Changing public space

Figure 2.1 The Vismarkt (fish market) in Utrecht as example of a vault square
to stimulate local authorities to realise playgrounds and meeting places around churches. The
so-called Kerkspeelplein (‘church-play-square’) has already emerged in The Hague ( Jansen, 2006).
Besides road networks and the presence of gates or churches, the form and location of
Dutch medieval squares also strongly depended on watercourses (Meyer et al., 2006). Due to the
swampy physical conditions of Dutch cities, which were characterised by wetlands and canals,
many city squares emerged near waterways. Some were constructed over canals as broad bridges
(vault square), while others arose alongside a dike (dam square), river or canal (wharf square) as
places where ships were unloaded and goods were traded. When dry lands became scarcer due
to population growth, some of these waterways were filled in order to create more trading space
(filled square) (De Vries, 1990). These waterway-related squares, such as the Vismarkt (Figure 2.1),
are typical for medieval Dutch towns and are hardly encountered in other European cities.
The main function of medieval squares was trading. However, as a result of increasing
economic wealth, medieval cities grew swiftly and became overpopulated. Private indoor space
was scarce. People therefore needed public space not only for trading, but also for their leisure
activities. The market square was thus both the merchant and social centre of cities during the
Middle Ages (Webb, 1990). This changed in the 14th century, when the increased wealth of the
nobles led to one of the first forms of suburbanisation. Residence and business grew apart, classes
separated and social stratification began. Many medieval squares turned from hectic working
environments to ceremonial areas, like the Belgian market squares in Antwerp and Brussels, or
the Dam in Amsterdam.
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