The Brabo Fountain stands on Antwerp's Grote Markt, right in front of the City Hall. Made by the Antwerp sculptor Jef Lambeaux and unveiled in 1887, it shows the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo about to throw the severed hand of the giant Druon Antigoon into the river Scheldt. According to legend, that throw gave Antwerp its name.
The Brabo Fountain at a glance
- Where: Grote Markt, the main square of Antwerp's old town, in front of the City Hall.
- Created: 1887; inaugurated on 21 August 1887.
- By: the sculptor Jef Lambeaux; cast by the Compagnie des Bronzes in Brussels.
- What it is today: a protected monument (since 1982) and the city's best-known symbol, about 10.6 metres tall.
- Time needed: 10–15 minutes, longer if you sit on a terrace and take in the whole square.
A legend in bronze
The story behind the fountain goes back to a legend recorded in the 15th century. The giant Druon Antigoon controlled the river Scheldt near his castle and forced every boatman to pay a toll. Anyone who refused lost a hand. A young Roman officer, Silvius Brabo, fought and killed the giant, cut off his hand and threw it into the river. In the popular version, 'hand werpen' ('to throw a hand') became Antwerpen. Historians prefer a less dramatic origin, such as 'aan 't werp', a word for land raised along the water or a wharf.
Jef Lambeaux worked on the commission for almost three years. He presented a plaster model in 1883, signed a contract with the city in March 1884, and in 1886 replaced the original plan for a water basin with a mound of rough rocks, so the water runs straight over the stones onto the square. The bronze group was cast in Brussels from January 1887 and unveiled that August, paid for from a bequest by the Nottebohm family. The fountain was restored in 1980 and became a protected monument on 27 October 1982.
What to look for
- Brabo on top: the naked hero balances on one leg, ready to throw the giant's hand. Lambeaux took his lively pose from Giambologna's famous statue of Mercury.
- The fallen giant: at the bottom, the headless body of Antigoon lies across the rocks, surrounded by a turtle, a dragon, a sea lion and fish.
- The giant's head: walk round to the north side to find Antigoon's severed head.
- The three mermaids: in the middle, three women hold up a ship and a three-towered castle, the symbols on Antwerp's coat of arms.
- The signature: look for the inscription 'Jef LAMBEAUX / 1887 / CIE DES BRONZES' on the bronze.
Hands all over the city
Once you know the story, you will see hands everywhere in Antwerp. The hands on the city's coat of arms, the 'Antwerpse handjes' biscuits and chocolates sold in bakeries and chocolate shops, and many small details on buildings all come back to Brabo's throw. The legend is also part of how locals tell the story of their city: a port that grew rich on the Scheldt and refused to let anyone block the river.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning or in the evening, when the square is quieter and the guild houses behind the fountain are softly lit.
- For the classic photo, stand on the cathedral side of the square: you get Brabo, the City Hall and the guild houses in one frame.
- Watch your step: the water runs over the rocks straight onto the paving, so the stones around the base are often wet.
Nearby
- City Hall (Stadhuis): the Renaissance town hall behind the fountain, built in the 1560s by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt.
- Cathedral of Our Lady: Antwerp's Gothic cathedral with its 123-metre tower and paintings by Rubens, a couple of minutes' walk away.
- Het Steen: the medieval castle on the bank of the Scheldt, one of the oldest buildings in Antwerp, a short walk west.
- Guild houses: the tall, gilded guild houses lining the Grote Markt, many of them crowned with gilded figures.
See Antwerp with World City Trail
Our Antwerp scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 44 minutes of walking. It includes Antwerpen-Centraal station, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the City Hall right behind the fountain.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Antwerp.
Play the Antwerp scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Antwerp →
Play the outdoor escape game in Antwerp →
Facts checked in October 2026.