History
This charming square was known already in 1302 as the
meeting place for the tanners. They were members of the rich and powerful guild
of the tanners. Not only did they own the largest house in the square, but they
also had private use of the whole square till the 15th century.
In
those days the two entrances of the square could be enclosed with solid gates.
But the civil authorities had them removed in order to restrain the power of the
guild. You can still see traces of those gates. Their coat of arms is located in
the middle of the square: two lions and a balance to weigh the hides. The coat
of arms has been replaced with a copy in 1925 at the occasion of the 25th
congress of archaeology in Bruges. The guild house of the tanners was built in
1450 and restored to its actual condition in 1680.
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