In the 15th century a cabaret group was established here. The building was built a little deeper compared to the neighbouring houses and it had a small garden. In 1523 a wooden building was built more to the front.

After the 1695 bombardment a stone building was erected with help from financer Pierre Fariseau. It was built in the Flemish baroque style, with a touch of Louis XIV.

Only in 1720 it was sold to the butchers guild, to make it their guildhall.

In 1830 it became an inn. It was here that Karl Marx, together with Engels, wrote his 'Manifest'. The Belgian Party of Labourors was established here in 1885.

According to Rudy Bogaerts, on the first floor a bomb exploded during the second world-war. it was an attack against 'the black'. He doesn't know how many people were killed or injured.

Click here for other building on the Town Square (Grote Markt).

After Frits Schetsken (translated by us): 'At the Swan, in interesting story starts : When you look to the ladies at the gable top, you see they are quite 'round'; How comes? Pregnant?? And if yes, from whom? The left woman looks at the man on the horse next to her, Charles of Lorrain, who you see on the pictures of In the Goldened Tree . But he denies, and points to the other side, to the Golden Boat House, on which Bonifacius stands at the top. But he also pleads 'not guilty', and points to In The Fox at the right of the Market Square. And indeed... Under Sante Clauses' coat, three small children come looking.... '

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