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 Brussels, Belgium. It holds a famous flea market.[1]

Place du Jeu de Balle (in French)
Vossenplein (in Dutch)
End of a market on the Place du Jeu de Balle. Church of the Immaculate Conception in the background.
Location within Brussels
LocationCity of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
QuarterMarolles/Marollen
Coordinates50°50′13″N 04°20′44″E
Construction
Completionc. 1853

History

The square was laid out in 1853, at the same time as 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 which was very popular in Brussels in the 19th century.[1] Its current Dutch name, Vossenplein, recalls that it was built on the site of a locomotive factory, "The Fox Company" (vos means "fox" in Dutch).

In 1873, the municipal council decided to transfer the Old Market, which had until then occupied Anneessens Square, to the Place du Jeu de Balle, a function the square has kept to this day.[1]

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[2]
  • The former fire station of the Brussels Fire Department was built between 1859–1860 by the architect Joseph Poelaert in eclectic style. Decommissioned in 1982 during the relocation of the fire brigade staff to 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.[3]
  • A concrete air raid shelter from World War II is located under the square. Its entrances were walled up in 1945.

Events and folklore
  • The flea market takes place 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.[4][5]
  • 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
  1. "Flea market on the Jeu de Balle Square". visit.brussels. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  2. "Bruxelles Pentagone - Eglise paroissiale de l\'Immaculée Conception - Place du Jeu de Balle - TIHON (FILS) J." www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  3. "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 2020-07-01.
  4. National, Bal. "Le plus grand bal populaire de Belgique, une fête pour tous !". Bal National (in French). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  5. "21 July: Belgium's National Day!". Retrieved 2018-09-15.


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