info EN | € 3,00

love Visitors guide | 2010

Bruges
Flanders, Belgium

the oficial
city guide

www.bruges.be/tourism
Table of Contents Welcome to the World
PREFACE » 1 Heritage City of Bruges
TEN IRRESISTIBLE BRUGES CLASSICS! » 2
NEW IN 2010: BRUGGE CITY CARD » 6
It is only fair to say that the places that stir all your senses and creep under your
CITY FESTIVAL: BRUGES CENTRAL » 8
skin are extremely rare. Bruges happens to be such a unique place. It is at the same
Van Eyck to Dürer » 10
time cultural and artistic, cosmopolitan, unashamedly Burgundian and mysteriously
Luc Tuymans: a Vision of Central Europe » 12
medieval. The entire historic centre is a Unesco World Heritage site. Strolling through
EVENTS 2010 » 18 her network of medieval streets and alleys or sauntering along her picturesque
WALKS » 24 canals and verdant ramparts you cannot but fall hopelessly in love with her elegant
Bruges, proud World Heritage City » 24 mysteriousness. In winter, her winding cobbled streets and canals shrouded in fog
Bruges: B of Burgundian » 34 take on an even more poetic personality. It’s as if the city is waiting for darkness
Strolling through silent Bruges » 44 to descend before she’s willing to show her fairest face.
INTERVIEWS » 54
The Magic of Bruges » 54 Although it is true that Bruges has one foot firmly in the past, it is equally true that
A Spotlight on Central Europe » 62 she cherishes her future and that she fully invests in culture and architecture. It is
Bruges: Defiantly, Surprising, Seductive » 70 therefore no surprise that the city museums house the Flemish Primitives as well as
Flavourful Flemish Primitives » 78 contemporary art. Moreover, a fair number of enthralling cultural events set the city
Bruges, a Bike-friendly City » 86 alight throughout the year. This year Bruges Central (see page 8) takes centre stage.
This large-scale cultural event boasts two top exhibitions: Van Eyck to Dürer and Luc
KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND BRUGES – SUPER EASY AND HANDY » 94
Tuymans: a Vision of Central Europe. Tuymans, one of the world’s leading contemporary
Museums » 96
artists, is both the inspiration and the driving force behind this exceptional collection of
Places of interest » 106
the plastic arts. And thanks to the Brugge City Card (see page 6) you can now explore
On foot, by boat, horse-drawn carriage, minibus, hot air balloon » 110
all these wonderful events at bargain prices! Indeed, this handy, brand-new city
Out in Bruges » 112
pass allows you free entrance or gives you a hefty discount at countless attractions,
Bike rental points » 114
museums and places of interest in and around Bruges! Easy and inexpensive!
Guided Bike Trips » 116
Tailor-made for Kids » 118
The delights of Bruges’ Burgundian life can be sampled in one of the countless cafés
Get even more out of your stay in Bruges » 122
and restaurants, from authentic pubs to trendy eating-places and famous gourmet
Bruges’ wet- and woodlands » 123
restaurants. Indeed, the citizens of Bruges have known for centuries how to eat and
A trip to the seaside » 127
drink
d well. Would you like to spend some more time with us?
Battlefields: Flanders and the Great War » 130
We
W hope that this visitors guide will be your trusty compan-
Other Places of Interest » 133
ion
i in case you lose yourself in one of Bruges’ many stories.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION » 134
STREET NAMES » 136 We
W and our fellow townspeople wish you a memorable stay!
KEY » 139
Jean-Marie Bogaert, Alderman for Tourism
CITY MAPS » 141
Patrick Moenaert, Burgomaster
 Ten Irresistible
Bruges Classics
> 01
1 THE FLEMISH PRIMITIVES:
WORLDFAMOUS ART
FROM BRUGES
(more information on page 62)
Admire the unique and world-
famous collection of pictures by
the Flemish Primitives in the
very city where they were painted.
Or do you prefer the ground-break-
ing contemporary art scene, or
perhaps poignant and romantic
folklore or majestic town palaces?
The Bruges Museums will happily
serve all your needs.
2 THE CANALS OF BRUGES:
THE CITY’S ARTERIES
Experience the city by following an
age-old tradition. Cruising Bruges’
2 3
> 02
canals – these remarkable city
arteries – you will discover secret
gardens, picturesque bridges and
wonderfully beautiful still lives.
Although it sounds incredible,
Bruges’ loveliest places ooze even
more charm when you admire
them travelling by boat.
3 THE BEGUINAGE AND
MINNEWATER: HUSHED BEAUTY
Some places are so beautiful that
you will have no choice but to fall
silent. The beguinage is such a
beauty spot. When you amble
through its quiet inner court, its
purity will leave you speechless.
Therefore take your time and while
away along the romantic Minne-
water where you will fully enjoy
the age-old view.
4 THE CENTURIES-OLD BRUGES
SKYLINE: WELCOME CHURCH
OF OUR LADY (ONTHAALKERK
ONZE-LIEVE-VROUW), BELFRY,
SAINT SAVIOUR’S CATHEDRAL
Three spires dominate the Bruges
skyline each in their own way. The
imposing Belfry has been the proud
symbol of Bruges’ independence
for centuries. The stiff climb up its
stairs will be rewarded with an
unforgettable panorama. The brick
tower of the Church of Our Lady –
the highest of its kind in Europe –
exemplifies the craftsmanship of
Bruges’ artisans. The spire of Saint
Saviour’s Cathedral has recently
been completely renovated.
> 03
> 05
> 04
5 BURG AND CITY HALL:
MEDIEVAL OPULENCE
(more information on page 28)
The Burg is one of the city’s hand-
somest squares. For more than six
centuries Bruges has been gov-
erned from its 14th-century city
hall, one of the oldest and most
venerable in the Low Countries. All
this time this remarkable historic
building has dominated this majes-
tic square. Nowhere else will you
be able to experience the city’s
wealth and affluence so strongly.

> 06
6 ALSMHOUSES (GODSHUIZEN):
CHARITY FROZEN IN STONE
(more information on page 30)
Godshuizen are tiny villages
within the city’s ramparts. That’s
how these medieval residential
courts are best described. Centu-
ries ago they were built out of
mortar and charity. Today their
picturesque gardens, whitewashed
façades and glorious silence are
the city’s havens of peace par
excellence.
7 BRUGES’ CITY FESTIVALS:
INFECT IOUS AMBIANCE
From the MA Festival’s ancient
music and the rousing world music
4 5
sounds of the Bruges Festival to the
rocking Cactus Festival, the swing-
ing Klinkers and the impressive
film experience of Cinema Novo.
Throughout the year the city’s
festivals guarantee a wonderfully
infectious and varied ambiance
that’s impossible to ignore.
8 THE WORLD’S CAPITAL
OF CHOCOLATE
(more information on page 78)
Forty-nine chocolate boutiques, the
chocolate museum Choco-Story,
a chocolate trail and a chocolate
fair. It goes without saying that
Bruges is the world’s capital of
chocolate. The only way to discover
> 07
> 09
> 08
> 10
this tasty universe is by eating and
sampling chocolate, of course.
9 BRUGES’ CULTURAL SHRINES:
CULTURE WITH A CAPITAL C
(more information on page 112)
Bruges offers the possibility to
experience culture under the best
possible conditions. What about
an opera at the state-of-the-art
Concert Hall? Or perhaps a ground-
breaking performance at the thea-
tre? It is absolutely no coincidence
that this grand building is one
of Europe’s best preserved city
theatres. Whatever you choose,
you can be sure of a great time in an
exceptional setting.
10 LISSEWEGE: ONE OF
FLANDERS’PRETT IEST VILLAGES
(more information on page 123)
Barely a handful of bicycle miles
from Bruges, the fine polder village
of Lissewege welcomes you with
open arms. With its charming
canal, its renowned barn complex
of the Abbey of Ter Doest, its white-
washed polder cottages, its impos-
ing church steeple and its vast
flowering meadows, it is no coinci-
dence that Lissewege was elected
one of Flanders’prettiest villages.
New in 2010:
Brugge
City Card
48h
72h

Endless bargains! Thesee are our special offer

offers!
f s!! » At least 25% discount on not to be
Would you like to explore Bruges and » Free entrance to 24 museums and missed concerts, dance and theatre
go easy on your wallet at the same places of interest in Bruges! performances!
time? With the Brugge City Card you And a hefty discount at the museum » At least 25% discount on your
will accumulate one discount after shops to boot! bike rental!
another and even visit countless at- » A free round trip on the canals » At least 25% discount at your
tractions completely free! This super (1 March-15 November) or a free underground car park!
bargain card is handy and inexpensive tour with the City Tour minibus » At least 25% discount at various
and your unique chance to save more (16 November-28 February)! museums, places of interest and
than € 200,00! attractions in the vicinity of Bruges!
» € 5,00 instead of € 12,00 for a
three-day pass of De Lijn, valid on
HOW DOES IT WORK? all buses and trams in the whole WHAT WILL IT COST YOU?
of Flanders!
Choose the validity period yourself: 48hrs or 72hrs. = € 33,00
From page 96 onwards you will find a detailed overview of all museums,
CITY
CARD
places of interest and attractions in and around Bruges. If you see a then = € 38,00
CITY
CARD
the Brugge City Card lets you in for free. If you see a , then you receive a
hefty discount on the individual price. In addition, the free monthly magazine HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER?
events@brugge handily lists all the events where the Brugge City Card offers
you an extra discount. The card will be automatically activated as soon as you Call in at the information offices
use it for the first time. The card expires once the time-limit has been excee- in the Railway Station or
ded. You can visit each attraction only once. Bear in mind that most museums [Concertgebouw] or order your City
are closed on Mondays and that there are a few attractions that allow you to Card at www.bruggecitycard.be.
use your Brugge City Card only within certain periods or blocks of time.

6 7
Bruges Central
City festival 2010

Central Europe is the prominent The two most important pillars of

theme of this magnificent city festival. Bruges Central are the art-historical
That Central Europe should be the star exhibition Van Eyck to Dürer and the

9$ 7<
is not a coincidence. After all, the fall contemporary art circuit Luc Tuymans:

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of the Berlin Wall in 1989 gave rise to a a vision of Central Europe. Bruges

7, &,

M A C RA U TR E
T S E
new interaction between West and Central furthermore offers a varied

TH DA

IB F UR IC
East. It has affected us on a strategic, programme of exhibitions, events,

  85 75 2 ITIOINLM E
political and economic level, it has had films, performing arts and concerts:

6
a major influence on tourism, and it from a concert by Goran Bregovic &

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has even seeped through into our daily Wedding and Funeral Band or a poetic

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life. Of course, Flanders has had close promenade past fire installations

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5
ties with Eastern Europe for far longer. to a selection of Central European

 
)
Indeed, much of Bruges’ heritage is artists, such as the Franco-Hungarian
conclusive proof of that, a conclusion choreographer Josef Nadj, the

1
that Bruges Central is to focus on in Polish artist Pawel Althamer and the

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great detail. The festival also concen- Lithuanian carillon composer Giedrius

trates on the artistic interaction, which
is getting into its stride again after half
a century of interruption.
&
 (
Kuprevičius. One thing cannot be
denied: for four months Bruges will
be swamped by artists, musicians,
actors and designers from the East.
» 18/09/2010 - 30/01/2011,
www.brugescentral.be
:::%58*(6&(175$/%(

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8 9
Van Eyck to Dürer focuses on Eastern Europe. In the
process it shows how the works of
This art-historical exhibition sketches the Flemish Primitives inspired local
the influence of the Flemish Primitives artists and Dürer’s early production.
in the Holy Roman Empire. The artistic Next to a handsome selection of pain-
and technical virtuosity of the Flemish tings the exhibition also parades some
Primitives such as the Van Eyck wonderful sculptures, incunabula
brothers and Rogier van der Weyden and miniatures.
spread at lightning speed all over (see also page 62)
Europe, from Spain, Portugal, Sout-
hern France and Italy via Germany,
Austria, Hungary and Transylvania
to Poland and the Baltic states. For
years Flemish art had a strong hold on
artistic Europe, on painting, sculpture
and illuminations. Van Eyck to Dürer

29.10.2010
PRACTICAL INFORMATION 30.01.2011
GROENINGEMUSEUM
TICKETS > online through www.brugescentral.be (from March 2010 onwards),
at the counter of the museum locations throughout the duration of the exhibi-
tions, at [Concertgebouw] (open every day from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.) and
by phoning Toerisme Brugge (from March 2010 onwards) and at several hotels.

VAN EYCK TO DÜRER > 29 October 2010 – 30 January 2011, Groeninge Museum

LUC TUYMANS: A VISION OF CENTRAL EUROPE > 22 October 2010 – 23 January

2011, Arentshuis, City Halls, Great Seminary, Memling in Sint-Jan -
Hospitaalmuseum and Forum+ [Concertgebouw].

PRICE > € 11.00; 65+: € 9.00, youngsters under 26: € 1,00; children under 6:
CITY

WWW.BRUGESCENTRAL.BE
CARD
free; Brugge City Card: free
CITY FESTIVAL 2010

10 11
 Deimantas Narkevicius – ‘Revisiting Solaris’, 2007
Courtesy: Jan Mot, Brussel
Bruno Schulz – ‘Three men kneeling in front of a naked woman with a whip’, 1920
Courtesy: Museum of Literature, Warsaw
Luc Tuymans:
a vision of Central Europe
Luc Tuymans (Antwerp, 1958) is one of
the most important contemporary ar-
tists as well as one of the most respec-
ted painters of his generation. It is the-
refore no surprise to see his work in
major international museums. For his
contemporary and idiosyncratic art cir-
cuit in Bruges’ historic heart Tuymans
has called on roughly thirty artists from
Poland, Eastern Germany, the Czech
Republic, Serbia, Albania, Slovenia,
Estonia and Latvia. These artists display
their views on society and as a conse-
quence do not shy away from tackling
sensitive themes such as history, trau-
ma and violence, themes that Tuymans
has also had continuously under his
skin. Their works of art throw a fascina-
12
ting light on both Bruges’ rich patri-
mony and their own origins. Tuymans’ 22.10.2010
internationally highly-esteemed
colleagues such as Deimantas Narkevi- 23.01.2011
cius, Takashi Murakami and Pawel FORUM+
[CONCERTGEBOUW]
Buchler stand shoulder to shoulder with
artists from the first half of the twentie-
th century, like Alina Szapocznikow,
Bruno Schulz and Andrzej Wróblewski.
The installations and sculptures by
Miroslaw Balka are also prominently
displayed, just as is the work of Katha-
rina Fritsch, Gerhard Richter and Neo
Rauch from Eastern Germany or the
self-mockery of Andreas Slominiski and
Pawel Althamer for example. Each of
these artists have, in their own way,
made their mark on the artistic land-
scape both in their own country and far
WWW.BRUGESCENTRAL.BE
beyond their own borders, in the past as
CITY FESTIVAL 2010
well as in the present. (see also page 14)
13

Luc Tuymans has an incredibly busy
Miroslaw Balka – ‘Nothere’, 2008 schedule, and one that sends him con-
Courtesy: White Cube, London – Photo: Todd-White Art Photography
tinually from east to west all over the
Bruges Central ‘Bruges is an idyll. I put it against a city like Warsaw.’
In the footsteps of Jan van Eyck globe. At the end of 2009, a selection
from his recent work began its Ameri-
can tour. Brussels witnessed The State
Geert van der Speeten (1961) is cultural editor with De Standaard, Flanders’- of Things, an exhibition on contempo-
quality newspaper. He writes a.o. on the arts, architecture and opera. rary art from China and Belgium. Luc
Tuymans compiled the works together
Every five years Bruges pulls out all the stops for a with his colleague Ai Wei Wei.
How does an artist become a curator?
major cultural festival. In 2010, the festival follows in As he likes to have a say in the cultural
the footsteps of Jan van Eyck, whereby all eyes will be debate anyway, and since he also loves
on Central Europe. Luc Tuymans, one of Flanders’ leading a challenge, Tuymans has on more
than one occasion been tempted to
lights in contemporary art, examines the current state side with the organisers.
of the geographical links with Central Europe. He is the The same has happened in Bruges,
festival’s artist in residence. where he is now leaving his mark on
the Bruges Central festival. ‘The offer
was tempting,’ says Tuymans. ‘We
quickly agreed on the budget, and the
14
> Identikit
Name: Luc Tuymans
Place and Date of Birth:
Mortsel, 14 Juin 1958
He is the most successful contempo-
rary Belgian painter, and the first
Belgian to receive a retrospective at
London’s Tate Modern. He was also
selected for Documenta-Kassel
and the Venice Biennale.
festival tackles matters very profes-
sionally. I am moreover allowed to
outline a robust content, and I can
draw on a broad network. What more
could you want?’
Bruges the Underdog
Rest assured that there is a smidgeon
of idealism behind the public role that
Tuymans the artist is taking on. ‘In the
art world there is now a well-trained
generation of curators at work. They
especially pay attention to themselves.
Art seems to have withdrawn behind
the walls of subsidised institutions.
Saving the museum as an institute, by
turning it again into a public place, is
going to be one of the tasks ahead.’
Tuymans believes that Bruges, the un-
derdog in the contemporary art world,
15
 migrant, also pops up as one of the
artists participating in the festival.
The exhibition snakes through the
city’s streets. It passes five ‘islands of
significance’: the Great Seminary, the
Belfry, the Arentshuis, Saint John’s
his apparently modest motto Als ic can
(If I can), van Eyck was hiding most
blatant ambition. The degree of per-
fection he achieved is highly trauma-
tising for professionals (laughs).’
‘His realism was truly remarkable.

‘Jan van Eyck achieved perfection.

