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Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp

Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp

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Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp

Name: Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp
Rating: 2

Recommended by 33 hikers

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Location: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp

4.4

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1. Brabo Fountain – Grote Markt, Antwerp loop from Antwerp

5.13km

01:19

30m

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.4

(24)

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2. Brabo Fountain – Antwerp City Hall loop from Astrid

6.69km

01:43

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.5

(14)

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3. Grote Markt, Antwerp – Brabo Fountain loop from Plantin

11.3km

02:54

50m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Rob Josten 🦅

March 2, 2025

The Brabofontein is a fountain in the Belgian city of Antwerp. On the fountain is a bronze statue of Silvius Brabo by the sculptor Jef Lambeaux, which was cast at the Brussels Compagnie des Bronzes and unveiled in 1887. The Brabofontein is located in front of the Antwerp city hall on the Grote Markt. The fountain was financed with the legacy of August Nottebohm, uncle of Oscar Nottebohm.

The legend of Brabo is about the giant Druon Antigoon, who cut off the hand of unwilling toll payers and threw it into the Scheldt. However, Brabo killed the giant and in turn cut off his own hand, which he threw into the river. According to this explanation, Antwerp would come from Hand werpen (Hand throwing). However, the statue is positioned in such a way that Brabo seems to throw the hand towards the city. This is due to the limited distance between the city hall and the statue. If one were to position Brabo towards the Scheldt, it would seem as if Brabo wanted to throw his hand into the town hall. There are several versions of this legend. In one of them, Brabo throws his hand away from the river and says: "Where the hand lands, I will build a city: 'Handwerpen'". This corresponds to the direction in which Brabo throws his hand on the fountain.

According to the American historian John Lothrop Motley and many other etymologists and historians, the name Antwerp would however come from the Germanic anda (on, next to) and werpum (yard), so a city located at the (ship)yard. Another possible origin could be aan 't werp (from andoverpis). The word werp refers to a river silt or man-made embankment.
Wikipedia.

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saskia

March 3, 2025

Beautiful fountain

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Evan

October 27, 2025

Beautiful fountain

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Elevation 10 m

Weather

Wednesday 17 December

14°C

7°C

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Location: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Brabo Fountain at the Grote Markt, Antwerp

1. Brabo Fountain – Grote Markt, Antwerp loop from Antwerp

2. Brabo Fountain – Antwerp City Hall loop from Astrid

3. Grote Markt, Antwerp – Brabo Fountain loop from Plantin

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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