Once the site of all the important cultural festivities in Bruges and a gathering place for its townspeople, the Markt is now a popular tourist attraction flanked by restaurants, museums and cafes.

The Markt stands just in front of the Belfry of Bruges. Surrounded by picturesque Medieval buildings and lavish guild houses, it provides a glimpse of the former grandeur of Bruges, which once rivalled London and Paris in importance. A stately statue of Belgian heroes Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck stands in the middle of the square. These men led an uprising against their French oppressors and played important roles in the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, earning the love of their countrymen which lasts even to this day.

Restaurants and cafes line the side of the square across the Belfry, making the Markt a perfect start and end to a tour of the city.