It is extremely traumatising for today’s painters.’
Hospital and the Concertgebouw He deepened nature, and he discon-
(Concert hall). There will also be nected the definition of reality from
concerts, theatre and dance per- traditional Christian mimesis.’
Alina Szapocznikow – ‘Shirt, a Requiem for the Bottom’, 1971
Neo Rauch – ‘Die Aufnahme’, 2008 Courtesy: Galerie Isabella Czarnowska, Berlin; Private Collection, Switzerland; formances and a separate film It is maybe time to have another look
Courtesy: David Zwirner, New York and Galerie Eigen + Art, Berlin/Leipzig Piotr Stanislawski, ADAGP, Paris – Photo: Dietmar Linke
programme highlighting Central at the outline of Belgian art, so
European cartoons. Tuymans believes.
‘At the moment, Belgian art is being
might play a special role. ‘The ties of Modernism placed one-sidedly in the tradition
the city with contemporary art are get- Tuymans has worked in close co- Homage of the grotesque and the surreal.
ting stronger,’ he says. ‘There are one- operation with artists from Central For Bruges, the five-yearly festival has According to this logic, the level-head-
off events, but also festivals that offer Europe, such as the Pole Miroslaw to be a city festival as well as a draw ed van Eyck doesn’t fit in at all, maybe
fair samplings: both initiatives may Balka. He particularly wants to show for international visitors. That’s why a because his codes prove very difficult
help to provide that ultimate push in ‘that Central Europe has fascinating historical theme is carefully chosen to crack nowadays. In spite of that, van
the right direction.’ misconceptions about its own cultural each time. Eyck of all people has to be seen as a
history, a history that doesn’t lag The exhibition Van Eyck to Dürer figure that has left one of the deepest
very much behind our own modernis- examines the impact on Eastern impressions on our art.’
Idyll tic period.’ Europe of the arts in the Low Coun-
Bruges as a magnet for tourists and as The art scene from Warsaw to Zagreb tries between 1420 and 1520. The final
a guardian of national heritage: Tuy- is thriving. Tuymans wants to prize stage is the journey Albrecht Dürer
mans is fascinated by the city’s image. open our stereotypical opinions. undertook in 1520, an homage to the
‘It is an idyll, a city whose skies are ‘We do not want to reduce Central Flemish Primitives and at the same
even forbidden territory for planes. In Europe’s identity to a handful of cli- time the beginning of the renaissance.
Bruges Central I would like to put the chés, such as that of Polish workers Dürer would be the very first artist to
city against Warsaw, the Polish capital looking for employment here. We also paint a truly accurate self-portrait.
that has been seriously destroyed refuse to mix up tradition with origin. Tuymans holds Jan van Eyck in great
three times throughout its history.’ That is why for example the American admiration. ‘He is one of the strongest
crime photographer Weegee, a Polish painters in western art history. Behind

16 17
 Events 2010
> 01
There is no better way to fraternise with the townspeople 1
CITY
CARD
POETRY IN DOUBLE TIME.
of Bruges than to immerse yourself in the infectious A RUSTLING REVOLUTION
ambiance at the innumerable events that sweep through 23 January - 23 May 2010
Historic sites in the district of Saint-
the whole city.
Anne’s form the backdrop to poetry
and plastic art. Guido Gezelle, the
father of experimental Dutch-lan-
The monthly magazine events@brugge offers a detailed events guage poetry, was the inspiration
calendar. It is available free of charge at the information offices behind this poetry festival that inter-
at the Concertgebouw or railway station. twines 19th and 20th-century poetry.
Visual and aural discoveries galore!
www.dubbeltijd.be
CITY
CARD
2 COME ON! ACTION!
12 February - 23 February 2010
With the Brugge City Card in your pocket you will experi- Action! is the rallying-cry of this
ence countless events for free or enjoy at least a 25% very first edition of Come On!
48h
discount at concerts, dance and theatre performances Music, sound, dance and music
72h
you definitely don’t want to miss! Turn to page 6 now! theatre are created on the spot,
18
> 02 > 03
and instantaneously. A challenge
that achieves an extraordinary
tension and turns the artistic
adventure into an even more
vibrant event. Both performing
artists and audience will be
sizzling with excitement.
www.concertgebouw.be
CITY
CARD
3 CHOCOLATE MARKET
13 and 14 February 2010
Chocaholics will know by now that
the Chocolate Guild of Bruges is a
past master at putting on chocolate
feasts. During this second edition
renowned chocolate confectioners
from Bruges will pamper your taste
buds with their delectable creations.
www.bruges.be/winter
19

> 05
4 AIRBAG
8 - 29 May 2010
The accordion is back! If you’re
not convinced, then this sparkling
music festival will certainly mes-
merise artists as well as devotees.
For about a month Bruges will
rightfully proclaim itself capital
of the accordion.
www.ccbrugge.be
5 THE PROCESSION
OF THE HOLY BLOOD
13 May 2010
For centuries this popular munici-
pal procession has been depicting
arresting and moving scenes
from the Old and New Testament.
The procession’s roots goes back
to 1291! www.brugge.be
20
> 07
> 06
CITY
CARD
6 BOCCHERINI
4 - 6 June 2010
For an entire weekend music lovers
will get the chance to be enraptured
by the unrivalled oeuvre of cello vir-
tuoso and composer of chamber
music Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805).
Internationally-famed musicians
serve up a delightful menu of musi-
cal discoveries and celebrated com-
positions. www.concertgebouw.be
7 ZANDFEESTEN
4 July, 1 August, 26 September 2010
Over the years this immense an-
tiques and bygones fair has proven
its international appeal. A crowd
puller that attracts both the keen
collector and the interested day trip-
per time and again. www.brugge.be
> 08
> 10
8 CACTUSFESTIVAL
8, 9 and 10 July 2010
This open-air music festival full
of charm and atmosphere brings
a successful cocktail of rock,
reggae, world music and a touch
of dance. Big names alternate
with raw but exciting young talent,
and the infectious rhythms set
alight the whole of Minnewater
Park, its fixed festival location.
www.cactusfestival.be
9 KLINKERS
23 July - 7 August 2010
This contemporary – and free! –
music festival takes in the whole of
Bruges historic centre. It offers a
varied programme at numerous
> 09
memorable locations. The summer
always swings in Bruges!
www.klinkers-brugge.be
10 MAFESTIVAL
6 - 15 August 2010
For the 47th time this prestigious
festival of ancient music brings
together the world’s most illustri-
ous musicians. Together they
sound out the boundaries of
historical pieces and go in search
of fascinating cross-fertilisation
that rolls back the centuries.
www.mafestival.be
21

CITY
CARD
11 BEER FESTIVAL
11 and 12 September 2010
It goes without saying that Belgium
is the land of beers and ales. In
addition, Bruges has an age-old
tradition as a city of brewers and
cafés. This annual beer festival
introduces you to each and every
Belgian top-fermented beer.
To look, to smell, to taste.
That’s what it’s all about!
www.brugsbierfestival.be
CITY

-*.








)%.


CARD
12 JAZZ BRUGGE
30 September - 3 October 2010
This reputable festival celebrates
its fifth edition. This year it exclu-
sively features high-quality jazz
from Central Europe. The result is
22
> 11
> 14
four days of concerts, jam sessions
and context activities.
www.dewerf.be
CITY
CARD
13 LUC TUYMANS:
A VISION OF CENTRAL EUROPE
22 October 2010 - 23 January 2011
Luc Tuymans, universally regarded
as one of the world’s leading
contemporary artists, is both
the driving force and source of
inspiration behind this truly
exceptional programme parading

the plastic and performing arts.
For more information see page 12.
www.brugescentral.be
CITY
CARD
14 VAN EYCK TO DÜRER
29 October 2010 - 30 January 2011
Between 1390 and 1528 Jan van Eyck
and Albrecht Dürer were the great-
est artists of their time, two titans
who dominated western painting
at a crucial juncture. The Groeninge
Museum brings them together,
presents their famous and not
so famous contemporaries and
displays a plethora of paintings,
sculptures, manuscripts, drawings,
prints and engravings. For more
information see page 10.
www.brugescentral.be
> 15
CITY
CARD
15 DECEMBER DANCE
1 - 12 December 2010
The productions of this internation-
al dance festival take place at
various locations in Bruges.
The festival highlights the contem-
porary dance scene, and features
dance legends from across the
world as well as up and coming
young talent.
www.decemberdance.be
23
 » START [Concert-
gebouw], ‘t Zand
» DISTANCE 3 km

Bruges, Proud » FINISH Old Saint Joh

Hospital
n’s

World Heritage City

Bruges may be rightly proud of her World Heritage status,
the city happily embraces the future, too! This walk takes
you along world-famous panoramic views, sky-high
monuments and centuries-old squares invigorated by
contemporary constructions. One foot planted in the
Middle Ages, the other one firmly planted in the present.
This walk is an absolute must for first-time visitors who
would like to explore the very heart of the city straight away.
Keep your camera at the ready!

24
 13
From ’t Zand to Simon Stevinplein
This walk starts at the Tourist Information [Concertgebouw].
’t Zand is dominated by the Concertgebouw (concert hall) 13 , Bruges’ brand-new
modern attraction. A clear-cut proof that this World Heritage city isn’t afraid of the
future. The top floor of this culture temple houses Forum+ 42 , where contempo-
rary plastic art and a grandiose panoramic view await you. Don’t forget to drop in
at [Concertgebouw] on the ground floor: here you will find all the necessary
tourist information as well as expert advice on all cultural events.
Leave [Concertgebouw] behind you, cross the square and turn into Zuidzand-
straat, the first street on the right. Saint Saviour’s Cathedral looms up ahead on
your right after three hundred metres 20 .
Bruges’ oldest parish church is located on its original street level, i.e. lower than
the present Zuidzandstraat. The street level gradually rose throughout the Middle
Ages as people simply threw their refuse out onto the street where it was then
flattened by passing carts and coaches. Inside Saint Saviour’s, the church tower’s
wooden rafters can be lit. The cathedral treasury displays a.o. interesting copper
memorial plaques, fine examples of gold and silver and paintings by Dirk Bouts,
Hugo van der Goes and Pieter Pourbus.
Continue past the cathedral and walk down Sint-Salvatorskerkhof immediately
on the right. Turn left into Sint-Salvatorskoorstraat. Simon Stevinplein opens
up at the end of this street.
This attractive square, lined with cosy café terraces, is named after Simon Stevin,
a well-known Flemish-Dutch scientist. His gracious statue naturally takes centre
stage.
26
38
Markt and Burg
Continue down Oude Burg, a street in the right-hand corner of the square. Before
long you will see the Cloth Halls on your left. These belong to the Belfry. You’re al-
lowed to cross the halls’ imposing inner court between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during
the week, and between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at weekends. The Markt is at the other end
of the yard. If the gate is closed, turn back and walk down Hallestraat, which runs
parallel to the Halls.
Walk II (page 37) comments extensively on Markt.
Return to the Belfry 39 and walk down Breidelstraat, a traffic-free alley on the
corner. Continue to Burg.
Along the way on your right you will notice the Garre, a narrow alley. This may be
the narrowest street in Bruges (try walking side by side here!), it nevertheless
boasts a fair number of cosy cafés.
Burg is the most majestic square in the city. So, take your time to admire its gran-
deur. The main character in this medieval story is the Bruggemuseum-City Hall
38 (1376-1420), one of the oldest city halls in the Netherlands and a gothic ex-
ample for all its brothers and sisters that were built later, from Louvain to Oude-
naarde and Brussels. Having admired its exterior, enter the impressive Gothic
Hall and gaze in admiration at the polychrome floating ribs of the vaulted ceiling.
Hiding on the right-hand side of this gothic monument is the Basilica of the Holy
Blood 05 , a mystical double chapel, below which sits the Romanesque church of
Saint Basil (1139-1149). One floor up is a basilica in Gothic revival style where the
reliquary of the Holy Blood has been kept since time immemorial. Each year on
Ascension Day the reliquary is carried along in the Procession of the Holy Blood, a
27
BURG: AN ARCHITECTURAL SYNOPSIS
Art lovers have already noticed that Burg projects a wonderful cross-section of
stunning architectural styles. It is, indeed, a summing-up in one place of all the
styles that have caught our imagination throughout the various centuries. From
Romanesque (Saint Basil’s Church) and Gothic (City Hall) by way of renaissance
(civil registry) and baroque (deanery) to classicism (mansion of the Liberty of
Bruges) and 21st-century architecture (Toyo Ito). There’s no need to go and dash
all around Bruges to see it all!
much-loved event that has been warming the heart of the entire population from
as early as 1291. Facing the basilica is the gleaming renaissance façade of the
erstwhile Civil Registry (1534-1537), adjacent to the Bruggemuseum-Liberty of
Bruges 32 . Its showpiece is a splendid oak mantelpiece with an alabaster frieze
(1529). Adjoining is the former mansion of the Liberty of Bruges (1722-1727). It is
from here that the country around Bruges was administered. After 1795 a court of
justice was installed. It has been the city’s administrative centre since 1988. Once
upon a time Saint Donatus’Cathedral graced the spot directly in front of the City
Hall. The church was destroyed in 1799. Today it is Toyo Ito’s furore-making futurist
pavilion that grabs the attention. Adjacent to it is the deanery (1655-1666) of the ca-
thedral.
Fishy Stories
Proceed to Blinde Ezelstraat, the little street to the left of the City Hall. Don’t
forget to look back at the lovely arch between City Hall and Old Civil Registry.
Do you see Solomon? Left of him is the statue of Prosperity, to the right the
statue of Peace.
According to legend, Blinde Ezelstraat (Blind Donkey Street) owes its name to…
a blind donkey. The house in the left-hand corner hugging the Canal used to
house a mill driven by a donkey. In order to preserve the poor animal from the
depressing thought that the only thing it had to do was turn endless rounds,
a blindfold was put on the donkey. A new street name was born.
Look left on the bridge: Meebrug is said to be the oldest bridge of Bruges.
28
35
The Vismarkt opens
up immediately past
the bridge 35 .
At first, fish was sold on
one of the Markt’s corners,
but as the townspeople
complained about the
stench, the fishmongers were forced to move and sell their wares here.
In the covered arcade (1821), specially erected for the purpose of selling fish,
fresh seafish was sold, a delicacy that only the rich could afford. Today you can
still buy your fresh saltwater fish here every morning from Tuesday to Saturday.
Retrace your steps and turn left in front of the bridge towards Huidenvettersplein.
Whereas the Vismarkt served the rich, Huidenvettersplein (Tanners Square)
served the poor. No seafish on the menu here, but affordable freshwater fish.
The post in the middle of the square used to have a twin brother: in between the
two posts hung the scales that the fish were weighed on. The large, striking
building dominating the square used to be the guildhall of the tanners. Here
they turned cow hides into leather. As this was a rather smelly job, it is no coin-
cidence that the tanners’ guildhall adjoined the fish markets. Look out for the
statuette adorning the corner of the hall. It’s no surprise that the little fellow
raises his nose.
29

ALMSHOUSES,
THE QUICKEST WAY TO HEAVEN
These 14th-century dwellings were
charitable institutions, sometimes
set up by the guilds to lodge their
elderly members, sometimes set up
by widows or well-to-do burghers
who wanted to ensure their place in
heaven. For that purpose, each set of
almshouses had its own chapel
where the occupants of the alm-
shouses would be expected to send
their prayers of thanks up to heaven.
Practically all of the almshouses
have been carefully restored and
modernised and offer cosy living to
today’s elderly, whilst their small yet
picturesque gardens and white-
washed façades offer welcoming
peace and quiet to the present-day
visitor. Feel free to enter these
premises, but don’t forget to respect
their perfect tranquillity.
centuries and postwar modern art. Overall, the museum shows a complete over-
view of Belgian and southern Dutch (Flemish) painting from the 15th to the 20th
30
Continue to Rozenhoedkaai.
Keep right.
Rozenhoedkaai is the most photo-
graphed spot of Bruges! So, take out
your camera! This used to be the salt
port. In the Middle Ages salt was as
expensive as gold: it served to pre-
serve food and to season dishes. A
word like salaris (Dutch), salaire
(French), salary still harks back to
medieval times. The word derives
from sal, which is Latin for salt. Ro-
man soldiers’ wages were paid in salt!
From Groeninge
to the Bonifacius bridge
Continue along Dijver.
Many centuries ago all manner of
druids gathered on this holy spot to
give praise to their gods and spirits.
Along this atmospheric stretch of
water, you will first find the College
of Europe (numbers 9 to 11) 03 , an
international postgraduate institu-
tion that focuses on Europe, and then
the Groeninge Museum (number 12)
20 , Bruges’ most renowned muse-
um. On display are world-famous
masterpieces by Jan van Eyck, Hans
Memling, Hugo van der Goes, Gerard
David and many other Flemish Prim-
itives. The museum also has a valu-
able collection of Flemish expres-
sionists, neoclassical top notch
paintings from the 18th and 19th
20
century. The museum entrance is reached through a few picturesque courtyard
gardens. Would you like to find out more about the Flemish Primitives? Then leaf
through to the interview on page 62 with Till-Holger Borchert, the Groeninge Mu-
seum’s chief curator.
Keep straight ahead. This is Gruuthusestraat. On the left-hand side
is the Gruuthuse Museum.
Would you like to know more about the Bruggemuseum-Gruuthuse 21 ?
Then leaf through to Walk II on page 36.
Continue to Guido Gezelleplein, then bear left in front of the Welcome Church of
Our Lady 14 and follow the narrow footpath to the picturesque Bonifacius bridge.
The crosses that you see all over the place don’t belong to graves at all! They
are crosses taken down from church steeples during the First World War so as
to disorient the enemy pilots. The crosses have never been put up again. Close
to the Bonifacius bridge is Bruges’ smallest Gothic window. Look up! It was
through this window that the lords and ladies of Gruuthuse were able to peer
down onto their private jetty. Across the bridge is the charming city garden of
Arentshuis 02 , an elegant 18th-century abode. The top floor houses work by
the versatile British artist Frank Brangwyn. The ground floor is reserved for
temporary exhibitions. Rik Poot’s remarkable sculpture group in the garden
represents the Apocalypse: famine, death, revolution and the plague. A theme
that Hans Memling also found enticing. Go through the garden gate to reach the
Groeninge Museum 20 , where more work by Memling is displayed.
31

12 01
On to the Beguinage!
Leave the garden once more through the narrow garden gate and turn left into
‘Groeninge,’ a winding street. Turn right again at the intersection with Nieuwe
Gentweg. Notice the Saint Joseph Almshouses (17th century) and the De Meule-
naere Almshouses (1613). Continue down the street.
On the corner of Oude Gentweg and Katelijnestraat is the Diamond Museum 18 ,
Bruges’ most glittering musem and the place to be for all lovers of bling. It goes
without saying that an inspiring diamond museum simply couldn’t be absent in
the most romantic city of the western hemisphere!
Turn left into Katelijnestraat, then immediately right into Wijngaardstraat. Cross
Wijngaardplein – a stopping place for coachmen. A little further on turn right onto
the bridge beside the Sashuis (lockhouse) to enter the Beguinage. The bridge of-
fers a fine view of the Minnewater.
The Minnewater used to be the landing stage of the barges or track boats which
provided a regular connection between Bruges and Ghent. Today it is one of Brug-
es’ most romantic beauty spots. Equally atmospheric, yet of a totally different na-
ture, is the Beguinage. Although the ‘Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde’ 01 ,
founded in 1245, is no longer occupied by beguines, but by nuns of the Order of
Saint Benedict, you can still form an excellent picture of what daily life looked like
in the 17th century. The imposing courtyard garden, the whitewashed house-
fronts and blessed peace create an atmosphere all of its own. The entrance gate
closes each day at 6.30 p.m. without fail. You have been warned!
32
Walk around the Beguinage and leave through the main gate.
Turn left after the bridge and left again to reach Walplein.
De Halve Maan 12 , a brewery established as early as 1546, is at number 26. This is
Bruges’ last surviving city brewery. Their speciality is ‘Brugse Zot’ (Bruges Fool), a
spirited top-fermented beer made from malt, hop and special yeast. The name of
the beer refers to the nickname of the Bruges townspeople, a name allegedly con-
ferred upon them by Maximilian of Austria. In order to welcome the duke, the citi-
zens paraded past him in a lavish procession of brightly-coloured merrymakers
and fools. When a short time later they asked their ruler to finance a new ‘zothuis’
or madhouse, his answer was as short as it was forceful: ‘The only people I have
seen here are fools. Bruges is one big madhouse. Close the gates!’
A Splendid Finish
at Old Saint John’s Hospital
Turn left into Zonnekemeers. Once across the
water, turn right through the large gate into Old
Saint John’s Hospital.
The former Hospital of Saint John (13th-14th
century) 25 has a proud eight centuries-long
history. The oldest documents even date back to
the 12th century! Here nuns and monks took
good care of pilgrims, travellers and the sick.
And people sometimes chose to die here. Hans
Memling used to be one of them. According to a
much later legend, he rewarded his benefactors
with no fewer than six masterpieces. Turn the
corner, enter the building and weave your way
through the medieval wards, the incorporated
church, the Diksmuide attic and the old dormi-
tory. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the adjoining
17th-century pharmacy. The herb garden
grows all the ingredients for gruut: lady’s man-
tle, bog myrtle and bay laurel. On the picturesque square that leads to this garden
is ‘The Arteries of the Convent’, a work by the contemporary Italian artist
Giuseppe Penone. How history feeds the present. The World Heritage city of
Bruges couldn’t possibly find a better representation of her intentions.
In Walk II – on page 36 – the meaning of gruut is explained.
33
 » START Guido Gezelle
plein,
Welcome Church
of Our Lady
» DISTANCE 2,5 km
» FINISH Prinsenhof

Bruges:
B of Burgundian
When, during Bruges’ Golden Age Philip the Bold, Duke of
Burgundy, married Margaret of Male, the daugher of the
last Count of Flanders, the county of Flanders suddenly
found itself belonging to Burgundy. As the Burgundian
court liked to stay in Bruges, the port city became a magnet
for noblemen, merchants and artists. They naturally all
wanted to get their share of the city’s wealth. Today the
Burgundian influence is still strongly felt throughout Brug-
es. Let’s discover a northern city with a southern character.

