Sint-Jacobs square sits at the heart of old Ghent, and on weekends the Prondelmarkt fills it completely. Stalls spread out around the medieval Sint-Jacobs church, turning the cobbled square into one of Belgium's most storied open-air flea markets. The market runs throughout the year, drawing a loyal crowd of collectors, curious tourists and seasoned local bargain hunters alike.

The Prondelmarkt carries a genuine claim to history. It has operated in this corner of Ghent since at least the early twentieth century, making it one of the oldest continually running flea markets in Belgium. That longevity shapes everything about the atmosphere here. This is not a pop-up event or a seasonal craft fair — it is a weekly institution with deep roots in the city's social fabric.

Many of the vendors are long-standing regulars who have held their pitch at Sint-Jacobs for years. They know their stock intimately, and most are happy to talk. Ask about a piece of crockery or an old telephone and you will likely get its full history, a story about where it came from, and a frank opinion on its value. That willingness to engage makes the Prondelmarkt feel more like a neighbourhood ritual than a transactional marketplace.

The range of goods on offer rewards careful browsing. Vintage clothing sits alongside vinyl record collections and antique telephones. Toys from the 1970s and 1980s surface regularly, the kind that stop collectors in their tracks. You will also find tableware, ornaments, framed posters, decorative curios and the sort of genuinely odd objects that resist easy categorisation. There is enough variety to keep a dedicated picker busy across multiple visits.

The market atmosphere is lively without tipping into chaos. Vendors call out across the stalls, negotiate briskly and take obvious pride in their displays. Prices are open to discussion, and regulars tend to have a good sense of what things are genuinely worth. First-time visitors should allow more time than they expect — the square repays slow exploration.

Sint-Jacobs and the streets immediately around it have developed a supportive ecosystem over the years. A cluster of secondhand shops and brocante dealers operates nearby, drawn by the same foot traffic and collecting culture the market generates. Several cafes line the surrounding streets, making it easy to pause, regroup and head back in for another pass through the stalls.

The Prondelmarkt suits a wide range of visitors. Dedicated antique collectors come for the phones, the vinyl and the decorative ware. Casual browsers come for the atmosphere and the chance of an unexpected find. Anyone with an interest in Belgian street life or the culture of the brocante will feel immediately at home on the square.