A toothgem shop? Here, on the Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains? It seems a world away from the street’s origins. The Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains or Oude Graanmarktstraat, whispers tales of Brussels’s transformation.
This irregular street lies to the west of Place Sainte-Catherine. It extends that square. A double row of trees lines the street. Then, it bends and narrows like a funnel toward Rue des Chartreux.
Imagine the 16th century. This space was once the southern part of a moat. It was called the Fossé des Dames Blanches. This moat belonged to the city’s first walls. The northern part became a dock. That dock is now Place Sainte-Catherine.
From 1563, the Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains area likely served as a livestock market. Around 1650, it became a grain market. This replaced the Vieille Halle aux Blés. The current name came about in 1787-1788. This happened when the Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains was established.
The west side was changed. Rue de la Braie and Rue de Jéricho were created. Rue A. Dansaert absorbed them in 1890-1891. It was widened in the 1920s.
Look around. The buildings here are diverse. They date from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. Neoclassical styles dominate. You’ll see townhouses and more modest homes. Numbers 37, 39-41, 53, and 61 date back to 1835. Number 28 is a heavily transformed house. Architect Paulussen designed it in 1852. You can also spot some newer buildings.
In 1982, sculptor J. Roig added a fountain. It features a statue called “Galanterie.”
Today, the Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains has a Provençal feel. This is especially true on sunny days. Many terraces sit under the trees. It’s hard to picture livestock and grain. Yet, history echoes here. It whispers from the stones. It lingers in the shadows. It reminds us of Brussels’s ever-changing story.