34 35
 14
From Guido Gezelleplein to Markt
This square is named after the Flemish priest and poet Guido Gezelle (1830-
1899). Take a seat on one of the square’s benches and enjoy Gezelle’s lovely stat-
ue and the side-view of the Welcome Church of Our Lady 14 . Its one hundred and
twenty-two metres high brick tower is sure proof of the craftsmanship of Bruges’
artisans. Take a look inside and admire the rich art collection that includes
Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna and Child and the 15th- and 16th- century
mausoleums of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. On your left is the strik-
ing residence of the lords of Gruuthuse, now the Bruggemuseum-Gruuthuse 21 .
The tower and well were status symbols, and evidence of the Gruuthuse family’s
great wealth. They made their fortune from their exclusive rights on gruut, a herb
mixture that, ages before hop, was used to flavour beer. Louis of Gruuthuse not
only commanded the army of Charles the Bold, he was also the personal body-
guard to Mary of Burgundy. A cultured man, he owned the Gruuthuse manuscript,
a famous medieval codex containing amongst its many texts no fewer than
147 songs. The family’s motto was Plus est en vous (There is more in you than
you think). It’s proudly displayed above the door of their residence.
Continue along the narrow footpath to the left of the church.
Look up immediately beyond the bend. Do you see the chapel that seems to hold
the Bruggemuseum-Gruuthuse and the Welcome Church of Our Lady in a close
embrace? As the lords of Gruuthuse were far too grand to mingle with the popu-
lace, they had their own private chapel high above the street, where they could
follow Mass. This intimate place of worship can still be visited.
36
39
Retrace your steps, cross the attractive Gruuthuseplein and turn right into Dijver.
Number 12 is the Groeninge Museum 20 , Bruges’ most famous museum. An in-
terview with chief curator Till-Holger Borchert is on page 62. Further along Dijver
is one of the locations of the College of Europe, numbers 9-11 03 , an internation-
al postgraduate institution that focuses on Europe.
Carry on down Dijver and turn left into Wollestraat.
Perez de Malvenda is an impressive mansion on the corner of Wollestraat. This
15th-century town house, now a food shop, has been restored from attic to cellar.
Just before Markt are the Cloth Halls 39 , the Belfry’s warehouses and sales out-
lets. Street side were countless stalls where the townspeople bought herbs for
their medicinal powders and potions. Indeed, in Burgundian times, Bruges used
to import herbs from all over Europe.
Markt, Bruges’ beating heart
Wollestraat leads to Markt.
Markt is dominated by its Belfry 39 , for centuries the city’s foremost edifice and
the perfect look-out in case of war, fire or any other calamity. You can still climb to
the top! En route you pass the former medieval treasure-chamber and the forty-
seven silver-toned bells of the carillon, altogether twenty-seven tons of bronze
melodiousness. Your climb up the Belfry’s 366 steps will be rewarded with an un-
forgettable panoramic view.
At the foot of the Belfry are the world’s most famous chippies (frietkoten)! The
statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck graces the middle of the square.
37
SWANS ON THE CANALS seller from Mozart’s opera The Magic
After the death of Mary of Burgundy, Bruges went through some troubled times. Flute, guards the entrance. His score
The townspeople, enraged by new taxes Maximilian of Austria, Mary’s successor, lies scattered nonchalantly on the
had imposed upon them, even rose in revolt against their new ruler. As Maximilian square opposite.
was locked up in House Craenenburg on the market square, he helplessly
witnessed the torture and eventual beheading of his bailiff and trusted councillor Continue along Vlamingstraat and
Pieter Lanchals. According to legend, once the duke had regained power, the turn right into Kortewinkel just before
citizens of Bruges were ordered to keep swans or long necks (langhalzen) on the canal.
the canals for all eternity. Somewhat hidden from gazing eyes,
Kortewinkel boasts a unique 16th-cen-
tury wooden housefront. It is one of only two left in the city (you will come across
the other one further along this walk). Just a few metres on
is another delicious discovery at number 10. The Jesuit
These two popular Bruges heroes College
Co has a magnificent secretive courtyard garden. Is
resisted French oppression and its door open? Then walk in and enjoy its heavenly peace.
consequently played an important
part during the Battle of the Spurs K
Kortewinkel turns into Spaanse Loskaai, the home port
in 1302. Their statue neatly looks out of the Spanish merchants in Burgundian times.
o
onto the Gothic revival style Provin- The picturesque bridge on your left is the Augustine
T
cial Palace (Markt 3) 31 . Until the bridge, one of Bruges’ oldest specimens, what with its
b
18th century this used to be the extremely busy Waterhalle, a covered warehouse sseven hundred summers. The stone seats were originally
where goods were loaded and unloaded along the canals that ran alongside the iintended to display the wares of the diligent sellers. The
square. Today the canals are still there, albeit underground. bridge affords an excellent view of the house in the right-
Would you like a break? Then treat yourself to a coach ride and explore the city by hand corner, which connects Spanjaardstraat with Ko-
horse and carriage for half an hour. Or maybe you prefer a fifty-minutes city tour by rtewinkel. This used to be not only a monastery but also
minibus? You can continue your walk after your trip. a haunted house, so say the locals. When an amorous monk was rejected by a
nun, the man murdered her and then committed suicide. Ever since they have
been haunting that ramshackle building…
From Markt to Jan van Eyckplein
Ignore Markt on your left and continue straight ahead to Vlamingstraat. Continue along Spaanse Loskaai, go down the first street on your right
In the 15th century this used to be the harbour area’s shopping street. A fair and proceed to Oosterlingenplein.
number of banks had a branch here, and wine taverns were two a penny. Each of During Bruges’ Golden Age this was the fixed abode of the so-called Oosterlingen
these had a deep cellar where French and Renish wines could easily be stacked. or German merchants. Their imposing warehouse took up the entire left side of
In the medieval vaulted cellars of Taverne Curiosa (Vlamingstraat 20), the alco- the square. Today the only remnant is the building to the right of Hotel Bryghia.
holic atmosphere of those bygone days can still be inhaled. Their warehouse must have been truly grand!
Halfway along Vlamingstraat is the elegant City Theatre 33 on your left. This
royal theatre (1869) is one of Europe’s best-preserved city theatres. Behind the
eclectic façade lies a palatial auditorium and a regal foyer. Papageno, the bird

38 39
 Beyond Oosterlingenplein is Woensd- THE LITTLE BEAR OF BRUGES
agmarkt. Hans Memling’s statue When Baldwin with the Iron Arm, the first Count of Flanders, visited Bruges for the
takes centre stage here. Turn right first time, the first creature he saw was a big brown bear. According to legend, all
into Genthof. this happened in the 9th century. After a fierce fight the count succeeded in killing
Here the second of two authentic me- the animal. In homage to the courageous beast he proclaimed the bear to be the
dieval wooden housefronts draws city’s very own symbol. Today the bear in the niche of the Burghers Lodge is festively
attention. Notice that each floor juts rigged out during exceptional celebrations.
out a little more than the next one.
This building technique, which helped
to avoid water damage, was conse-
quently used in various architectural
styles.

Continue along Academiestraat.

Burgundian Manhattan Right on the corner with Jan van
Proceed to Jan van Eyckplein. Eyckplein is another remarkable construction, distinguished by its striking tow-
THE CORRECT TIME This was Burgundian Bruges’ Man- er. This is Burgher’s Lodge 28 , a kind of 15th-century private club where promi-
A gleaming terrestrial globe proudly hattan, the place to be! Here ships nent burghers of Bruges could mix socially with foreign merchants. Hidden in
sits on top of Boechoute, the house docked, cargoes were loaded and un- a niche of this Burghers Lodge is the little Bruges Bear, one of the city’s most
on the corner. This building from loaded and tolls were levied. In this important symbols.
1477 with its original lean-to-roof is unremitting hustle and bustle a ca-
now the Meridian 3 tearoom. When cophony of languages was heard Proceed to Grauwwerkersstraat. The little square connecting Academiestraat with
the Brussels to Bruges railway line above the din, the one sounding even Grauwwerkersstraat has been known as ‘Beursplein’ since time immemorial.
was inaugurated, not all clocks in louder than the other. What a sound- Here merchants were engaged in high-quality trade. The warehouses of Genoa
Belgium were found to keep the track! Each business transaction re- (later renamed Saaihalle and today Frietmuseum) 04 , Florence (now De Floren-
same time. The shortcoming was quired a few local sounds too, of tijnen restaurant) and Venice (now De Slegte bookshop) once stood here side by
cured by the globe. At noon exactly course, as there always had to be a side like brothers. In front of Huis ter Beurze (1276), the central inn 24 , mer-
the sun coincided with its shadow Bruges broker present who would chants from all over Europe used to gather to arrange business appointments
through a hole in the globe. The line naturally pocket his cut. On the cor- and conduct exchange transactions. The Dutch word for stock exchange became
that was thus drawn can still be ner 16th-century Huis De Roode ‘beurs’, derived from the name of the house. Many other languages would take
traced today thanks to a string of Steen has been sparkling in all its over this term, such as French (bourse) or Italian (borsa).
copper nails. glory since its restoration in 1877. At
numbers 1-2 is the Old Tollhouse Turn into Grauwwerkersstraat and stop immediately in your tracks.
(1477) 38 , where all tollage was set- The side wall of Huis ter Beurze, and more precisely the part between the two sets
tled. To the left of this monumental building is Pijndershuisje, Bruges’ narrowest of ground-floor windows, bears the signatures of the stonemasons. This way every-
dwelling. The house belonged to a pijnder or docker, a name that you can easily body knew which mason cut which stones and which mason remained to be paid.
derive from its telling façade, that is if you keep your eyes peeled. The hunched pi- The house next-door to Huis ter Beurze, called the Little Beurze, still sits on its
jnders were employed to load and unload sacks and casks. original street level.

40 41

19 29
Turn left into Naaldenstraat.
On your right, Court Bladelin 20 with its attractive tower looms up ahead. In the
15th century, treasurer of the Order of the Golden Fleece Pieter Bladelin, portrayed
above the gate whilst praying to the Virgin Mary, leased his house to the Florentine
banking family of de Medici, who set up one of their branches here. Today the edifice
belongs to the Sisters of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. We highly recommend you to
ring at the door between 10 a.m. and noon or between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The sisters
will allow you to have a peek inside, so that you can admire the magnificent court-
yard garden and the city’s first renaissance façade, embellished with two stone me-
dallions representing Lorenzo de Medici and his wife Clarissa Orsini.
Somewhat further along, next to another ornamental tower, turn right into Boter-
huis, a winding cobbled alley that catapults you back straight into the Middle Ages.
Keep right, pass Saint James’s Church and turn left into Moerstraat.
The Dukes of Burgundy and the vast majority of foreign merchants patronised
Saint James’s Church 19 . Their extravagant gifts have left their glittering mark
on the interior.
Prinsenhof (the Princes’ Court),
home base of the Dukes of Burgundy
Turn left into Geerwijnstraat and carry on to Muntplein.
Muntplein (Coin Square) belongs to nearby Prinsenhof 29 . As you might have
guessed, this was where Bruges’ mint was situated. Flandria Nostra (Our
42
PRINSENHOF GOSSIP
> As Philip the Fair hadn’t yet laid eyes on his future wife, he sent Jan van Eyck to
Portugal to paint her portrait. This way the duke wanted to make certain he had
made the right choice. The duke’s ploy worked, because history teaches us that
the couple had a happy marriage.
> Although the popular Mary of Burgundy incurred only a minor fracture due to
her fall off her horse, the accident would eventually lead to her death at Prin-
senhof. Back in those times there was no cure for inflammation.
> During the recent hotel renovation no fewer than 568 silver coins, minted between
1755 and 1787, were dug up. After some careful counting and calculations it is
assumed that the energetic English nuns entrusted the coins to the soil so as to
prevent the advancing French troops from stealing their hard-earned capital.
Flanders), which represents a noblewoman on horseback, was designed by
the Belgian sculptor Jules Lagae.
At the end of Geerwijnstraat turn right into Geldmuntstraat.
The walk’s finishing point is Prinsenhof.
We end the walk on a highlight. Prinsenhof used to be the palace of the counts
and dukes. This impressive mansion, originally seven times the size of what you
see today, was erected in the 15th century by Philip the Fair to celebrate his (third)
marriage to Isabel of Portugal. When Philip the Bold remarried Margaret of York,
a swimming pool and a zoological garden were added to the ducal residence.
It is no surprise that Prinsenhof not only became the favourite pied-à-terre of
the Dukes of Burgundy, but also the nerve centre of their political, economic and
cultural ambitions. Both Philip the Fair (d.1467) and Mary of Burgundy (d.1482)
breathed their last here. After the death of the popular Mary of Burgundy the
palace’s fortunes declined, until it eventually ended up in private hands. In the
17th century English nuns converted it into a boarding school for girls of well-
to-do parents. After the nuns had gone, the complex changed ownership many
times. Today Prinsenhof belongs to the Kempinski hotel chain, which turned it
into Bruges’ first five-star hotel. Non-residents are allowed to have a look inside.
43
 » START Choco-Story
(Wijnzakstraat)
» DISTANCE 4 km
» FINISH Café Vlissinghe
in Blekersstraat

Strolling through 17

silent Bruges
Although the parishes of Saint Anne and Saint Giles are
known as places of great tranquillity, the fact that they are
off the beaten track does not mean that the visitor will be
short of adventure. How about a row of nostalgic windmills?
Or perhaps some unpretentious working-class neighbour-
hoods or a couple of exclusive gentlemen’s clubs?
Will you be able to absorb all these impressions serenely?
Don’t worry. After the tour we invite you to recover your
breath in Bruges’ oldest café!

44 45
 21
From Choco-Story to Gouden-Handstraat
Choco-Story (Wijnzakstraat 2) 41 is the perfect starting point for the longest
walk in this visitors guide. The museum of chocolate not only dips you in the yum-
my history of chocolate and cocoa, it also offers extensive chocolate tasting. If you
wish, you can also buy your supplies here. No doubt the chocolate will help you to
keep up a brisk pace! Master confectioner Dominique Persoone reveals even
more chocolate mysteries on page 78. Fancy some more attractions at the same
address? Lumina Domestica 43 contains the world’s largest collection of lamps
and lights. The museum also houses 6,000 antiques.
Turn left into Sint-Jansstraat, carry on to Korte Ridderstraat
and turn left to Sint-Maartensplein.
Saint Walburgha’s Church 21 rises up in all its magnificence right in front of you.
This baroque edifice (1619-1642) boasts a remarkable marble communion rail
and high altar. In summer, glorious classical music recitals are offered free to
church visitors. At number 4 is the erstwhile Scottish warehouse.
Continue down Koningstraat to the bridge.
This bridge, which connects poetic Spinolarei with Spiegelrei, affords a lovely
view of Oud Huis Amsterdam on your left. Today this historic town house is an el-
egant hotel. This area used to be mainly populated by the English and Scots. The
English merchants even had their own steegere or stair where their goods were
unloaded. The stair is still there, and the street connecting it is appropriately
called Engelse Straat. The dignified white school building across the bridge was
once a college of English Jesuits.
46
17
Saint Giles’s, home base of workmen and artists
Cross the bridge, turn right along Spiegelrei and turn into Gouden-Handstraat,
the fourth street on your left.
In the 15th century Gouden-Handstraat and the parish of Saint Giles were
known as the artists’ quarter. Hans Memling may have lived a few streets fur-
ther down in Sint-Jorisstraat, the fact of the matter is that Jan van Eyck had a
studio in Gouden-Handstraat, and that his somewhat lesser known colleagues
also used to congregate in this neighbourhood.
Turn right into Sint-Gilliskerkstraat.
This street bumps into Saint Giles’s Church 17 in the heart of the tranquil quar-
ter of Saint-Giles’s. Initially a chapel, this house of God was upgraded to a parish
church in 1258. In spite of its interior in Gothic revival style and its superb paint-
ings, the church takes on the appearance of a simple, sturdy village church. Don’t
be misled. In and around the church countless famous painters were buried, such
as Hans Memling (d.1494), in his time the best paid painter, Lanceloot Blondeel
(d.1561) and Pieter Pourbus (d.1564). Their graves and the cemetery may have
disappeared, but their artists’ souls still hovers in the air.
Walk around the church and turn into Sint-Gilliskoorstraat.
Although the workmen’s dwellings in these streets are rather small, they never-
theless display a bricked up window. As it happened, a tax on windows was levied
in 1800. As a consequence, a large number of windows were walled up.
47
BRUGES AND THE SEA
For centuries, Potterierei ensured the city’s wealth. This canal ran to Damme where it
was connected to a large lock, called ‘Speie’, which in turn was connected to the Zwin,
a deep sea channel and tidal inlet. While Damme developed into an outport, Bruges
grew into Northwestern Europe’s greatest business centre of the Middle Ages. The
arts flourished, culture thrived, prosperity seemed to be set for all eternity. The tide
turned when Mary of Burgundy suddenly passed away. The relations between Bruges
and the Burgundians turned sour and the Burgundian court left the city. The foreign
merchants and their wealth followed in its wake. The Zwin silted up and Bruges lost
her privileged commercial position. The city thus fell into a deep winter sleep.

