Fish Market (Vismarkt) Bruges

Initially, fish was sold on the corner of the Market, but because of the odor nuisance, the fishmongers were banned here. In the specially built colonnade in 1821, sea fish was sold, an expensive delicacy that was only reserved for the rich. Nowadays you can still buy fresh sea fish here every morning from Wednesday to Saturday.

Until 1745, the fish market was held on the Markt and the fish selling craft had its craft house on the north side of this square, near the disappeared Sint-Christoffelkerk.

That same year the fish market, which was held in the open air, moved to the Braamberg, where the corn market was until then. The covered sales area was built in 1821, designed by city architect Jan-Robert Calloigne. The result is a colonnade with 126 Tuscan columns that encloses a rectangular open courtyard. In 1852 the original wooden sales tables were replaced by stone sales benches. These are still present. Around the square one can now find fishmongers and inns.

Source: Wikipedia

Fresh fish and shellfish are still sold here (and prepared fish dishes), deliciously smelling (or stinky according to some) and tasty-looking displayed on packs of ice - but for the best fish you have to be early like the people of Bruges themselves. Opening hours at brugge.be/Vrije-tijd Markets-kermissen-herdenkingen-braderieen/Markets-brugge - Please note: look at "Vismarkt", not "Folkloremarkt Vismarkt". The latter is when no fish is sold at the fish market, but everything is sprayed clean after the fish sale and you can buy all kinds of artisanal items instead of fish.