Place du Jeu de Balle

The Place du Jeu de Balle (French) or Vossenplein (Dutch) is a square located in the heart of the Marolles/Marollen district of the City of Brussels, Belgium. It holds a famous flea market.[1][2]

Place du Jeu de Balle (in French)
Vossenplein (in Dutch)
End of a market on the Place du Jeu de Balle/Vossenplein
Location within Brussels
Place du Jeu de Balle (Belgium)
Location City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Quarter Marolles/Marollen
Coordinates 50°50′13″N 04°20′44″E
Construction
Completion c. 1853

History

The square was laid out in 1853, at the same time as the neighbouring Rue Blaes/Blaestraat. As its French name indicates, it was originally destined for the practice of the jeu de balle or balle pelote, a ball game similar to modern handball. Though the sport is no longer played much today, it enjoyed immense popularity in Brussels in the 19th century.[1] The square's current Dutch name, Vossenplein ("Foxes' Square"), recalls that it was built on the site of a former locomotive factory, the Société du Renard (literally the "Fox Company" in French; vos meaning "fox" in Dutch).

In 1873, Brussels' municipal council decided to transfer the Old Market (French: Vieux Marché, Dutch: Oude Markt), which had until then occupied the Place Anneessens/Anneessensplein, to the Place du Jeu de Balle, a function the square has kept to this day.[1][2]

Notable buildings
  • The Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception is a neo-Romanesque building, built from 1854 to 1862, which was once part of the Capuchin convent[3]
  • The former fire station of the Brussels Fire Department was built between 1859 and 1860 by the architect Joseph Poelaert in eclectic style. Decommissioned in 1982 during the relocation of the fire brigade staff to the Avenue de l'Héliport/Helihavenlaan in the Northern Quarter, the former barracks now houses apartments, art galleries, and shops, while its former portico entrance has been refurbished into a café.[4]
  • A concrete air raid shelter from World War II is located under the square. Its entrances were walled up in 1945.

Events and folklore
  • A flea market takes place on the square every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekends from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Every year, on 20 July, the eve of Belgian National Day, the National Ball is held there.[5][6]
  • Official names of the square in French and Dutch, followed by a number of popular names
  • The former fire station of the Brussels Fire Department with its portico entrance. In the background is the Palace of Justice.

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Flea market on the Jeu de Balle Square". visit.brussels. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  2. "Place du Jeu de Balle market | Markets from the City of Brussels". markets.brussels.be. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  3. "Bruxelles Pentagone - Eglise paroissiale de l\'Immaculée Conception - Place du Jeu de Balle - TIHON (FILS) J." www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  4. "Bruxelles Pentagone - Ancienne Caserne des Pompiers - Place du Jeu de Balle 50-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79 - POELAERT J." www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. National, Bal. "Le plus grand bal populaire de Belgique, une fête pour tous !". Bal National (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  6. "21 July: Belgium's National Day!". Retrieved 15 September 2018.
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