From Potterierei to the Ramparts (Vesten)
Turn right into Langerei at the end of the street. Cross lovely Snaggaardbrug,
the first bridge you get to, and turn left into Potterierei. You will have to follow
the canal for some time.
After a fair distance along
A This idyllic spot is where the canal Damse Vaart heads out across the other side of
Potterierei is Bruges’ Great
P the ring road towards the equally romantic town of Damme. It’s hard to believe that
Seminary at number 72 04
S this area around the canal was once a scene of great controversy. Up until the
on
o your right. A unique place
with
w a lush orchard and mead-
ows
o with cows at pasture.
Between
B 1628 and 1642 a
new Cistercian abbey was
erected here, which later
on would achieve great fame
for the wealth and erudition
of its occupants. During the French Revolution the abbey was brought under
public ownership, and the abbot and monks were chased away. The 17th-
century abbey buildings were first used as a military hospital and then as a
military depot and a grammar school before they were eventually taken over
by the Great Seminary in 1833. Up to the present day the Seminary has been
training catholic priests here.
Just a few yards further down at number 79 is the Hospitaalmuseum-Our Lady
of the Pottery 37 . Its history goes back to the 13th century. Diligent nuns used
to treat pilgrims, travellers and the sick here. The Gothic church with its baroque
interior and its rich collection of works of art, accumulated by the hospital
throughout the centuries, is open to the public. It’s a well-hidden gem that’s
certainly worth a visit!
Carry on to the lock and turn right.
Eighty Years’ War Bruges was connected to Sluis by way of Damme. Ambitious Na-
poleon Bonaparte had the link with the tidal inlet of the Zwin, the natural prede-
cessor of the Damse Vaart, dredged by Spanish prisoners of war so as to create a
watercourse that would run all the way to Antwerp. His plan then was to develop
the port city of Antwerp into a naval base, which would enable him to avoid the
English sea blockade. Napoleon’s project left Damme cut in twain, even if the wild
plans of the Little General were never fully realised. When Belgium became inde-
pendent in 1830, the new authorities stopped the project, which in the end would
go no further than Hoeke, one of Damme’s boroughs. Today the low-traffic bicycle
path skirting the canal is a most attractive route linking Bruges with Damme. The
trip is highly recommended, as it
traverses le plat pays, that flat country
made famous by Jacques Brel in the
moving song of that name. Imagine! In
m
tthe middle of a unique polder landscape
tthis truly poetic canal strip, bordered by
llofty poplars bended down by eternal
westerly winds.
w

48 49

THE ARCHERS’GUILD: 165 MEN AND 1 QUEEN!
Although this used to be one of the poorer areas of the city for a very long time, the
district includes two exclusive clubs. A greater contradiction cannot be found! Are
you sitting comfortably out of harm’s way on the slope of Saint John’s House Mill?
Then look down on your left. There is Saint George’s Guild, a fellowship of crossbow
men. Down on your right is Saint Sebastian’s Guild with its remarkably elegant tow-
er. This guild goes back more than six centuries, which makes it unique in the
world. The society numbers 165 male members exactly and one notable female
member: the Queen of England. Ever since the exiled English king Charles II took
up residence in Bruges in the 17th century, the city and the British royal family have
always been closely associated. Whenever the British royal family is on a state visit
to Belgium, so the rumour goes, they first of all pop in at the Archers’Guild.
Turn right and carry on along the verdant Ramparts, which surround
the city like a ring of green.
In the 16th century more than thirty windmills were turning their sails here. To-
day only four are left. In the 18th century the millers stood by helplessly when
bread consumption took a dive and people started to consume more potatoes.
Eventually steam machines would take over the millers’tasks. The Bruggemuse-
um-Mills Koelewei Mill 25 and Saint John’s House Mill 32 are open to visitors.
The miller will happily explain the workings of his mill, and he will gladly give a
milling demonstration, too. Make sure you climb the slope upon which Saint
John’s Mill (the third mill) is standing! The hill affords a fantastic panoramic view
of the city. This is the perfect spot to brush up on your amassed knowledge of
50
22
Bruges. And there’s more! Down below on your right is Verloren Hoek (Lost Cor-
ner), now an authentic working-class district, but back in the 19th century an im-
poverished neighbourhood with such a bad reputation that even the police didn’t
dare enter its streets.
Silent Bruges
Descend down the slope and turn right into Rolweg.
Right on the corner is the Bruggemuseum-Gezelle 22 , the birthplace of Guido
Gezelle (1830-1899), one of Flanders’ most venerable poets. On display are hand-
written letters, writing material and a deliciously peaceful garden with an age-old
Corsican pine. Gezelle’s parents worked here as gardener and caretaker, in ex-
change for which, they and their family received free board and lodgings. Little
Guido grew up in these idyllic surroundings. He would eventually return to Brug-
es many years later and after many a peregrination. Upon his return he became
curate of Saint Walburgha’s Church. He also took over the running of the English
Monastery (Carmersstraat 83-85), where he would die. These were his last
words, reportedly: ‘I have so loved hearing the birds singing.’ Here, in this most
verdant part of Bruges, we still know precisely what the priest and poet meant.
Turn into Balstraat, the second street on the left.
This picturesque working-man’s alley houses the Bruggemuseum-Folklore 27 .
The 17th-century row of single-room dwellings, restored and converted into
authentic artisans’ interiors such as a milliner’s, a confectioner’s and a small
classroom, will take you back to bygone days. The tower of the 15th-century Je-
51
 07
rusalem Church 07 can easily be spotted from these premises. This exquisite
private church was commissioned by the Adornes, a prominent Bruges mer-
chant family of Genovese origin. In 1470 Anselm Adornes collected one of his
sons (the father had no fewer than sixteen children) in Padova before setting off
on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon his return to Bruges Anselm decided to
build an exact copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The result can be said
to be remarkable, indeed!
Next door to the church is the Lace Centre 24 . Here the young as well as the
more experienced can take workshops as well as quick courses. The lace centre
has its own museum. Until fifty years ago the row of restored almshouses used to
be inhabited by lace-makers. If you enter the museum during a lace-making
demonstration, then time will seem to have stood still all those years.
At the crossroads turn right into Jeruzalemstraat, then, at the church,
left onto Sint-Annaplein.
The tiny square is dominated by the apparently simple church of Saint Anne 16 .
Her exterior may be austere, her interior on the other hand is one of Bruges’ most
splendid examples of baroque architecture. As this neighbourhood gradually
went upmarket, so did the church, naturally!
52
16
With the church behind you turn left into Sint-Annakerkstraat
and then right into Sint-Annarei.
At the corner of the confluence of the two waterways one of Bruges’ most hand-
some town houses is proudly showing off its rococo credentials. Sit yourself down
on a shady bench and enjoy this exceptional prospect.
Retrace your steps for just a few yards and turn right into Blekersstraat
next to the bridge.
Café Vlissinghe at number 2 is undoubtedly Bruges’ oldest café. This has been a
tavern since 1515. It is no surprise then that you will find oodles of ambiance
here. It is therefore the perfect place to settle down and let the wonderful memo-
ries of your walk slowly sink in. A local beer will be your ideal companion. Cheers!
53

Pierre Aspeslag (56) is his real name, a
name he used until he was forty-two
years of age. It was only then that he de-
cided to become a writer. It was to be the
The Magic of Bruges start of an impressive career. For years
now Flanders has been under the spell
of the adventures of detective chief in-
Bruges World Heritage City spector Van In and his girlfriend Han-
nelore. The television adaptations on
Rudy Collier, former editor-in-chief of the Flemish quality newspaper De Mor- Flemish television have been a spectac-
gen, is now editor-in-chief of De Morgen Magazine, the newspaper’s Saturday ular success for five seasons, and suc-
cess abroad is not far away. Indeed, the
supplement featuring photo-reportages, lifestyle, gastronomy and travel.
impressive series of more than twenty-
Bruges is a feast for the eye: wherever you look, everything is five crime fiction novels has become im-
mensely popular in France, Italy and
of World Heritage class. Yet Shakespeare already knew: ‘There other countries, and the television se-
are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt ries is broadcast in Germany and the
of in your philosophy’. Mysteries, secrets and machinations, Netherlands. Pieter Aspe, however, re-
mains modest, which is no surprise re-
they’re all part and parcel of Bruges’ medieval past. No one ally, as most of his fellow townspeople
senses this more than Pieter Aspe, a native of the city and the are also somewhat self-effacing and in-
most successful crime writer in Belgium, boasting more than troverted. It is fair to say that the natives
are no loudmouths, even when they
twenty-five thrillers starring detective chief inspector Van In. have much to shout about.
Bruges, too, plays a major role in each book. This is Pieter
Aspe, the man who sends out the enigmatic mix of mysterious
and contemporary Bruges to the farthest corners of the world.
> Identikit
Name: Pieter Aspe
Date of Birth: 3 April 1953
Born in Bruges, lives in Blankenberge,
author of more than twenty-five
crime fiction novels with Bruges
as a backdrop.
Aspe, born and bred in the historical
heart of the city, would probably never
have written a single book if he hadn’t
held a very curious job. For eleven years
he was the caretaker at the world-fa-
mous Chapel of the Holy Blood. This
13th-century Romanesque chapel con-
tains the relic of the Holy Blood of Jesus
Christ. The relic is supposed to have
come to Bruges from Constantinople. It
is only logical that countless stories
sprang up surrounding the fortunes of
the Holy Blood. Stories, for example,
about the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy
Blood (still in existence), which man-
aged to save the relic several times from
occupying forces. There is even a link
with the Knights Templar. Millions visit
the chapel every year, amongst them
many pilgrims from all around the
globe. A man like Aspe had no choice
but to become impressed by it all.
Pieter Aspe: ‘The atmosphere that
reigned there can’t possibly be put into
words. You constantly feel the serene
55
mysticism, unique in the world. You be-
come one with that awesome history. To
be honest, I felt really good all the years
I worked there. It gave me the time and
the opportunity to dream, to think and to
use my imagination.’ Aspe shows a yel-
lowed decades-old book about a priest
called Van Aken, who was a curate of the
chapel of the Holy Blood at the end of the
19th century. There were rumours about
black masses and Satanism. A wonder-
ful source of inspiration for someone
with the mind of a writer.
That’s why the most incredible murders
and conspiracies take place against the
backcloth of Bruges’ unique World Her-
itage, for your entertainment only. Pieter
Aspe: ‘In truth Bruges is almost a crime-
free city. But it is the contrast between
fiction and reality that creates credibility.
Innocuous places are the ideal location
for gruesome crimes, such as a mass
murder inside the church of Saint-
James’s or the decapitation of the statue
of Guido Gezelle, Flander’s cherished
Heimat poet. The Lake of Love, the mu-
seums exhibiting works by Hieronymus
56
Bosch and the Flemish Primitives, the
ever so quiet Beguinage, the chapel of
the Holy Blood, the Belfry, the painting
by Michelangelo in the Church of Our
Lady, the canals, alleys and winding
streets, they have all received pride of
place in Aspe’s oeuvres. Aspe: ‘Bruges is
a fantastic backdrop for a crime novel.
I didn’t want to write stories that took
place in locations that no one had ever
heard of. People not only remember the
crime, they also remember the place
where the crime was committed.’
Bruges plays such an important part in
his books that the city even has a special
Aspe Walk. It is an initiative the writer is
absolutely delighted with, mainly be-
cause the walk drops in on quite a few
hidden places that only he has discov-
ered and cherished, such as the home
of his protagonist, detective chief in-
spector Van In. It is a dwelling in such an
inconspicuous yet charming alley that
even natives think it doesn’t exist. Aspe:
‘The house is close to where I was born,
near Vette Vispoort, where the poor
used to live. Fatty fish (vette vis) was
food for the needy only.’
Unknown
Pieter Aspe: ‘In all these years, from my
childhood until now, I have seen Bruges
transform itself and change into a flour-
ishing place. The historical town centre
and those wonderful canals that vein the
city used to be terribly neglected. Brug-
es did indeed breathe the atmosphere of
Bruges-la-Morte, of a dead town, as the
writer Georges Rodenbach set down in
‘Bruges is a terrific setting for writing thrillers.’
the 19th century. The only visitors were
English children on a school trip or peo-
ple who wanted to attend the procession
of the Holy Blood. Today everything has
changed. The canals have become, quite
rightly too, the pride and glory of the city,
making sure that Bruges has earned her
description as the Venice of the North.’
The visitor to Bruges will undoubtedly
confirm that there is much room for fan-
tasy and mysticism. Delightful, lesser-
known yet fascinating places such as
the Jerusalem Church or the baroque
Church of Our Lady of the Pottery can
stir the imagination no end. The Jerusa-
lem Church could appear in the Da Vinci
Code without any problem. A certain
Anselmus Adornes once brought the
designs of Jerusalem’s church of the
Holy Sepulchre from the Holy Land. His
descendants erected an accurate copy
of the building. On entering, a creepy si-
lence makes your hair stand on end.
And it gets even creepier when you see
the mausoleum of Anselmus Adornes
and his wife, the altar adorned with
57
CITY
BRUGES FROM THE WATER
CARD
You really can’t say that you have
seen Bruges if you haven’t been on
a boat trip on her famous canals.
You will appreciate the city from a
completely different angle, and you
will cruise past a few places that
are only accessible to boats. Go
aboard at one of five landing stages
for a half-hour trip and some ex-
pert commentary from the skipper.
skulls and bones and the burial niche, a
replica of the Holy Sepulchre. Equally
overpowering is the Hospital Church of
Our Lady of the Pottery, tucked away in
the real silent Bruges off the beaten
track, next to the Great Seminary. This is
a must! Step inside and you will imme-
diately experience the mysticism hidden
behind and under the stones. It is in
these places that any dark conspiracy in
Pieter Aspe’s novels becomes more
than plausible.
The Oldest Café
The contrast between a tranquil histori-
cal city and proliferating crime and
58
murders naturally reminds oneself of
the world-famous adventures of in-
spector Morse in Oxford. Although Pi-
eter Aspe can see the analogy, he in-
sists he wasn’t in the least influenced.
Inspector Morse has a global reputation
for his regular pub visits, but this repu-
tation is nothing compared to inspector
Van In’s drinking habits. This man in-
variably dusts off his little grey cells and
celebrates his solved crimes in the
company of a few pints of Duvel. What’s
in a name? Duvel means devil! It is a
strong blond beer with a lavish head
that will force any foreigner to his
knees. Inspector Van In often lets his
Duvels loose in Vlissinghe, the oldest
café in Bruges. In days gone by the café
used to be a stopping place for stage-
coaches. Pieter Aspe: ‘I went to school
at the College of Saint-Leo’s opposite
the café. We sneaked in whenever we
had the opportunity.’ Let there be no
mistake: Pieter Aspe is a Burgundian.
Gastronomy is one of the temptations
that makes him come back to Bruges
time and time again. To the three-
starred restaurant De Karmeliet for ex-
ample, which by the way already fea-
tured in one of his books. Pieter Aspe
now finds himself on the brink of an in-
ternational breakthrough: four books of
his are immensely popular in France,
and Italy is to follow suit. If you happen
to see Frenchmen and Italians drink
Duvel on a Bruges café terrace on a
massive scale, then you’ll know they’ve
become followers of Aspe. Just like
thousands of his Flemish compatriots.
Best of Bruges
by Pieter Aspe
1
MY FAVOURITE SPOT
‘Minnewater Park (Lake of Love) takes me
back to my childhood. When we were little
brats we used to force our way into the unin-
habited and somewhat dilapidated castle that
once stood there on private land. The city
bought the land in the seventies and trans-
formed it into a magnificent and bustling
municipal park. A bit further down is Canal
Island, where tourist coaches come and go.
It is the ideal operating base from which
to explore the city.’
Minnewater Park
2 MY RESTAURANTS
‘For me the greatest revelation these past few
yyears has been De Refter, the bistro owned by
Michelin-starred chef Geert van Hecke. The food
M
tthere is as delicious as in his starred restaurant De
Karmeliet, but at unbelievably affordable prices.
K
Otherwise I prefer somewhat plainer food, such as
O
at Mojo or De Willemijn. The natives and I go to that
a
popular
p restaurant for dishes they grew up with,
such
su as steaks or rabbit. De Wijngaert on the other
hand
ha serves the most mouth-watering grilled food,
whereas
wh Les Malesherbes is an excellent Southern
France-oriented
Fr bistro. As it is to be found in the
smallest
sm street of Bruges, which is in itself worth
seeing,
see you only have to blink once and you’ve missed
De Refter
it. Only the natives know precisely where it is.’
59
 MY CAFÉS
M MY SECRET TIP 5
‘D
‘During my school years I sneaked into café Vlissinghe ‘A no man’s land with a fantastic name is
3 whenever I had the opportunity. The café was situated
w Hemelrijk, meaning Kingdom of Heaven. It
opposite my school. I still go there regularly. It is the old-
o is a dirt track between blind walls, no more
est café in town and it still has a wonderful atmosphere.
e than a hundred and fifty metres long, off
De Reisduif is at the very least as popular. It is a tiny
D the Great Seminary. Fantastical and un-
p
place and as it is always packed to the rafters, it is the real. It’s as if you find yourself in another
ideal place to see and hear the authentic Bruggeling dimension. I was so captivated by it that I
(Brugean). ’t Terrastje lies outside the regular tourist gave it a cameo role in one of my books.
ccircuit, yet in a truly handsome and authentic neigh- Everything in Bruges is inspiration.’ Hemelrijk
Vlissinghe bourhood. As its name indicates, the tiny terrace is an
inviting place, especially after a night out. Although
Jerry’s Cigar Bar is in fact a tobacconist’s, it has a bar at the back where you can sip
some excellent rums and whiskies. Even the hot chocolate and coffee are not to be
sneezed at. Now and then I treat myself to an expensive cigar. Vuurmolen wel-
comes you day and night. No wonder it is one of Bruges’most popular cafés. When
I’m tired of peace and quiet, then café Vuurmolen is the place to be.’
PRACTICAL INFORMATION

