Huidenvettersplein

Huidenvettersplein features a central fountain topped with a bronze pelican, a detail that sets it apart from the surrounding market squares. This small plaza takes its name from the guild of tanners who worked along the nearby canal. In the middle ages, the smell of treated hides dominated this corner of Bruges. The tanners built their guildhall here, using the water to process leather before selling it at the nearby markets. The pelican represents the self-sacrifice the guild members claimed for their trade.