a site currently situated by the Post Office.

In 1885, in the building in which the current Hilton hotel is located, Frenchman Adolphe Kileman started a department store, named the Grand Bazar du Bon Marché.

Public transport

Underneath the square lies the Groenplaats premetro station, which was opened in 1975. It is also serviced by above ground tram routes and functions as a bus terminal for a number of southbound lines. A turning loop for trams runs around the square.

Sports

The Groenplaats will host the official 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taksim Square</span> District in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey

Taksim Square, situated in Beyoğlu in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network. Taksim Square is also the location of the Republic Monument which was crafted by Pietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the 5th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, following the Turkish War of Independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dam Square</span> Town square in Amsterdam

Dam Square or the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital and most populated city of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the best-known and most important locations in the city and the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old San Juan</span> Historic district of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Old San Juan is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the islet of San Juan in San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Catedral, Marina, Mercado, San Cristóbal, and San Francisco sub-barrios (sub-districts) of barrio San Juan Antiguo in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and the historic colonial district of the city of San Juan. This historic district is a National Historic Landmark District named Zona Histórica de San Juan and is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Old San Juan Historic District. Several historical buildings and structures, particularly La Fortaleza, the city walls, and El Morro and San Cristóbal castles, have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 1983. Historically the mixed-use commercial and residential real estate in the main streets of Calle Cristo and Calle Fortaleza from Calle Tanca to the Governor’s Mansion is the most valuable in the area and it has kept its value and increased steadily through several years despite the past economic turmoils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Square, Adelaide</span> Public square in the centre of Adelaide, South Australia

Victoria Square, also known as Tarntanyangga, is the central square of five public squares in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Square, Bucharest</span> Public square in downtown Bucharest, Romania

University Square is located in Bucharest city centre, near the University of Bucharest. It is served by Universitate metro station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innenstadt (Frankfurt am Main)</span> Quarter of Frankfurt am Main in Hesse, Germany

The Innenstadt is the central city district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is part of the Ortsbezirk Innenstadt I. Its western part forms part of Frankfurt's central business district, the Bankenviertel. Germany's most expensive shopping streets and real estate are found within the city district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp)</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium

The Cathedral of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's see of the Diocese of Antwerp started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. It contains a number of significant works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, as well as paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Belgium, with its tower rising 123 meters over the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DoubleTree</span> American hotel chain managed by Hilton

DoubleTree by Hilton is an American hotel chain managed by Hilton Worldwide. DoubleTree has been the fastest growing Hilton brand by number of properties since 2007, and by number of rooms from 2007 to 2015. As of December 2019, it has 587 properties with 135,745 rooms in 47 countries and territories, including 122 that are managed with 35,122 rooms and 465 that are franchised with 100,623 rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawah Besar</span> District in Special Capital City District of Jakarta, Indonesia

Sawah Besar is a district (kecamatan) of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Its neighborhoods are among the most historic, containing the 1820-established Pasar Baru, the new colonial city – Weltevreden – and the old course of the Ciliwung river. Landmarks include the Lapangan Banteng, the government's 19th century-built, low-rise A.A. Maramis Building and its high palmed-lawned vista, and Jakarta Cathedral.

The U-Bahn Line B is the second line in the network of the Frankfurt U-Bahn. It leads in west–east direction from the central railway station (Hauptbahnhof) over the old town to Konstablerwache, where it splits into two branches to Bornheim and Preungesheim. Originally planned as an independent main line, the D line represents an extension of the U4 to Bockenheimer Warte from the central railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aniche</span> Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Aniche is a commune in the Nord département in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Stoneham Cemetery</span> Cemetery in Southampton, England

The South Stoneham municipal cemetery, situated off Mansbridge Road, Southampton, was opened in early 1905, with the first burial taking place on 4 February, and was extended in 1927. The South Stoneham Crematorium was located north of the cemetery but demolished during 1973 to make way for the construction of the M27 motorway. The South Stoneham garden of remembrance is now located at the north end of the cemetery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skanderbeg Square</span> Public square in Tirana, Albania

The Skanderbeg Square is the main plaza in the centre of Tirana, Albania. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The total area is about 40,000 square metres. The Skanderbeg Monument dominates the square.

<i>Statue of John Robert Godley</i> Statue in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand

The Godley Statue is a bronze statue situated in Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand. It commemorates the "Founder of Canterbury" John Robert Godley. It was the first statue portraying a person in New Zealand. The statue fell off its plinth in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and time capsules were discovered inside the plinth. It was four years before the statue was returned to its position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antwerp</span> City located in Flanders, Belgium

Antwerp is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third largest city in Belgium by area at 204.51 km2 (78.96 sq mi) after Tournai and Couvin. With a population of 536,079, it is the most populous municipality in Belgium, and with a metropolitan population of over 1,200,000 people, the country's second-largest metropolitan region after Brussels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II</span> City square in Paris, France

The Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II is a city square in Paris, France. Located in the city's 4th arrondissement on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité, the square is bordered by the Hôtel-Dieu hospital to the north, the cathedral of Notre-Dame to the east, the Seine River to the south, and the Prefecture of Police headquarters to the west. The square contains France's point zéro marker, making it the very center of Paris for the purpose of measuring travel distance. Other points of interest include the Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité and Charlemagne et ses Leudes, an equestrian statue of Charlemagne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domshof</span>

The Domshof is a town square in Bremen, north of the cathedral and the Marktplatz. The Domshof is used for markets as well as larger outdoor events, particularly May Day demonstrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Walburga Church (Antwerp)</span>

The St Walburga Church in Antwerp, Belgium, formerly a parish church, was demolished in 1817.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schijnpoort (Antwerp premetro station)</span>

Schijnpoort is an underground station in the Antwerp premetro network. The station was named after the Schijnpoort gate, part of the Brialmont fortifications, which was demolished in 1970 when constructing the R1 ring road. It was opened in 1996 as part of the northern premetro axis and was originally only served by tram route 3. Currently, it is also serviced by tram route 5, tram route 6 and tram route 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michiel van der Voort the Elder</span> Flemish sculptor and draftsman

Michiel van der Voort the Elder, Michiel van der Voort (I) or Michiel Vervoort the Elder, nickname Welgemaeckt (Antwerp, 3 January 1667 – Antwerp, buried on 8 December 1737) was a Flemish sculptor and draftsman, who is best known for the Baroque church furniture which he made for the principal churches in Flanders. He also produced secular works, particularly of mythological and allegorical subjects. His work expresses both late Baroque exuberance and the quest for the simplicity of Classicism. His oeuvre shows the influence of Michelangelo, François Duquesnoy and Rubens. He trained many members of the next generation of Flemish sculptors.

References

  1. Antwerp to host FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 FIBA, 18 January 2021. Accessed 30 April 2021.