MY SHOPPING LIST
Pieter Aspe’s Addresses
‘I try to resist collecting the often superb Tintin figurines, but sometimes the temp- Minnewater Park » De Refter, Molenmeers 2, tel. +32 (0) 50 44 49 00, open all
tation gets the better of me, and then I tear into Tintinshop. In order to keep my urge days, www.bistrorefter.com » Mojo, Schaarstraat 4, tel. +32 (0) 50 68 05 09,
under control, I now and then accept a figurine in exchange for an assignment. I call closed Tuesday and Monday, www.restomojo.tk » Willemijn, Gentpoortstraat
that work, not collecting. Another mania I try to resist is collecting old silver. I there- 51, tel. + 32 (0) 495 62 53 29, closed Tuesday evening, Wednesday and Thursday
fore find it always hard to pass by Alfa Papyrus. Although the name suggests a sta- » De Wijngaert, Wijngaardstraat 15, tel. +32 (0) 50 33 69 18, closed Wednesday,
tioner’s, it is actually an antique shop. I bought my wedding ring at Quijo’s, a jewel- www.wijngaert.com » Malesherbes, Stoofstraat 3-5, tel. +32 (0) 50 33 69 24,
ler’s who give brilliant professional advice. The jeweller has even enjoyed global re- closed Monday and Thursday » Café Vlissinghe, Blekerstraat 2, closed
nown with an exclusive diamond-cutting method. It was this man who got robbed in Monday and Tuesday, www.cafevlissinghe.be » De Reisduif, Langerei 30,
my first book. I naturally hope that this will never happen to him in real life! Bruges tel. +32 (0) 50 34 63 01, closed Wednesday and Thursday » ’t Terrastje,
wouldn’t be Bruges without some gastronomic temptations. You won’t find a better Genthof 45, tel. +32 (0) 50 33 09 19 » Jerry’s Cigar Bar, Simon Stevinplein 13,
caterer in or outside town than Deldycke. closed Sunday, www.jerrycigarbar.com » De Vuurmolen, Kraanplein 5,
The owner is an extremely charming per- 4 www.vuurmolen.com » Tin Tin Shop, Steenstraat 3, tel. +32 (0) 50 33 42 92,
son, which I really appreciate. Zucchero is www.tintinshopbrugge.be » Alfa Papyrus, Walplein 41, tel. +32 (0) 50 33 66 87,
a sweetshop where a young couple is still closed Sunday » Peter Quijo, Breidelstraat 18, tel. +32 (0) 50 34 10 10,
manufacturing toffees in a truly traditional closed Sunday, www.quijo.be » Deldycke Delicatessen, Wollestraat 23,
way, a process that you can follow through tel. +32 (0) 50 33 43 35, closed Tuesday, www.deldycke.be » Zucchero,
the shop window. They have created a very Mariastraat 18, tel. 032 (0) 50 33 39 62, closed Tuesday, www.confiserie-
special technique to hide the newborn ba- zucchero.be » Hemelrijk
by’s name inside the sugared almonds.
Truly ingenious.’
Tintinshop 61

A Spotlight on
Central Europe
Till-Holger Borchert explores
Flemish artistic influence in Europe
Laurens de Keyzer is a columnist with De Standaard and the author
of diverse journalistic and literary publications.
He was born in Hamburg, he lives in Brussels, and he
thoroughly enjoys his work in Bruges as he finds himself
surrounded by six centuries of fine arts, and especially
the magnificent masterpieces of the Flemish Primitives.
In 2002 Till-Holger Borchert was one of the curators of
Bruges, Cultural Capital of Europe. Today he is chief
curator of the Groeninge Museum and the Arentshuis.
‘Every day I go and greet two masterpieces in this city.’
62
A Formidable Magnet
‘Bruges is a uniquely beautiful city. It is
also a wonderfully livable place, partly
because of the clever and careful way in
which the city has been able to mix her
medieval character with a modern am-
biance. For sure, I have discovered my-
self abundantly that Bruges is no isolat-
ed locality. Indeed, the Flemish Primi-
tives were of the same conviction all
those centuries ago. Bruges was a for-
midable magnet for artists. As early as
the 13th century, the concentration of
wealthy citizens enabled Bruges to be-
come the commercial heart of north-
western Europe. In the 15th century, the
Burgundian authorities took successful
structural measures which resulted in
an increase of the population, an inter-
vention that strengthened the city’s de-
velopment in no uncertain way. And last
but not least, Bruges is of course a well-
preserved city, as it suffered far less
than other towns from the iconoclastic
fury in the 16th century. That spirit of re-
> Identikit
Name: Till-Holger Borchert
Date of Birth: 4 January 1967
Chief curator of the Groeninge
Museum. He is also the author
of countless publications
on the Flemish Primitives.
spect and tolerance still pervades the
city today. I must say it is a great joy to be
here. The countless inhabitants and vis-
itors will surely fully agree with me.’
A Woman From Around
the Corner
‘Nearly every day I go and greet two
masterpieces: Jan van Eyck’s Madonna
With Canon Van der Paele at the Groe-
ninge Museum and Hans Memling’s
Madonna and Maarten van Nieuwenhove
at the Hospitaalmuseum-Memling in
Sint-Jan, one of the very few diptychs
from that time whose two tablets have

never been separated. I will be the last
to admit that I find something new and
exciting every time I admire these mas-
terpieces. Yet, as my curiosity remains
as great as my enjoyment, I find myself
constantly looking up as much as I pos-
sibly can about these fascinating works
of art. I sometimes wonder why people
from all corners of the world have al-
ways found the Flemish Primitives so
absorbing. The answer perhaps lies in
the fact that for the very first time in art
history we are confronted with recog-
nisable people and familiar objects that
correspond to today’s reality. Even a
Madonna seems to look like the woman
from around the corner, a woman that
we all know and remember. In other
words, the Flemish Primitives laid the
foundation of an artistic concept that in
its realism is perfectly recognisable and
64
The tomb of Charles the Bold isn’t
the only attraction of the Welcome
Church of Our Lady. Mary of Bur-
gundy, Charles’ daughter and only
child, lies buried in its crypt. She
was barely twenty-five years old
when she died after falling from her
horse when hawking. The face on
her coffin was modelled after her
death mask. The metal casket with
the heart of her son Philip the Fair
is exhibited in the choir aisle.
therefore understandable to a modern-
day observer. The Flemish Primitives
discovered the individual. Quite a feat.
Those Flemish painters were also dab
hands at solving the problems of mate-
rials, colour and space. They explored
space in an incredibly skilful and so-
phisticated way, for example by placing
a mirror somewhere in the room. In
Memling’s diptych, which I have just
mentioned, a round mirror on the left-
hand side behind the Madonna reflects
the interior she is sitting in. In it, her
own silhouette is painted just a whisker
away from the silhouette of the patri-
cian Maarten van Nieuwenhove, Mem-
ling’s patron. Truly magnificent.
Are these works of art still capable of
moving me? Absolutely. But I admit I
experience more of a purely emotional
reaction with Rogier van der Weyden
than with Jan van Eyck. It is first and
foremost the intellectual and concep-
tual element of Van Eyck’s or Memling’s
work that I find most poignant. When-
ever I see how Van Eyck is able to come
up with solutions for, say, the painting’s
composition, he takes my breath away.
Yet, it is above all Van der Weyden who
excites the spectator. He excites me as
well. Van der Weyden and Van Eyck may
be poles apart, but both masters give us
so much pleasure that they alone make
a visit to Bruges’ chamber of treasures
more than worthwhile.’
Van Eyck & Dürer as
Benchmark Figures
As a prestigious component of the city
festival ‘Bruges Central’, the Groenin-
ge Museum presents ‘From Van Eyck
to Dürer’, an exhibition that runs from
29 October 2010 to 30 January 2011.
‘The idea has developed from two
events in fact: on the one hand our own
exhibition for Bruges 2002, on the oth-
er hand the expansion of the European
Union towards the east. At our 2002
exhibition, which featured the Flemish
Primitives and the Mediterranean
world, we wanted to increase our un-
derstanding of the impact of Early
Dutch painting on artistic development
in Southern Europe. When I measure
the renewed art-historical and aca-
demic interest in this subject matter,
then I can state with a certain degree
of pride that we have succeeded in
achieving our aim. The critics and the
public were full of praise too.
Now we are focusing on Europe to the
east and north of Flanders. We already
65
CITY
MUSEUMSHOP
CARD
‘Whoever enters the museum shop
of the Groeninge Museum will leave
with some wonderful memories,
that I can assure you. Perhaps you
will take home your favourite art
treasures in that handsomely illustrat-
ed book or as a reproduction on a post-
er maybe, or depicted on a few picture
postcards. And why don’t you surprise
yourself with an original souvenir?
I have caught not only some of my
delighted fellow curators buying just
such a present for themselves,
but my wife as well!’
knew that Early Dutch painting had an
enormous impact on the artistic devel-
opment in 15th-century Central, East-
ern and Northern Europe. Although
these influences have been recognised
for quite some time already, up to now,
they have mainly been discussed with
regard to individual masters or in the
context of specific regions. We are now
looking into their interchange and in-
teraction in their entirety for the very
first time. Our spotlight is on the East,
with Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Dürer
as benchmark figures. We are showing
this as a multimedia story, because in-
novative trends were also circulating
through drawings and prints.
All in all, this exhibition is even more
ambitious than the one in 2002. What’s
more, we had the good fortune to see
the expansion of the European Union to
66
the East. This enabled us to gain a firm
foothold in countries that for a consid-
erable time have been almost beyond
our scope. Romania comes to mind.
The expansion ensures a greater im-
pact of our exhibition, not just for our-
selves, but also for our eastern neigh-
bours. It offers many museums, main-
ly those in Eastern Europe, their first
chance to present their own master-
pieces in a truly international context.
I therefore expect not only many visi-
tors, but also many new visitors, peo-
ple who will discover the magnificent
city of Bruges by way of magnificent
medieval and renaissance art’.
All practical information on
the Bruges Central festival
can be found on page 8.
Best of Bruges
by Till-Holger Borchert
MY FAVORITE SPOT 1
‘The great churches of Bruges
possess wonderful art collec-
tions, containing pieces that
wouldn’t disgrace any topflight
museum. Don’t forget to look
up at the tower of the Church of
Our Lady. It is, with its 122 me-
tres, the tallest brick building in
the world. When in Saint Sav-
iour’s, do go and marvel at the Mausoleum of the de Gros family
frescoes in the baptistery. And
Saint James’ Church is worth
its while for the impressive mausoleum of the De Gros family, because this sculptur-
al masterpiece reveals par excellence the self-confidence and power of the Burgun-
dian elite, of whom dozens of representatives lie buried here.’
MY RESTAURANTS
‘I once saw a German restaurant critic copying the complete menu at Den Amand.
Need I say more? I took the opportunity of recommending the chicory soup to my
fellow countryman at the 15th-century Cafedraal, the regional dishes and the
Karmeliet on draught at ’t Schrijverke,
K
and an exotic moment at the refined table
a
2 of the Japanese restaurant Tanuki. The
o
man is still talking about his experience!
m
I didn’t need to show him the way to Den
Gouden Harynck, as he had known about
G
tthis restaurant for quite some time al-
rready. His choice didn’t suprise me, of
ccourse, because it is one of the most de-
llightful gourmet restaurants in the region.’
Den Amand
67
 MY CAFÉS MY SECRET TIP
‘The Celtic Ireland breathes ‘Whenever I want to take a breather, I saunter down
5
a pleasant international Saint Anne’s, Bruges’ most striking working-class
ambiance, and they’re neighbourhood. You can still sense the charm of an au-
always having a ball there. thentic community in the streets around the Folklore
I also like to drop by The Museum. It goes without saying that it is very peaceful
Druid’s Cellar, if only to see there at night, a very rare occurrence in a city like Brug-
Drew at work, my favourite es. The area boasts many fascinating places, too. Off the
barman. De Lokkedize is cuff, if I may: Our Lady of the Pottery, the Lace Centre,
3 most atmospheric and with- medieval Jerusalem Church and the Gezelle Museum.’
The Celtic Ireland Jerusalem Church
in a stone’s throw from the
Concert Hall, so ideal for
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
an after-concert drink or
a chat with the musicians. Den Express at the railway station is tailor-made
for travellers such as me, because I can happily smoke a cigarette there and
Till-Holger Borchert’s Addresses
drink my last cup of coffee before I jump on the train. And if I yearn for a popular Den Amand, Sint-Amandsstraat 4,tel. +32 (0)50 34 01 22, closed at Dinnertime
Belgian beer, then you can find me at Hollandse Vismijn. Cheers!’ on Sunday and on Wednesday » Cafedraal, Zilverstraat 38, tel. +32 (0)50 34
08 45, closed Sunday, www.cafedraal.be » ’t Schrijverke, Gruuthusestraat 4,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 29 08, closed Monday, www.tschrijverke.be » Tanuki,
Oude Gentweg 1-3, tel. +32 (0)50 34 75 12, closed Monday and Tuesday,
www.tanuki.be » Den Gouden Harynck, Groeninge 25, tel. +32 (0)50 33 76 37,
MY SHOPPING LIST closed Sunday and Monday, www.dengoudenharynck.be » The Celtic Ireland,
‘Music shop Rombaux sells listening treasures in all genres, and the shop has Burg 8, www.celticireland.be » The Druid’s Cellar, Sint-Amandstraat 11B,
so much character that it is a real joy to go and browse there. I buy my socks at www.thedruidscellar.eu » De Lokkedize, Korte Vulderstraat 33, closed
Parallax. They’re past masters, too, at stylishly camouflaging my beer belly. Monday and Tuesday, www.lokkedize.be » Den Express, Stationsplein
The antiquarian bookshop of » Hollandse Vismijn, Vismarkt 4, closed Tuesday » Muziekhandel Rombaux,
Marc van de Wiele offers one Mallebergplaats 13, closed Sunday and Monday morning, www.rombaux.be
of the best art and history se- » Kleding Parallax, Zuidzandstraat 17, closed Sunday, www.parallax.be
lections in the whole country. » Antiquariaat Van de Wiele, Sint-Salvatorskerkhof 7, closed Sunday, www.
4
Reading matters of a different marcvandewiele.com » Boekhandel De Reyghere, Markt 12, closed Sunday,
kind are found at De Reyghere, www.dereyghere.be » De Striep, Katelijnestraat 42, www.striepclub.be
where the tourist immmedi- » Museumshop, Arentshof, Dijver 16, closed Monday, www.museabrugge.be
ately feels at home in a sea » Bruggemuseum-Volkskunde, Balstraat 43, closed Monday, www.
of foreign newspapers. And museabrugge.be » Bruggemuseum-Gezelle, Rolweg 64, closed Monday,
then there is De Striep for www.museabrugge.be » Our Lady of the Pottery – Hospitaalmuseum,
contemporary comic strip art, Potterierei 79, closed Monday, www.museabrugge.be » Jerusalem Church
of course.’ Musi
and Lace Centre, Peperstraat 3, closed Sunday and public holidays,
c Shop Rombaux
www.kantcentrum.com

68 69
 > Identikit
Name: Maud Bekaert
Date of Birth: 11 September 1976
Born in Bruges where she lives
and works Letter sculptress with
her own city centre art studio

It is in Maud Bekaert’s nature to get mer on the head. I became a fan there
stuck in letters and literature. Occa- and then, and I have since learned to
sionally she will attend a classical look at the movement of the stationary
concert, too. But Bruges 2002 certain- body. Sometimes standing still moves

Bruges: Defiantly, ‘The softness that hits you like a hammer on the head.’
Surprising, Seductive ly broadened her horizon, as it did for me more than the movement itself.
Sampling culture in Bruges so many of her fellow townsmen and And I have to admit that I have attend-
townswomen. ‘When I saw Anne-Tere- ed many a dance spectacle ever since,
Journalist, author and globetrotter Pierre Darge toured ninety-five countries. sa de Keersmaecker’s company Rosas especially since contemporary dance
He is the editor of the Flemish lifestyle magazine Weekend Knack. at the Concertgebouw, I felt shaken to performances have definitely come to
the core. I had gone in as a music lov- the fore in Bruges. Dance is an art
er, and a few hours later I came out as
Maud Bekaert is a cultural jack-of-all-trades who has a dance devotee. Although the danc-
achieved great fame chiseling letters in stone. She is also ers looked quite ordinary in their jeans
and T-shirts, they put on an incredibly
an avid customer of Bruges’ rich cultural life, which has beautiful spectacle. They taught me
that the body can be represented in
grown considerably since 2002 and the opening of the
many different beautiful ways, even if
Concertgebouw (Concert Hall). A young native of Bruges not every movement was smooth and
flowing. It was the continuity that
on calligraphy, the festival Klinkers, the effervescent dance amazed me the most. There was a
scene and the charm of the Minnewater Park at dusk. softness that could hit you like a ham-

