St. Veerleplein
St. Veerleplein
4
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4.0
68 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
34
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia50,924 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
This is quite a pretty spot. It's not particularly big but visitors seem to congregate here. It is located right across from Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts. Perhaps that is the reason people flock to it. It's a convenient meeting place. Some cafes and other shops also provide a variety of things for customers. The architecture of the surrounding buildings, however, is quite exceptional, and possibly some people have failed to take note. The facade of the big old baroque building with the statue of Neptune is the Fish Market! It was built in 1689. There are some other, also lovely statues at this building which have a symbolic reason. They represent the two rivers that pass through Gent, the Scheldt River and the Leie River. The area is also very colourful. It definitely deserves a visit. This is particularly so as there is so much history and culture here. Another symbolic thing is the column in the middle of the square showing a lion, which is the Flemish Lion. It is holding the Flemish coat of arms. Both of these are symbolic of the Flemish National Movement which has for a long time waged a struggle for recognition and autonomy in Belgium. Another symbolic item in the square is a street lamp with two lights at the top. It is quite old but performs a very interesting function. As the information reveals (on the pavement below the Lamp post) the Light is connected to the Maternity Hospitals in Gent, so every time a baby is born the light flashes! Quite ingenious! Things like this really make your day!
Written 26 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,657 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We had lunch at Neptune restaurant there last week, and we enjoyed this quaint little square. The large door in the corner is beautifully designed, and the fountain in the middle adds to its charm!
Written 9 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris S
Poole, UK1,101 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Very interesting facade and square but when we went through the entrance there was not much else to see.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,791 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
St. Veerleplein (Sint-Veerleplein) is a historic market place in the city centre of Ghent where you can find a handful of interesting things to see and visit. First, this is the location of Gravensteen Castle, which is well worth 30-60 minutes of your time.
You can also enjoy the small public square, which features a Tourist Information Centre, 18th-century traditional buildings, a few restaurants and a small centre monument, topped by a standing and crowned lion holding the flag with the city with Coat of Arms.
Another very interesting thing to see at St. Veerleplein is the impressive monumental gateway which was built here in 1689. Here you can see the god Neptune watching over the entry to the market as well as the facade reliefs of Scheldt and Lys which lounge above the side archways to the square. This is a very neat structure situated on the square.
You can also enjoy the small public square, which features a Tourist Information Centre, 18th-century traditional buildings, a few restaurants and a small centre monument, topped by a standing and crowned lion holding the flag with the city with Coat of Arms.
Another very interesting thing to see at St. Veerleplein is the impressive monumental gateway which was built here in 1689. Here you can see the god Neptune watching over the entry to the market as well as the facade reliefs of Scheldt and Lys which lounge above the side archways to the square. This is a very neat structure situated on the square.
Written 11 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,539 contributions
May 2023
Loved this little square that was located down the street from our apartment. We had dinner in one of the restaurants, admired the Neptune statue on the entrance to the old fish market, and just enjoyed the lively ambience. Lots of people around all of the time. Tram runs by.
Written 17 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aleksandar
Belgrade, Serbia8,214 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Although rather small, this cute square has a lot or architectural wonders, huge detailed doorway being the most easy to spot.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ejfraser
Solihull, UK772 contributions
Nov 2019
This square houses the tourist information centre as well as a fantastic beer shop and some restaurants. The buildings are typical of Ghent with their ornate facades and on thone side is sitiated the mighty Gravensteen.
Written 2 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bdon257
Morpeth, UK5,448 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
This small square is located opposite the Castle and is now the home of the main tourist information office too. A few cafes and bars are here along with a great beer shop with hundreds of beers available.
Written 19 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YTCHENG
Hong Kong, China15,393 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
St. Veerleplein was just opposite to the castle and having many cafes and bars around. A nice place to sit down and relax while touring around the city.
Written 20 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand4,211 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
This small square opposite the castle is home to a number of cafes and to the very good Visitor Information Centre. This is tucked away in the corner under the statuary of Neptune et al representing where the old fish market used to be. Not immediately obvious, but it is there. But the highlight of the square is a very innovative idea aimed at making up for the fact that many of Ghent's citizens were executed here; and that is the three sets of lights linked to the local maternity hospitals. Apparently when a new citizen is born a button is provided to the mother to push and the lights flash off and on. It's such a lovely idea that it would be churlish to doubt it and there is a stone marker in the ground on the square outlining the claim, so one assumes it's true. Very clever.
Written 21 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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