Nijmegen's Grote Markt is the city's central square, flanked by the Sint-Stevenskerk and the reconstructed Waaggebouw (weighhouse), both rebuilt after the 1944 bombing. The square has been the heart of Nijmegen since the Middle Ages — markets, proclamations, and executions all happened here — and today it functions as a major café and restaurant hub, particularly busy on weekend afternoons and during the Vierdaagse week.
The buildings around the Markt are largely post-war reconstructions in historical styles, which gives the square a slightly studied quality, but the space itself is generous and the church tower dominates in a way that feels properly medieval. Saturday morning brings a large market with fresh produce, flowers, and clothing. The square is also the natural starting point for walking the city: most of Nijmegen's central sights are within ten minutes on foot.