70 71

form I wasn’t familiar with. I have al-
ways loved flamenco and fado though,
and each year I take the opportunity to
go and watch a dance performance at
the ‘Klinkers festival’. There is no
shortage of dancing in summer, and
as the festival takes place at the city’s
loveliest locations, I can’t think of a
better way to enjoy an exceptional and
intimate performance. I remember
being awestruck during Misia, a fado
spectacle based on texts by Federico
García Lorca.’
Musical summer
“The ‘Klinkers festival’ puts a smile on
the summer in Bruges. If the weather
is fine, a southern atmosphere sud-
denly sweeps the city. I grab the op-
portunity to go and attend a perform-
72
ance on the spur of the moment, of
somebody I have never heard of, or
perhaps just because the evening is
so balmy and because I want to be
pleasantly surprised by an unknown
artist. The summer in Bruges is ex-
tremely musical, indeed.’ Maud used
to enjoy classical music in dribs and
drabs. Again, Bruges 2002 changed
her habit. ‘I think the Concertgebouw
is an architectural gem, and already
exceptional just because of its use of
space and light. Of course, since Jos
van Immerseel took up residence
there with his ensemble Anima Eter-
na, the whole thing gained momen-
tum. I am moreover a great lover of
Bach, and though the Concertge-
bouw’s setting makes an overpower-
ing impression on me, I thoroughly
enjoy the music, too.”
CHISELLING STONE
If you want to watch Maud Bekaert’s
subtle artistry, you’re welcome to
enter her studio on Sint-Clarastraat 40
in the heart of the city. Whilst chisel-
ling away at the stone for a few hours,
she’s gladly willing to take orders
from her clients.
Waterside treasures
Maud Bekaert is above all an avid con-
sumer of visual experiences. As a con-
sequence she tirelessly roams around
Bruges in search of the beautiful and
the distinctive. ‘I can intensely soak up
the beauty of the old houses this city
has such an abundance of. And I am
privileged, too, that I am allowed to
gain admittance to many an interior.
The facades of the houses mirrored in
the canals send me into raptures, and
that’s why I often go out after ten
o’clock at night to enjoy the floodlit
housefronts and the intimate stillness
along the canals’.
Calligraphy Set in Stone
In the meantime Bruges has become
the throbbing heart of this country’s
calligraphy. ‘Many a famous calligra-
phist has settled here, not in the least
because the city has taken a great
number of initiatives. It gives Bruges
an extra dimension. My joy lies in small
things: the chiseled house numbers,
the names of the hotels or the station-
er’s shop in Oostmeers where I buy my
material or greeting cards. But I also
find intense enjoyment in the grandeur
of Michelangelo’s statue in the Wel-
73

come Church of Our Lady or a summa-
ry film on the beach at Zeebrugge or in
Astridpark. Bruges is definitely a place
that endlessly provokes and seduces
her visitors and citizens.’
Thrilling Confrontations
Bruges likes to give a hearty welcome
to new projects such as Poetry in
Double Time. I expect this initiative by
‘Bruges is the throbbing heart of calligraphy.’
Gwy Mandelinck to develop into an ex-
citing opportunity for the visitor to ex-
perience how images and texts find
ways to communicate with one anoth-
er and how each artist responds to
this challenge. Sometimes an image
adds something to a text and vice ver-
sa. Add to that the combination of a
74
CITY
POETRY IN DOUBLE TIME
CARD
This new project combines poetry with
plastic art at historical sites in Saint-
Anne’s. Poems from the 19th and 20th
century are presented visually and
aurally, while sculptors set to work
with linguistic themes. Guido Gezelle,
who was the experimental poet par
excellence before the term even
existed, is the source of inspiration
for the participating artists.
23 January – 23 May 2010,
www.dubbeltijd.be.
historical context with contemporary
art, and you have to conclude that
Bruges is very much alive. What’s
more, the whole event takes place in
Saint-Anne’s, my favourite neigh-
bourhood. Peacefulness is so perfect
here that you can almost touch it,
even if many natives have yet to dis-
cover that.
The confrontation of the ancient tree
in the garden of the Bruggemuseum-
Gezelle with the contemporary works
of art by Jan Fabre have always creat-
ed a unique atmosphere. That monu-
mental buildings such as the English
Monastery and the Great Seminary
also throw open their doors, is a
chance that is not to be missed.
Best of Bruges
by Maud Bekaert
1
MY FAVOURITE SPOT
M
‘I just love the Beguinage at dusk, when this
peaceful enclosed place takes on a nostalgic air.
p
This is an oasis of restfulness where the volume
T
iis turned down quite drastically and the city
noises are muffled. It’s heaven on earth.’
n
Beguinage
2
MY RESTAURANTS
‘I have a great time at Heer Halewijn be-
cause of its honest cuisine based on deli-
cious grilled meat, its summer terrace
and its cosy fireplace in winter. Quatre
Mains for a light lunch on the cosy terrace
at the back, and De Twijfelaar for creative
food. De Lotus serves the most delicious
vegetarian dishes. Their lunch is excel-
lent, too. And for that special occasion?
I opt fot the intimacy of Chez Olivier’s el-
egant white interior. The restaurant is in
one of Bruges’s beauty spots, by the way.’ Chez Olivier
75
 MY CAFÉS
‘In summer I am simply mad about the
3 terrace of De Republiek. It’s blissfully at-
ter
mospheric. I also appreciate Stokershu-
mo
is ffor their French chansons, the classi-
cal music and the good old-fashioned
ca
pubby ambiance. De Stoepa is my fa-
pu
vourite place for a chat and a cocktail on
vo
their heavenly pleasant terrace. De
th
Kleine Nachtmuziek is a divine café
K
with a soul, and if I want to stay and talk
w 5
about some show or spectacle I have
a
just attended, then I definitely head for
ju
tthe Café at the Concertgebouw.’
w
Café at the Concertgebou
MY SHOPPING LIST
4
‘Raaklijn is a bookshop with a wonderful array of
art books and an extensive and idiosyncratic se-
lection. I never leave without something. I also
love Kin Gin, a jeweller’s studio that sells it’s own
creations in beautiful surroundings. De Krokodil,
too, is very dear to me, not only because they sell
wonderful and original toys here, from picture
books to wooden doll’s houses, but also because
I sometimes treat myself to a trinket under the
disguise of a birthday present. De Schacht is the
perfect stationer’s. Yes, I buy my pencils and paper
and charcoal there, but I also love the excellent
advice, and I sometimes pop in just for the fun of it!
And when shopping at De Laurier, I marvel at the
De Laurier
ever-changing art, while my bananas and leeks
are being wrapped.’
76
MY SECRET TIP
‘The photo of Dirk Braeckman at the
Concertgebouw soaked in concrete is
truly impressive. The photographer re-
veals as no other the essence of things
by leaving out layers, even if the inter-
viewer is required to make an effort to
see that. But what a reward when he is
hit by new insights and new angles!’
Photo of Dirk Braeckman
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Maud Bekaert’s Addresses
Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde, Begijnhof 24-28-30, www.monasteria.
org » Heer Halewijn, Walplein 10, tel. +32 (0)50 33 92 20 » Quatre Mains,
Philipstockstraat 8, tel. +32 (0)50 33 56 50, closed Sunday and Monday, www.
4mains.com » De Twijfelaar, Eeckhoutstraat 24, tel. +32 (0)50 34 15 44, closed
Sunday and Monday, www.detwijfelaar.be » De Lotus, Wapenmaker-straat 5,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 10 78, closed Sunday, www.lotus-brugge.be » Chez Olivier,
Meestraat 9, tel. +32 (0)50 33 36 59, closed Thursday, Sunday and Saturday
lunch » De Republiek, Sint-Jakobsstraat 36, www.derepubliek.be » Het
Stokershuis, Langestraat 7, closed Tuesday and Wednesday » De Stoepa,
Oostmeers 124, closed Monday, www.stoepa.be » De Kleine Nachtmuziek,
Sint-Jakobsstraat 60, closed Tuesday and Wednesday » Concertgebouwcafé,
’t Zand, closed Sunday and Monday, www.concertgebouw.be/cafe » Raaklijn,
Sint-Jakobsstraat 7, closed Sunday, www.boekhandelraaklijn.be » Kin Gin,
Ezelstraat 27, closed Sunday and Monday » De Krokodil, Sint-Jakobsstraat 47,
closed Sunday, www.krokodil.be » De Schacht, Katelijnestraat 49, closed Sun-
day, www.de-schacht.be » Bvba De Laurier, Langestraat 80, closed Monday
77
 > Identikit > Identikit
Name: Dominique Persoone Name: Guido Francque
Date of Birth: 24 September 1968 Date of Birth: 29 November 1955
Born in Bruges where he works. Born in Assenede, he lives
Owner of The Chocolate Line and and works in Bruges.
chairperson of the Guild of Chocolate Food & wine consultant,
Confectioners of Bruges. author and teacher.

Dominique Persoone is the man who

had Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood snort
cocoa and who designed The Chocolate
Shooter just for that purpose. He

Flavourful squeezed a former Miss Belgium into a

chocolate corset and painted hundreds

Flemish Primitives of naked female bodies for a photo-

shoot with the American art photogra-
pher Spencer Tunick. Dominique Per-
Bruges, the Soft Centre soone is undoubtedly the most contro-
versial and most revolutionary choco-
of World Gastronomy late confectioner in the whole of Bel-
gium. A shock-o-latier, as he has be-
Toni de Coninck is editor-in-chief of UIT-Magazine, the lifestyle journal of
come known. brought unknown wine producing
the motoring and mobility organization VAB. He has been writing on tourism
Guido Francque calls himself a free- countries such as Greece and Portugal
and gastronomy for sixteen years.
and-easy food & wine consultant. It is, to the notice of wine aficionados.

Heston Blumenthal. Albert Adria. Sergio Herman. Peter

Goossens. At the beginning of 2009 some of the greatest ‘If you neglect the foundations of gastronomy,
international chefs made it abundantly clear why Bruges then you commit a serious blunder.’
can rightfully call itself the culinary capital of Belgium.
of course, a flag that covers innumer- A whole generation of young sommel-
Co-initiator Guido Francque and shock-o-latier Dominique able kinds of cargo. He was one of the iers and chefs has been conceived by
Persoone recount the success of The Flemish Primitives, very first great sommeliers in Belgium, his talent and passion.
the annual seminar on food pairing. he attacked many a sacred cow and he At the beginning of 2009 Guido co-initi-

78 79
 CITY
CARD
THE CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
The chocolate museum Choco-
Story provides the visitor with a
choice selection of reference
books, production material and
curiosities from the world of
chocolate. Dominique Persoone:
‘I’m dead keen on the museum’s
antique books. Just unbelievable
that you can browse through
Maya writings!’
Choco-Story, Wijnzakstraat 2,
8000 Bruges, tel. +32 (0)50 61 22 37,
www.choco-story.be
ated The Flemish Primitives, a
seminar on food pairing that
attracted a goodly number of
national and international top
chefs. This event took place in
the prestigious surroundings
of the Bruges Concert Hall. It turned
into an unhoped-for success. ‘It is our
intention to draw each year some more
global attention to our top gastronomy,
and as a consequence to the city of
Bruges too,’ says Guido. ‘Food pairing
has been with us since time immemo-
rial, but it is among other things thanks
to The Flemish Primitives that it has
acquired a scientific base. We are on
the brink of the greatest culinary revo-
lution since nouvelle cuisine, and we
obviously want to explain to chefs all
over the world how they can improve
their cooking.’
80
Alchemy?
Al h ? smoke and salves. Ninety-five percent
Does this mean that the classic cook-
ery books by Escoffier and Cauderlier
should be consigned to the wastepaper
basket? ‘During my brainstorming ses-
sions with Heston Blumenthal at his
English three-starred restaurant The
Fat Duck,’ says Dominique Persoone,
‘I’ve never heard anyone deny his clas-
sical roots and schooling. It’s just that
molecular cuisine has initiated evolu-
tion and revolution, a pattern that I, too,
have integrated in my work as a choco-
late confectioner. But if you neglect the
foundations of gastronomy, then you
CITY
CARD
BELGIAN FRIES MUSEUM
Together with delicious Belgian cho-
colate, Belgian fries are without any
doubt the product par excellence that
illustrates the Burgundian way of life
of every Belgian. Fries are not French,
as might be suspected by the English
translation, but an authentic Belgian
invention. It is therefore no more than
logical that the only genuine frites
museum in the world is the Belgian
Fries museum in Bruges.
Frietmuseum, Vlamingstraat 33,
8000 Bruges, tel. +32 (0)50 34 01 50,
www.frietmuseum.be
commit a serious blunder.’ ple used household mixers and wooden
Guido Francque, too, wants to nuance spoons. Today it is roners and pacojets
the matter. ‘The problem with molecu- and thermomixers. It is a normal evolu-
lar gastronomy, which is in itself a bad- tion. I don’t send my e-mails by carrier
ly-chosen name, is that many people pigeon either, now do I?’
still believe in the tyranny of foams, ‘Top chefs such as the Adrias send out
yet another signal,’ says Dominique.
of the experiments are badly-executed ‘They almost beg us not to copy their
copycats of Adria and Blumenthal. You Spanish or Catalan dishes. It makes no
can’t just go and squeeze any ingredient sense whatsoever to promote Galician
into an espuma bottle and squirt it onto crustaceans when you have here in
a plate. Many chefs seem to forget that a Zeebrugge the most succulent hand-
‘The art of cooking that belongs
to the top of our cultural heritage.’
lot of thought must be involved if they shelled shrimps in the world. I believe
want to get it right. Molecular cooking is that Bruges handles all these new tech-
a means to boost the purity of a product, niques very sensibly. In Bruges, the visi-
not an end in itself. In earlier days peo- tor will find the most beautiful and most
81

recent food pairings at many top restau-
rants. Yet he will just as well be able to
rediscover great classics at the choco-
late museum or Belgian fries museum.’
Does it make any sense then to create
a molecular recipe with chocolate or
fries? ‘Deep down I remain a sixteen-
year-old rascal,’ Guido laughs. ‘Man al-
ways tries to explore the frontiers of his
field of study. There is nothing more
scrumptious and savoury than a su-
perbly cooked home-made vol-au-
vent. But why object to deconstructing
that vol-au-vent and using its ingredi-
ents to create a 21st-century dish?’
Primitive But Not Crazy
At the beginning of 2009 Bruges con-
firmed her status as culinary capital
once more when the city hosted the
first edition of The Flemish Primitives.
This ground-breaking gastronomic
event attended by the cream of do-
82
BRUGSCH SWAENTJE
Fancy a bite of medieval gruut?
Brugsch Swaentje is a traditional
Bruges chocolate specially created
by the Guild of Chocolate Confection-
ers of Bruges. This delicacy consists
of almond praline, crispy gingersnap
and...gruut. A must for fine palates.
Available at the majority of the
more than 50 Bruges’ chocolate
confectioners! Look out for the
official-dealer poster.
mestic and foreign chefs will be or-
ganised again in 2010. Its success ex-
ceeded all expectations: top-class
chefs such as Heston Blumenthal,
Sergio Herman and Peter Goossens
showed why their culinary skills be-
long to the top of our cultural heritage.
Dominique Persoone, too, successful-
ly showcased his skills. Guido
Francque was one of the big names
behind the scenes. The Flemish Prim-
itives are ‘inspired by the inventive-
ness of the 15th-century painters with
the eponymous name’. Just as the
Flemish primitives were to change
painting forever, these chefs set about
their tasks in a multidisciplinary man-
ner, too. Their love of the pure raw in-
gredient and their knowledge of clas-
sic cooking are refined by new tech-
niques and lashings of creativity. Why
not discover all this in Bruges’ seven
Michelin-starred restaurants and the
357 other acclaimed restaurants?
Best of Bruges
by Guido Francque
and Dominique Persoone
1
MY CULTURE TIP
Guido: From Memling to
Patteeuw. ‘I love art in all its
forms. I can gawp for hours at
the Flemish Primitives at the
Memling museum and listen as
open-mouthed to contempo-
rary interpretations by Roland
Patteeuw.’
Dominique: ‘Ever since my
childhood I have had great
admiration for Gerard David’s Judgment of Cambyses. The painting hangs in the
Groeningemuseum. I remember vividly that I was mightily impressed by the man
being skinned alive in the centre of the picture.’
MY RESTAURANTS
Guido: ‘Natives of Bruges tend to go to Kok au Vin, a bistro with a terrific homely
atmosphere and an equally terrific price/quality ratio. If I have foreign guests, then
I invariably go and have some fries at one of the chippies at the foot of the Belfry.
Next day I take them to Den Dyver to savour some dishes made with beer. As far as
top gastr
gastronomy is concerned, I’m just crazy
about anything that strives for
perfection, like Geert van Hecke’s
2
classic cuisine at De Karmeliet.’
D
Dominique: ‘Revolutionary and
iinsanely delicious food: Filip Claeys
a
at De Jonkman. Le Menu Belge at
D
De Tuilerieën Hotel is very good, too,
e
especially when you want to try
a
authentic Belgian classic dishes.’
De Karmeliet
83
MY CAFÉS
Guido: ‘Huyze Die Maene on Markt
serves a perfectly brewed Illy ris-
tretto on their terrace. And what a
view you have with the Belfry as
a backdrop and the comings and
goings of the horse carriages.
Brugse Zot, Bruges’ pride as far as
beer is concerned, is best pulled at
De Halve Maan, the brewery where
this delicious beer is produced. An
3 MY SECRET TIP
Guido: ‘One of the jewels of Bruges’ cultural heritage is authentic Bruges lace.
I always pop in at A.Pickery, where you can see and buy genuine centuries-old lace.’
Dominique: ‘Nearby the chocolate museum Choco-Story is Lumina Domestica. This
museum tells the story of lamps and lighting throughout the ages in a truly stunning
way. It’s unique in the world, and a real treat for children, too!’
Vino Vino

absolute must is‘t Brugs Beertje. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

This café breathes a genuine Bruges
beer atmosphere. Not only will you find the largest selection of beers here, but also
the very best in-house beer knowledge. And it’s knowledge written with a capital K!’
Dominique: ‘If I want to read a newspaper amongst my fellow townspeople and
the tourists, I head for Craenenburg. If it’s a romantic tête-à-tête you want with
your loved one, then Vino Vino is an excellent meeting place.’
MY SHOPPING LIST
Guido: ‘Hidden among the lacework of art and gastronomy are some of the finest
shops that you’ll find anywhere. When I go shopping in Bruges I stock on wines
at Wijnshop Cuvée with its wonderful selection of world wines, I eat the most
scrumptious ice-creams in the world at Gelateria Da Vinci, graciously served
by Sylvia Manders, and I buy the best pair of glasses at
4 Optiek Hoet.’
Dominique: ‘Every gastro-
nome and gourmet will show
you
y the way to De Olijfboom.
Yes,
Y you can find the most
ludicrously
l priced olive oils
or
o balsamic vinegars there,
but
b also hundreds of other
delicacies.
d I also love the work
of
o Frederiek van Pamel. This
floral
fl and interior designer
Gelateria Da Vinci
now
n has a shop on Markt.’
Guido Francque and
Dominique Persoone’s Addresses
Memling in Sint-Jan – Hospitaalmuseum, Mariastraat 38, closed Monday,
www.museabrugge.be » Groeningemuseum, Dijver 12, closed Monday,
www.museabrugge.be » Kok au Vin, Ezelstraat 19, tel. +32 (0)50 33 95 21,
www.kok-au-vin.be » Den Dijver, Dijver 5, tel. +32 (0)50 33 60 69, closed
Wednesday and Thursday, www.dijver.be » De Karmeliet, Langestraat 19,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 82 59, closed Sunday and Monday, www.dekarmeliet.be
» De Jonkman, Maalse Steenweg 438, Sint-Kruis, tel. +32 (0)50 36 07 67,
closed Sunday night and Monday, www.dejonkman.be » Le Menu Belge,
Hotel De Tuilerieën, Dijver 7, tel. +32 (0)50 34 36 91, closed Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday, www.hoteltuilerieen.com » Huyze Die Maene, Markt 17,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 39 59, www.huyzediemaene.be » De Halve Maan, Walplein 26,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 26 97, www.halvemaan.be » ’t Brugs Beertje, Kemelstraat 5,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 96 16, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, www.brugsbeertje.be
» Craenenburg, Markt 16 » Vino Vino, Grauwwerkersstraat 15, tel. +32 (0) 486
39 80 66, closed Sunday and Monday » Wijnshop Cuvée, Philipstockstraat 41,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 33 28, www.cuvee.be » Gelateria Da Vinci, Geldmuntstraat 34,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 36 50, (www.facebook.com/pages/Brugge-Belgium/
Gelateria-Da-Vinci/84739993600) » Optiek Hoet, Vlamingstraat 19, closed
Sunday, www.hoet.eu » De Olijfboom, Smedenstraat 58, closed Sunday and
Monday, www.deolijfboom.be » Frederiek Van Pamel, Eiermarkt 3, closed
Sunday, www.frederiekvanpamel.be » A. Pickery, Oude Burg 2B-C, tel. +32
(0)50 34 53 80» Lumina Domestica, Wijnzakstraat 2, www.luminadomestica.be

84 85
 > Identikit
Name: Rik Vanwalleghem
Date of Birth: 9 October 1952
Born in Wevelgem, the town where
the finishing line of the famous Ghent-
Wevelgem bicycle race is drawn. He lived
in Bruges for ten years. Rik Vanwalleg-
hem has been the director of the Tour
of Flanders Centre in Oudenaarde since
2006. He is also a journalist and the
author of several books on cycling.

