At least since the 13th century, the south side of the Cathedral of Our Lady served as an Antwerp cemetery, for the poorer residents who could not afford to be buried in the church itself.

In 1784, Emperor Joseph II forbade the burial of deceased within the city walls In 1795, the grounds of the cathedral, were claimed by the French.

Between 1819 and 1877 the Court of First Instance resided in the south of the Cathedral grounds, a site currently situated by the Post Office.

In 1885, in the building in which the current Hilton hotel is located, Frenchman Adolphe Kileman started a department store, named the Grand Bazar du Bon Marché.

It is also serviced by above ground tram routes and functions as a bus terminal for a number of southbound lines.