Bond Moyson Building, Ghent

The Bond Moyson Building is an iconic structure located on Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market Square) in Ghent. It is part of a grand complex with a monumental façade that has been a prominent feature of the square for over a century. The complex was designed by architect Ferdinand Dierkens and commissioned by the Belgian socialist politician Edward Anseele. Its architectural inspiration came from the Grands Magasins of Paris, reflecting a blend of styles that embody both aesthetic grandeur and social ideals.

Constructed in two phases, the right wing of the complex, known as Bond Moyson, was completed in 1899, and the left wing, called Volkshuis Ons Huis (People's House Our House), followed in 1902. The façade of Bond Moyson is particularly notable for its socialist allegorical scenes, crafted by Jules de Bleye. Made from bluestone, the building features a distinctive dome-shaped covering with a Neo-Renaissance "bull's-eye" window. Atop the dome sits a rooster, symbolizing a “new dawn” and the aspiration for an era of equality and happiness for all.

The façade features a coat of arms with “three eights,” symbolizing the early 20th-century workers' slogan: “Eight hours of work, eight hours of leisure, and eight hours of rest.” Fluted columns on the first two levels transition into Corinthian pilasters on the third, supporting an entablature with the inscription “Werklieden Aller Landen Vereenigt U” (Workers of all countries, unite!) in gold. Above it, a cartouche displays “Bond Moyson” in bold red, flanked by caryatids. The central section, added later, includes a large glazed surface, enhancing its modern appeal. The left-wing, Ons Huis, now serves as the headquarters for East Flanders’ socialist workers' associations and is known as the “Socialist Building.”