As the enthusiastic director of the Tour the covered part of the playground,
of Flanders Centre in Oudenaarde, Rik stark naked cyclists were washing their
Vanwalleghem lived in Bruges for ten characteristic brown and white bodies.
years, where he learnt to appreciate its Being completely green, I didn’t know

Bruges, ‘A bike remains the ideal means

a Bike-friendly City of transport for exploring Bruges.’
The Perfect Starting Place bike-friendly character. And it all start- where to look. I had never seen a naked,
ed with Eddy Merckx. hairy grown-up man before. Did I end up
for the Tour of Flanders with a trauma? Well, no, but it was cer-
‘When I was 12 or 13 I used to go to the tainly touch and go (laughs). I was for-
Journalist Sophie Allegaert writes for Genieten, a Belgian tourism finishing line of Ghent-Wevelgem with bidden to talk about it at home, because
and lifestyle magazine. She is also the author of Bruges Among Girl Friends, my brother-in-law, who was a real cy- if I had, then I would have had to admit
a Dutch-language guide. cling fanatic. Wevelgem is the town that I had climbed that wall.’
where I was born. After the race the rid-
ers washed at the local nursery school.
Rik Vanwalleghem brought the Tour of Flanders to Bruges,
It was a ritual we didn’t want to miss. We
he knows every bike race secret that there is to know and outwitted the constable who was stand-
he is unequalled in compressing his passion for cycling in ing guard, climbed over the wall and hid
on the school playground. I remember
gripping articles and books that are immensely popular we once appeared from out of the bush-
with connoisseurs as well as laymen. es when we saw Peter Post peeing just a
few yards away! A little further, under

86
 CITY
TRAINERS AND
CARD
PROFESSIONALS!
This multimedia Tour of Flanders
Centre with its interactive museum,
brasserie and museum shop is an ab-
solute must for everyone who wishes
to polish up his or her knowledge of
cycling. It therefore appeals to young
as well as old and to professionals as
well as amateurs. In addition, the
Brugge City Card allows you to visit
the Centre at reduced rates! And don’t
forget to make a note of the next Tour
of Flanders in your diary: 4 April 2010
Markt 43, 9700 Oudenaarde,
+32 (0)55 33 99 33, www.crvv.be
‘Another time, when Eddy Merckx had
won Ghent-Wevelgem, he came to a
sudden standstill just in front of me. For
a few seconds I stood face to face with
the god of all racing cyclists. Then the
crowds took possession of him. In spite
of all this I haven’t become a cyclist. In-
stead I turned into a semi-cycling tour-
ist who loves cycling intensely and who
has already conquered a few mountains,
although I admit that that happened
some time ago. Today I mount my bike
on far too few occasions, and when I do, I
strictly keep to the recreational kind,
simply because of lack of time. Indeed,
cycling remains the ideal way to explore
a region. When you’re on foot, your
range is too limited, and with a car you
speed through the country without see-
ing anything. When we lived in Bruges,
we used our bikes all the time. The city
88
isn’t that extensive, and it is very bike-
friendly. Cycling in Bruges is therefore
easy, safe and extremely pleasant. And
when you’re ready for some greater
challenges, you can opt for one of four
themed routes that start in the city itself
and then traverse the wet- and wood-
lands surrounding Bruges.’
Lessons For Life
‘Bicycle racing, that’s life, nothing more,
nothing less. Yes, it is a cliché as high as
a mountain, but it nevertheless all fits.
Everything that makes life and human
beings beautiful and ugly is to be found
a hundredfold in cycling. From enthral-
ling Greek tragedy to unadulterated Ro-
manticism, you get it all, and everything
that lies in between. A pure epic adven-
ture. When you run or swim you have to
BIKE-FRIENDLY LODGINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY!
Bruges boasts no fewer than 16
bike-friendly hotels! This means
concretely that you can stay over-
night in 16 places close to a recog-
nised bike route, 16 places where
you will be offered an abundance of
special bike facilities, from bike
sheds to bike repair kits and bike
maps. In addition you can rent a bike
almost anywhere in town. And there
is even more good news! Use your
Brugge City Card and earn yourself
a 25% reduction on your bike rental!
Turn to page 6 quickly!
finish first. Bicycle racing is so much
more. It isn’t enough to cycle faster than A Wonderful Start
anybody else. All sorts of factors may “It’s nothing more than logical that the
play a part. Dutchman Jan Raas once Tour of Flanders, the cycle race par
found himself in a leading group with excellence, should start on Bruges’
two rivals, whom he knew to be involved Markt. Bruges is the perfect visiting
in an affair of the heart with a woman. card for Flanders. The city has a global
He therefore knew that they hated each standing, and you would have to look
other’s guts and that they would not far and wide to find a place that is as
budge an inch. And indeed, both riders telegenic. In short, the Tour of Flan-
ended up destroying each other, after ders and Bruges are a perfect match,
which Raas broke away and won.’ and it has resulted in a success that
glues sixty million people to their tel-
evision set year after year. The start
also demonstrates that both the city of
Bruges and the Tour handle their her-
itage wisely. You have to cherish the
past and respect your historical roots,
but you can’t afford to remain stuck in
times gone by. Nostalgia and folklore
may cause a suffocating effect. It’s
89

Cyclists will have free play on the 3rd Sunday in September when Bruges joins the
rest of Europe in organising a Car-free Day. The historical centre will be reserved for
cyclists and pedestrians only, and a large number of activities will lighten up the city.
something the city has understood
very well. That’s why you will see in
the middle of that impressive histori-
cal decor a colourful fully-trained
peloton, equipped with the latest tech-
nology and ready to do battle in a mod-
ern race. I have butterflies in my
stomach days before. Here careers
will be made or broken, here you will
fail miserably or earn yourself eternal
glory. It means sweaty hands, goose
bumps on your arms and tension from
top to toe. You also feel this tension
with the cyclists, the team leaders and
mechanics and all those that follow
the race on motorbikes or in cars.
Everyone is on edge. This is the mo-
90
WE’RE OFF!
Jump on your bike and explore Best of Bruges
Bruges’splendid surroundings by way
of four brand-new signposted themed by Rik Vanwalleghem
routes. Will it be the summer castles
and abbeys in Bruges’green belt or do
you prefer the polders between Bruges,
Damme and picturesque Lissewege, 1
recently proclaimed one of Flanders’
prettiest villages? The bicycle route
network of the wet- and woodlands
surrounding Bruges with its judiciously
positioned junctions will help you to MY FAVOURITE PLACE
plan your own trajectory.
‘The dunes and the beach at
For more information: call in at the in-
formation offices in the railway station Zeebrugge are a haven of ref-
or the Concertgebouw! uge for all those in need of a
breath of fresh air.’
The beach at Zeebrugge
2
ment of truth. The large contingent of
foreign cyclists is invariably im-
pressed by the circumstances. The MY RESTAURANTS AND GASTROPUBS
enthusiasm of the large crowds, both ‘Rock Fort serves up original dishes with a
cycling fans and ordinary spectators, modern twist, while In Den Wittenkop of-
who scream the riders forward from fers an authentic grandmother’s cuisine.
start to finish, is simply unbelievable. ’t Zwaantje has honest food with an inter-
Filippo Pozzato, who is after all abso- national hint, and at Hertog Jan the chef
lute top class, has recently comment- has Michelin star quality. When I fancy a
ed on this in an Italian newspaper. ‘If pot of mussels I head for Zeebrugge and
you really want to know what cycling Sea and Sand.’
means and how much passion it can
engender, then go and attend the start
of the Tour of Flanders in Bruges.’
Rock Fort
91
MY CAFÉS
‘Youth hostel and café De Snuffel is perfect for some international socialising,
whereas l’Estaminet is a pub where the world-famous spaghetti is an absolute
must. Du Phare and De Vers-
teende Nacht on the other
hand breathe a cosy bluesy
atmosphere, and De Kroon is
still a favourite haunt for
many a café-loving native.’
MY SECRET TIP
‘The Old Cemetery at Ver-Assebroek,
which is currently being restored, is with
its countless monuments and pleasant
alleys the perfect place for a spot of
reflection about life and death.”

3
l’Estaminet
The Old Cemetery at Ver-Assebroek
PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Rik Vanwalleghem’s Addresses

MY SHOPS
‘There is no better place to start
the day than at Servaas Van
Mullem. Their breakfasts are
scrumptious. Then it’s time for
art. At the art shop De Andere
Kijk you always leave in a better
frame of mind, and at Galerij
Pinsart art lovers will feel
they’ve died and gone to heaven.
If you want to buy a tailor-made
work of art, then visit calligra-
pher Kristoffel Boudens.
Brugse Boekhandel is where
I buy all my books, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. They always find a way to
surprise me with their wonderful selection.’
4 //users.telenet.be/fclestaminet/lestaminet.htm » De Kroon, Houtkaai 2, tel. +32
Servaas van Mullem
Snuffel Backpacker Hostel, Ezelstraat 47-49, tel. +32 (0)50 33 31 33, www.snuf-
fel.be » L’Estaminet, Park 5, tel. +32 (0)50 33 09 16, closed on Monday, http:
(0)50 31 53 89, closed on Sunday and Monday afternoon » De Versteende Nacht,
Langestraat 11, closed on Sunday, www.deversteendenacht.com » Du Phare,
Sasplein 2, tel. +32 (0)50 34 35 90, closed on Tuesday, www.duphare.be » Rock
Fort, Langestraat 15, tel. +32 (0)50 33 41 13, closed on Saturday and Sunday,
www.rock-fort.be » In Den Wittenkop, Sint-Jakobsstraat 14, tel. +32 (0)50 33 20
59, closed on Saturday afternoon, Sunday and Monday » Hertog Jan, Torhout-
sesteenweg 479, tel. +32 (0)50 67 34 46, closed on Sunday and Monday, www.
hertog-jan.com » ’t Zwaantje, Gentpoortvest 70, tel. +32 (0)473 71 25 80, closed
on Wednesday and Thursday, www.hetzwaantje.be » Sea and Sand, Zeedijk 8,
Zeebrugge, tel. +32 (0)50 54 42 79, closed on Monday and Tuesday » Servaas
Van Mullem, Vlamingstraat 56, tel. +32 (0)50 33 05 15, closed on Tuesday
» De Andere Kijk, Garenmarkt 28, tel. +32 (0)50 34 21 61, closed on Wednesday
» Galerij Pinsart, Genthof 21, closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
www.pinsart.be » Kristoffel Boudens, Oude Gentweg 171, tel. +32 (0)50 31 42 15
» Brugse Boekhandel, Dijver 2, closed on Sunday, www.brugseboekhandel.be
» Old Cemetery at Ver-Assebroek, Pastoor Verhaegeplein 13

92 93

Know Your Way
Around Bruges
Super easy and Handy!
Do you want to check the exact opening times of
a museum? Perhaps you want to organise a jolly day out
with the kids, or you fancy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
This extremely practical overview of all Visitors Guide
information shows you everything you may wish
or need to know!
94
PAGE 96 > MUSEUMS, a complete overview of all
Bruges museums including information on their
most important collections, opening times and
admission charges.
PAGE 106 > PLACES OF INTEREST, six special places
that are dying to be discovered by you.
PAGE 110 > ON FOOT, BY BOAT, HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE,
MINIBUS, HOT AIR BALLOON, no matter how you want to
travel, you will find all the detailed information here.
PAGE 112 > OUT IN BRUGES, have a great time with
music, dance or theatre in a city perfect for culture.
PAGE 114 > BICYCLE RENTAL POINTS, looking for a bike
to rent ? The choice is all yours !
PAGE 116 > GUIDED BICYCLE TRIPS, if you want to take
a guided bike tour suited to your wishes, then take
your pick from these pages.
PAGE 118 > TAILOR-MADE FOR CHILDREN, children’s
farms, amusement parks or child-friendly walks.
Whatever you’re looking for, there is no time for
boredom here.
PAGE 122 > GET EVEN MORE OUT OF YOU STAY IN BRUGES,
explore Bruges’ wet- and woodlands, take a trip to
the seaside or immerse yourself in the history of
the Great War. There’s something for everyone, and
the Brugge City Card makes it all extra economical.
95

Bruges Museums
Although the Flemish Primitives are undoubtedly Bruges’
showpiece attraction, museum devotees in search
of much more will not be disappointed. Indeed, the choice
is truly magnificent. From contemporary plastic art by way
of Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna and Child
to a sumptuous Burgundian palace. It’s all there for
you to discover!
96
CITY
CARD
20 GROENINGE MUSEUM
The Groeninge Museum offers a varied
overview of the history of Belgian plas-
tic arts. Although the Flemish Primi-
tives are a high point, you will also
marvel at top 18th and 19th- century
neoclassical pieces, masterpieces
from Flemish Expressionism and post-
war modern art.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday,
9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Tickets till
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday and
Whit Monday) ADMISSION > Including
Arentshuis, Forum+: € 8.00; 65+:
€ 6.00. Children under 6: free. Young-
sters under 26: € 1.00; Brugge City
Card: free ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12.
The museum will be closed from 17/8
to 28/10 for the setting up of the exhibi-
tion Van Eyck to Dürer (subject to alter-
ation). This exhibition runs from 29
/10/2010 to 30/01/2011. As a result the
permanent museum collection will not
be open to the public. INFORMATION >
Dijver 12, www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
42 FORUM+
Forum+ is the Concert Hall’s museum
space, focusing on contemporary plas-
tic arts, sculptures and installations by
famous modern artists. The exhibitions
change every three to four months. The
splendid panoramic view of the city is a
wonderful bonus!
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday,
9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets:
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday
and Whit Monday) ADMISSION > € 2,00;
65+: € 1,00. Children under 6: free.
Youngsters under 26: € 1.00; combina-
tion ticket with Arentshuis and Groenin-
gemuseum possible; Brugge City
Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > [Concertgebouw],
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
ARENTSHUIS
02
In this elegant 18th-century town
house with its picturesque garden the
work of the versatile British artist
Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956) is on
display on the top floor. Brangwyn’s
talent as an architect, painter and
designer of glassware, furniture and
jewellery is breathtaking. The ground
floor is the setting for temporary
plastic art exhibitions. OPENING TIMES
> Tuesday to Sunday 9.30 a.m. – 5.00
p.m. Last tickets: 4.30 p.m. (Open on
Easter Monday and Whit Monday)
ADMISSION > € 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Chil-
dren under 6: free. Youngsters under
26: € 1.00; combination ticket with Ar-
entshuis and Groeningemuseum possi-
97
ble; Brugge City Card: free ADDITIONAL
CLOSING DATES > 1/1, 13/5 (afternoon)
and 25/12 INFORMATION > Dijver 16,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
38BRUGGEMUSEUM-
CITY HALL
Bruges’ City Hall (1376) is one of
the oldest in the Netherlands. It is
from here that the city has been
governed for more than 600 years.
An absolute masterpiece is the
Gothic Hall with its late 19th-century
murals and polychrome vault. The
adjoining historic hall calls up the
city council’s history with a number of
authentic documents and works of art.
A multimedial exhibition on the ground
floor illustrates the evolution of the
Burg square.
98
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 9.30 a.m. –
5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.30 p.m.
ADMISSION > Including Bruggemuse-
um-Liberty of Bruges and audio guide:
€ 2.50; 65+: € 2.00. Children under 6:
free. Youngsters under 26: € 1.00;
Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Burg 12,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-
32
LIBERTY OF BRUGES
From this mansion, erected between
1722 and 1727, Bruges’ rural surround-
ings were governed. The building
functioned as a court of justice be-
tween 1795 and 1984. Today the city
archives are stored here. They safe-
guard Bruges’ written memory. The
premises also boast an old assize
court and a renaissance hall with a
monumental 16th-century timber,
marble and alabaster mantelpiece.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 9.30 a.m. –
12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Last tickets: 4.30 p.m.
ADMISSION > Including Bruggemuse-
um-City Hall and audio guide: € 2.00;
65+: € 1.00. Children under 6: free.
Youngsters under 26: € 1.00;
Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Burg 11a,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-
14
WELCOME CHURCH OF OUR LADY
The 122 metres high brick tower of the
Welcome Church of Our Lady is a per-
fect illustration of the craftsmanship of
Bruges’ artisans. The church displays a
valuable art collection: Michelangelo’s
world-famous Madonna and Child,
countless paintings, 13th-century paint-
ed sepulchres and the tombs of Mary of
Burgundy and Charles the Bold.
OPENING TIMES > The church: Monday to
Friday: 9.30 a.m. - 4.50 p.m. Saturday:
9.30 p.m. – 4.40 p.m. Sunday and Holy
Days: 1.30 p.m. – 4.50 p.m. The church is
not open to the public during nuptial and
funeral masses; The museum: Tuesday
to Friday: 9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. (last tick-
ets 4.30 p.m.). Saturday: 9.30 a.m. –
4.45 p.m. (last tickets 4.15 p.m.). Sun-
day: 1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. (last tickets
4.30 p.m.) (Open on Easter Monday and
Whit Monday) ADMISSION > Church: free;
Museum: € 2.00; 65+: € 1.00. Children
under 6: free. Youngsters under 26:
€ 1.00; Brugge City Card: free
INFORMATION > Mariastraat,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-
21
GRUUTHUSE
The opulent palace of the lords of Gru-
uthuse include splendid tapestries, a
unique prayer chapel, a five-centuries-
old kitchen and a collection of objects
illustrating daily life between the 15th
and the 19th century, from everyday
kitchen ware to superb silverware.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Last tickets:
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday
and Whit Monday)
ADMISSION > € 6,00; 65+: € 5,00. Chil-
dren under 6: free. Youngsters under
26: € 1.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Dijver 17,
www.museabrugge.be
99
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-ARCHEOLOGY
01
This museum presents the unwritten
history of Bruges. Its motto: feel your
past beneath your feet. Discover the
history of the city through different
kinds of search and hands-on activi-
ties. A fascinating mix of archeological
finds, riddles, replicas and reconstruc-
tions shed light on daily life in times
gone by, from the home to the work-
place and from birth till death. OPEN-
ING TIMES > Tuesday – Sunday: 9.30 a.m.
– 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Last tickets: 4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter
Monday and Whit Monday) ADMISSION >
€ 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Children under 6:
free. Youngsters under 26: € 1.00;
Brugge City Card: free ADDITIONAL
CLOSING DATES > 1/1, 13/5 (afternoon)
and 25/12 INFORMATION > Mariastraat
36a, www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-FOLKLORE
27
These restored 17th-century single-
room dwellings accommodate a.o. a
classroom, a millinery, a pharmacy, a
confectionery, a grocery and an authen-
tic bedroom. Conclude your visit with a
pleasant stroll in the garden and a
100
thirst-quenching drink at The Black Cat,
the museum’s tavern. OPENING TIMES >
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Last tickets: 4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter
Monday and Whit Monday) ADMISSION >
€ 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Children under 6:
free. Youngsters under 26: € 1.00;
Brugge City Card: free ADDITIONAL
CLOSING DATES > 1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and
25/12 INFORMATION > Balstraat 43,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
32 BRUGGEMUSEUM-SINT-
25
JANSHUIS MILL, KOELEWEI MILL
Windmills have graced Bruges’ ram-
parts ever since the construction of the
outer city wall at the end of the 13th cen-
tury. Today four specimen are left on
Kruisvest. Sint-Janshuis Mill (1770) is
still in its original spot and still grinding
grain just like its neighbour Koelewei
Mill. OPENING TIMES > Bruggemuseum-
Sint-Janshuis Mill: May - August: Tues-
day to Sunday, 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
and 1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets
4.30 p.m.; September: Saturday and
Sunday, 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and
1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday and
Whit Monday). Bruggemuseum-Koele-
wei Mill: July and August: Tuesday to
Sunday, 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and
1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday and
Whit Monday) ADMISSION > € 2,00; 65+:
€ 1,00. Children under 6: free. Young-
sters under 26: € 1.00; Brugge City Card:
free INFORMATION > Kruisvest,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-GEZELLE
22
The literary and biographical museum
of Guido Gezelle (1830-1899) is incor-
porated in the house where the famous
Flemish poet was born. Gezelle’s
birthplace, in a quiet working-class
district, displays handwritten letters
and writing paraphernalia.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. –
5.00 p.m. Last tickets 4.30 p.m. (Open
on Easter Monday and Whit Monday)
ADMISSION > € 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Chil-
dren under 6: free. Youngsters under
26: € 1.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES > 1/1, 13/5
(afternoon) and 25/12 INFORMATION >
Rolweg 64, www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-BELFRY
39
The most important of Bruges’
towers stands 83 metres tall. It
houses a treasure-chamber, an
impressive clock mechanism and
a carillon with 47 silver-toned bells.
Your reward after a climb up the
tower’s 366 stairs is a breathtaking
and unforgettable panoramic view
of Bruges and her surroundings.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 9.30 a.m. –
5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.15 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 8,00; 65+: € 6,00. Children
under 6: free. Youngsters under 26:
€ 4.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Markt 7,
www.museabrugge.be
101

