The Place du Jeu de Balle (French, pronounced [plas dy ʒø d(ə) bal], "Ball Game Square") or Vossenplein (Dutch; "Foxes' Square") is a square located in the heart of the Marolles/Marollen district of the City of Brussels, Belgium. Since 1873, it has held a famous flea market, known as the Old Market.[1][2]
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 / 50.83694°N 4.34556°E |
Construction | |
Completion | c. 1853 |
The area around the square is characterised by the presence of restaurants and typical Brussels cafés.[1] It can be accessed from Brussels-Chapel railway station, as well as by the metro and premetro (underground tram) station Porte de Hal/Hallepoort on lines 2, 3, 4 and 6.
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.[3] 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,[3] the Société du Renard (literally the "Fox Company" in English; vos meaning "fox" in Dutch).[4]
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, and which, in the words of a municipal councillor, "considerably harmed the appearance of the new central boulevards", to the Place du Jeu de Balle,[3] a function the square has kept to this day.[1][2]