't Zand Squares
't Zand Squares
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
389 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
144
Average
113
Poor
36
Terrible
21
ybsae
Stockton-on-Tees, UK516 contributions
Jul 2023
Very good refers to the number of really nice restaurants fringing the edge of the square. The square itself, although the largest in the city, is lacking much character. It has been redeveloped recently, perhaps ongoing. Worth a wander around once unless partaking in the excellent restaurants we found.
Written August 6, 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.
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium38,093 contributions
Dec 2022
We crossed ’t Zand, dragging our wheelies, on our way from the railway station to our hotel and saw no reason to linger. Today ’t Zand, the largest square of Bruges, seems a bit of an urban desert. Except for the underground car park, the red, box-like concert hall and a few restaurants and cafés, there is little here to attract visitors. Things were quite different in the 19th century when the first trains, from Ghent and Ostend, arrived on the busy square. A first railway station, opened in 1844, was soon replaced by a monumental Gothic Revival one. People even came to watch the steam engines from the roof balcony of a hotel on the square. But, by the end of the century it was decided to move the railway out of the centre. The tracks, the trains and the station disappeared, leaving a great emptiness.
Another thing that disappeared from ‘t Zand, is a monumental fountain by Stefaan Depuydt and Livia Canestraro dating from the mid-1980s. We have never seen it but, from the many photos on Tripadvisor – the fountain was a popular photo spot - it seems to have been overloaded with columns and four groups of extravagant bronze figures: vaguely cubist naked women with large birds on their head or face, a seaman, a (fainted?) mermaid, male and female cyclists, Till Eulenspiegel and Nele and many more we couldn’t identify.
The fate of the sculptures is a real saga. They were removed in 2016 in view of a total refurbishment of the ’t Zand square. When the public heard they were stored somewhere in the open air there were protests but Bruges’ mayor claimed they were perfectly safe. Yet, in May 2018 they were stolen. In June 2020 telephone tapping revealed they had been sold to a Dutch scrapper by a Romanian gang of copper thieves, hacked into pieces, and melted down. Artist Livia Canestraro demanded one million euros in damages, but was awarded only 20 000 euros. The judge ruled she didn’t prove in any way the ‘exceptional artistic value of her work’.
The pictures of ’t Zand on Tripadvisor convey a rather misleading image of ‘t Zand. A third show the fountain, gone since 2016. Other photos show the ‘Zandfeesten’, a flea market held only three times a year on ‘t Zand and in the surrounding area. On ‘t Zand there only is a regular Saturday morning market (8 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.).
Another thing that disappeared from ‘t Zand, is a monumental fountain by Stefaan Depuydt and Livia Canestraro dating from the mid-1980s. We have never seen it but, from the many photos on Tripadvisor – the fountain was a popular photo spot - it seems to have been overloaded with columns and four groups of extravagant bronze figures: vaguely cubist naked women with large birds on their head or face, a seaman, a (fainted?) mermaid, male and female cyclists, Till Eulenspiegel and Nele and many more we couldn’t identify.
The fate of the sculptures is a real saga. They were removed in 2016 in view of a total refurbishment of the ’t Zand square. When the public heard they were stored somewhere in the open air there were protests but Bruges’ mayor claimed they were perfectly safe. Yet, in May 2018 they were stolen. In June 2020 telephone tapping revealed they had been sold to a Dutch scrapper by a Romanian gang of copper thieves, hacked into pieces, and melted down. Artist Livia Canestraro demanded one million euros in damages, but was awarded only 20 000 euros. The judge ruled she didn’t prove in any way the ‘exceptional artistic value of her work’.
The pictures of ’t Zand on Tripadvisor convey a rather misleading image of ‘t Zand. A third show the fountain, gone since 2016. Other photos show the ‘Zandfeesten’, a flea market held only three times a year on ‘t Zand and in the surrounding area. On ‘t Zand there only is a regular Saturday morning market (8 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.).
Written December 28, 2022
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.
Derek O
Seal Beach, CA153 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
After you arrive at the train station, you should stop at the information center (follow the green "i" sign) to pick up your maps and brochures of Bruges. It is also a good spot to use the restroom (.40 Euros) before your adventure. This fountain is right in front of the information center. Click off some quick pictures and proceed to the city center.
Written April 19, 2013
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.
Tony G
Leicester, UK64 contributions
Dec 2018
I loved the fountain which used to be site here. It had wonderful tall bronze statues of a family, cyclists, fishermen and a mermaid with very active fountain squirting litres of water. Unfortunately it has been removed and paved over. I asked at my hotel what had happened and was told that the council had removed it and placed it in store some way from the city. Thieves later stole the statues - so it is no more. What a great shame. All that is left now is a large, bare market place/car park and a row of restaurants/bars.
Written December 11, 2018
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.
Kevin F
Lincoln, UK3,174 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
This square is just what it is, just a square with some fountains. However on Saturdays it come alive with an enormous market. There are stalls of every type imaginable and well worth the pushing and shoving as you wonder around. We purchased some delicious bread having seen the two long queues and thinking that the bread must be something special. It was!!
Written November 14, 2013
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.
David n
Manchester, UK4,769 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I can really only repeat - due to Tripadvisor's minimum count - that this isd an empty pedestrianised, concrete space.
Written July 2, 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.
LoisHertfordshire
Hertfordshire40 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
We cycled through the square in late September. The sculptures and water features are all gone, just one plain flat surface. No doubt something is planned.
Written September 29, 2018
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.
Elizabeth G
Neston, UK299 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This square is still being re-laid. The lovely statue which was new a few years ago is gone. Shops and restaurants around the square are open but on a windy day it can get very dusty. It was ripped up last year so not sure if there is a problem as we expected the work to be finished this year.
Written May 11, 2018
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.
Darryle
Bournemouth, UK129 contributions
Sep 2016
found on a walk , it runs parallel to the shopping high street when you approach a large square , plenty of restaurants on one side and i believe we found a little cu through as well .
Written February 8, 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.
Cielo5
United States93 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
We went to Bruges to meet with hubby's niece last autumn and she showed us around the very awesome and historic place. The T' Zand was one of the beautiful places we went. The four female bronze statues represent the Flemish cities of Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent and Kortrijk. Very interesting place that represents their local culture. We also walk to the commercial area and enjoyed and splurged ourselves with delicious and sweet Belgian chocolates! Yum! No problem walking during that time because the weather was just great!
Written January 13, 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.
Wanneer gaat de rommelmarkt op 't zand in september 2018 door?
Written May 9, 2018
Hoe inschrijven voor deelname aan de antiek/rommelmarkt op T Zand Brugge?
Written April 16, 2018
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