CITY
CARD
BRUGGEMUSEUM-GENTPOORT
03
Gentpoort (Gate of Ghent) is one of four
remaining medieval city gates. An en-
trance for foreigners, a border with the
outside world for the townspeople of
Bruges. The gate was a part of the
city’s defences as well as a passage-
way for the movement of produce and
merchandise. OPENING TIMES >
See www.museabrugge.be or
telephone +32 (0) 50 44 87 43
ADMISSION > € 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Children
under 6: free. Youngsters under 26:
€ 1.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
Special closing dates: 1/1, 13/5
(afternoon) and 25/12.
INFORMATION > Gentpoortstraat,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
MEMLING IN SINT-JAN -
25
HOSPITAALMUSEUM
Saint John’s Hospital has an eight hun-
dred-year-old history of caring for pil-
grims, travellers and the sick. Visit the
medieval wards where the nuns and
monks performed their work of mercy
and marvel at the impressive collec-
tion of archives, art works, medical in-
102
struments and six paintings by Hans
Memling. Also worth a visit: the Diks-
muide attic, the old dormitory, the cus-
todian’s room and the adjoining phar-
macy.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.30
p.m. The pharmacy is open from Tues-
day to Sunday: 9.30 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.
and 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last tickets:
4.30 p.m. (Open on Easter Monday
and Whit Monday) ADMISSION > Includ-
ing Our Lady of the Pottery - Hospi-
taalmuseum: € 8.00; 65+: € 6.00.
Children under 6: free. Youngsters
under 26: € 1.00; Brugge City Card:
free ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Mariastraat 38,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
OUR LADY OF THE POTTERY -
37
HOSPITAALMUSEUM
This hospital dates back to the 13th
century, when nuns took on the care of
pilgrims, travellers and the sick. Over
the centuries the hospital developed
into a modern home for the elderly.
The hospital wards with their valuable
collection of works of art, monastic
and religious relics and a range of ob-
jects used in nursing have been con-
verted into a museum. The Gothic
church with its baroque interior can
also be visited.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. –
5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.30 p.m. (Open
on Easter Monday and Whit Monday)
ADMISSION > € 2,00; 65+: € 1,00. Chil-
dren under 6: free. Youngsters under
26: € 1.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 13/5 (afternoon) and 25/12
INFORMATION > Potterierei 79,
www.museabrugge.be
CITY
CARD
BRUGES DIAMOND MUSEUM
18
This museum illustrates the history
of Bruges as the oldest diamond
centre in Europe. Today diamond
remains one of Belgium’s most
important export products. The daily
demonstration of diamond cutting
is a sparkling affair.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 10.30 a.m.-
5.30 p.m. The daily diamond cutting
demonstration starts at 12.15 p.m.
Your presence is required by noon
at the latest.
ADMISSION > Museum: € 7,00; Museum
+ Diamond Cutting Demonstration:
€ 10.00; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 4/1 - 15/1 and 24, 25/12
INFORMATION > Katelijnestraat 43,
www.diamondmuseum.be
CITY
CARD
LUMINA DOMESTICA
43
The museum contains the world’s
largest collection of lamps and lights.
More than 6,000 antiques tell the
complete story of interior lighting.
From torch and paraffin lamp to light
bulb and LED.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 10 a.m. to
5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 3.30 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 6,00; 65+ and students:
€ 5.00. Children between 6 and 12:
€ 4.00. Children under 6: free;
Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 4/1 – 15/1, 24, 25 and 31/12
INFORMATION > Wijnzakstraat 2,
www.luminadomestica.be
103
 CITY
CARD

DALÍ XPO-GALLERY
46
Admire the fantastic collection of
world-famous graphic art, sculptures
and drawings by the renowned
Salvador Dalí inside the Belfry. All
works are originals without a fault,
authenticated by the Fundació Gala-
Salvador Dalí. The collection is pre-
sented in a sensational Daliesque
CITY
CARD
decor of mirrors and gold, mother-
of-pearl and shocking pink.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 10.00 a.m.
to 6.00 p.m. ADMISSION > € 10,00; 65+
and students: € 8.00. Children under
12: free; Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES > 1/1 and
25/12 INFORMATION > Markt 7,
www.dali-interart.be

CHOCO-STORY
41

The museum dips its visitors in the

history of cocoa and chocolate. From WALLET-FRIENDLY MUSEUM SHOPPING!
the Maya and the Spanish conquista-
dores to the chocolate connoisseurs of BRUGGE CITY CARD
today. A chocolate hunt gives children The Brugge City Card gives free entry to 24 museums and places of interest
the chance to discover the museum. in Bruges. See page 6 for more information.
Chocolates are made by hand and
sampled on the premises. 3-DAY TICKET
CITY
CARD

OPENING TIMES > Daily: 10.00 a.m. 45

to 5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.15 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 6,00; 65+ and students:
€ 5.00. Children between 6 and 12:
€ 4.00. Children under 6: free.
Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 4/1 – 15/1, 24, 25 and 31/12
INFORMATION > Wijnzakstraat 2,
www.choco-story.be
BELGIAN FRIES MUSEUM
This didactical museum sketches the
history of the potato, belgian fries and
the various sauces and dressings that
accompany this most delicious and
most famous of Belgian comestibles.
The museum is housed in Saaihalle,
one of Bruges’ most attractive
buildings.
OPENING TIMES > Daily: 10.00 a.m.
to 5.00 p.m. Last tickets: 4.15 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 6,00; 65+ and students:
€ 5.00. Children between 6 and 12:
€ 4.00. Children between 3 and 5:
€ 1.00; children under 3: free.
Brugge City Card: free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 4/1 – 15/1, 24, 25 and 31/12
INFORMATION > Vlamingstraat 33,
www.frietmuseum.be
The 3-day ticket giving you unlimited access to all city museums (see
description from page 97 tot 102) only costs € 15,00. Youngsters between
6 and 25 pay € 5,00. the ticket, valid for three days, can be obtained at
all city museums and at [Concertgebouw].
COMBINATION TICKET CHOCO-STORY/DIAMOND MUSEUM
Combine a tasty visit to Choco-Story with a dazzling look at the Diamond
Museum. This combination ticket costs € 10,00. For sale at the above-
mentioned museums and at [Concertgebouw].
COMBINATION TICKET CHOCO-STORY/LUMINA DOMESTICA/BELGIAN
FRIES MUSEUM
Visit these three museums at reduced rates.
» Combination ticket (3 museums): adults: € 15,00; 65+ and students:
€ 12,00; children between 6 and 12: € 9,00; children under 6: free
» Combination ticket (select 2 museums): adults € 10,00; 65+ and students:
€ 8,00; children between 6 and 12: € 6,00; children under 6: free.
» These combination tickets are for sale at the above-mentioned museums
and at [Concertgebouw].

104 105
Places of Interest
Some places are so special, so breathtaking or so unique
that you simply have to see them. Bruges is filled to the
brim with wonderful witnesses of a prosperous past,
whether they be peaceful and picturesque, spiritual or,
on the contrary, extremely entertaining.
106
CITY
CARD
BEGUINAGE
01 03
The ‘Princely Beguinage Ten Wijn-
gaarde’ with its whitewashed house-
fronts, tranquil convent garden and
beguinage museum was founded in
1245. Today the nuns of the Order of
Saint Benedict inhabit the site. The Be-
guinage entrance gate closes without
fail at 6.30 p.m.
OPENING TIMES > Beguinage: daily
from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.;
Beguine’s house: Monday to
Saturday, 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m,
Sunday 2.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > Beguinage: free; Beguine’s
house: € 2.00, youngsters: € 1.00,
60+: € 1.50. Brugge City Card: free
INFORMATION > Begijnhof 24-28-30,
www.monasteria.org
CITY
CARD
20 SAINT SAVIOUR’S
CATHEDRAL
Bruges’ oldest parish church (12th-15th
century) has amongst its treasures a
rood loft with organ, medieval tombs,
Brussels tapestries and a rich collection
of Flemish paintings (14th-18th century).
The treasure-chamber displays a.o.
paintings by Dirk Bouts, Hugo van der
Goes and other Flemish Primitives.
OPENING TIMES > Cathedral: Monday
to Friday: 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 a.m. and
2.00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.; Saturday: 9.00 a.m.
– 12.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.;
Sunday: 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. and
2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.; Treasury: Daily
from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.; Closed from
the middle of January to the middle of
February ADMISSION > Cathedral: free;
Treasury: € 2.50, students € 1.50.
Brugge City Card: free INFORMATION >
Steenstraat, www.sintsalvator.be
107

05 MUSEUM OF THE BASILICA
OF THE HOLY BLOOD
This double chapel consists of the Ro-
manesque church of Saint Basil (1139-
1149) on the ground floor and the Basili-
ca on the first floor, rebuilt in Gothic re-
vival style in the 19th century. The Relic
of the Holy Blood is kept in the Basilica.
OPENING TIMES > April-September:
9.30 a.m. – 12.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. –
6.00 p.m.; October-March: 10.00 a.m. –
12.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > Double chapel: free;
Treasure-chamber: € 1.50, students
€ 1.00, children under 13 free
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1, 1/11, 25/12. October-March:
Wednesday afternoon
INFORMATION > Burg 13,
www.holyblood.org
108
CITY
CARD
BREWERY DE HALVE MAAN
12
De Halve Maan (1546) is the city’s last
working brewery. Their house brew is
Brugse Zot, a spirited top-fermented
beer made from malt, hops and special
yeast. This deliciously refreshing beer
can be tasted on the premises. Daily
guided tours in various languages.
OPENING TIMES > April-October: daily
11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. (Saturday till
5.00 p.m.). Guided tours every hour.
November-March: weekdays
11.00 a.m. & 3.00 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday 11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Guided tours every hour
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES > 1/1,
weekdays in January, 24/12 and 25/12
ADMISSION > € 5,50 (including refresh-
ment), children between 6 and 12:
€ 2.75. Brugge City Card: free
INFORMATION > Walplein 26,
www.halvemaan.be
20 HOF BLADELIN
In around 1440 Pieter Bladelin, treas-
urer of the Order of the Golden Fleece,
commissioned the construction of
Hof Bladelin. In the 15th century the
powerful Florentine banking family of
De Medici set up a branch here. The
stone medallion portraits of Lorenzo
de Medici and his wife still grace the
picturesque inner court.
OPENING TIMES > Inner court: Monday-
Saturday 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 a.m. and
2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.; Hof Bladelin: by
appointment, tel. +32 (0)50 33 64 34;
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
ADMISSION > Inner court: free;
Hof Bladelin: € 1.00
INFORMATION > Naaldenstraat 19
CITY
CARD
LACE CENTRE
24
The Lace Centre is housed in 15th-
century almshouses funded by the
Adornes family, who also built the Je-
rusalem Church. Lace demonstrations
are regularly given. The shop sells all
kinds of lace paraphernalia.
OPENING TIMES > Monday-Saturday:
10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 2,50; 65+, students and
children between 7 and 12: € 1.50;
children under 7: free. Brugge City
Card: free
INFORMATION > Peperstraat 3a,
www.kantcentrum.com
109
 BRUGES ON FOOT
Are you not exhausted from walking
yet? Are you still in the mood for a tour
with a seasoned guide? Then hurry to
[Concertgebouw] and register for
a two-hour fascinating guided walk.
November to March, Saturday, Sunday,
Monday and Wednesday: evening
walks; 5 April – 18 April, daily: after-
noon walks; July and August, daily: af-
ternoon walks; June and September,
weekends: afternoon walks
INFORMATION > Information Office
at the Railway Station and the
Concertgebouw
CITY
CARD
BRUGES BY BOAT
9.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m. in July and
August ADMISSION > € 36,00.
A carriage seats up to 5 people
INFORMATION > www.hippo.be/koets
CITY
CARD
CITY TOUR BRUGES
The minibuses call at the different high-
lights of the city. They leave every hour
from Markt for a fifty-minute trip.
Headphones provide commentary in
English, Dutch, French, German, Span-
ish, Italian and Japanese. The first bus
leaves at 10.00 a.m. The last bus leaves
at 4.00 p.m. in January and February,
5.00 p.m. in March, November and De-
cember, 6.00 p.m. in October, 7.00 p.m.
in April, May and June, and 8.00 p.m. in

Discover Bruges On A visit to Bruges isn’t complete without

a boat trip on its canals. Go aboard at
July, August and September
ADMISSION > € 14,50; Children aged

Foot, By Boat, Horse-

any of the five landing stages (consult 6 to 11: € 8.50; Brugge City Card
city map) for a half-hour trip that allows (16/11>28/2): free
you to appreciate the most noteworthy INFORMATION > www.citytour.be

drawn Carriage, Mini- delights of the city from a completely

different angle. March – November:
CITY
CARD
BRUGES BY HOT AIR BALLOON

bus or Hot Air Balloon

You might want to stroll, amble and saunter down the streets of
Bruges all day long or even for a whole weekend. Nothing wrong
with that. However, it won’t do you any harm if you look at the city
from a different perspective. During a walking tour a guide will
show you numerous secret places. Maybe you prefer a boat trip
on the mysterious canals. An unforgettable experience! And
a ride in a horse-drawn carriage must surely be the perfect
romantic outing. Perhaps you simply want to tour all the high-
lights as quickly and as comfortably as possible? Then a minibus
is what you need, and expert commentary is what you will get.
And what about a balloon ride?
daily from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 6,90; Children aged
4 to 11 (accompanied by an adult):
€ 3.20. Children under 4: free.
Brugge City Card (1/3>15/11): free
BRUGES BY
HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE
The half-hour carriage ride along Brug-
es’ historic winding streets trots off on
Markt (at Burg on Wednesday morn-
ing). Halfway through the ride the car-
riage briefly stops at the Beguinage.
The coachman gives expert commen-
tary en route. 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.;
A morning flight (champagne breakfast
included) or an evening flight (cham-
pagne, snacks and beer included) lasts
three hours, of which at least one is
spent up in the air! On request only.
Reservation for a balloon trip on the day
itself is however possible until a few
hours before departure.
ADMISSION > € 160,00; Children under
13: € 100.00; Brugge City Card rate:
€ 120.00
INFORMATION > +32 (0)475 97 28 87 or
www.bruges-ballooning.com
111

CITY
CARD
CONCERTGEBOUW
13
The impressive Concertgebouw (Concert
hall) with its 1,295 seats and the intimate
Chamber Music Hall with its 320 seats
serve a delightful mix of music, musical
theatre and dance of international qual-
ity. The acoustics and intimate comfort of
both halls are exceptional. Brugge City
Out in Bruges Card: 30% discount on in-house produc-
tions INFORMATION > ’t Zand, tel. +32 (0)70
22 33 02 (Monday – Friday : 4.00 p.m. –
6.30 p.m.), www.concertgebouw.be
The city’s high-quality cultural life flourishes as never
before. Devotees of modern architecture stand in awe of
the Concertgebouw (Concert hall) whilst enjoying to the
full an international top concert or an exhilarating dance
performance. Romantic souls throng the elegant City
Theatre for an unforgettable night. Jazz enthusiasts feel
at home at De Werf, whereas MaZ is the place to be
CITY THEATRE
33
for young folk who want to be in. One of Europe’s best preserved city the-
atres (1869) boasts a palatial foyer and a
majestic auditorium. It is the perfect
The monthly magazine events@brugge offers a detailed setting for concerts and contemporary
events calendar. It is available free of charge at the information dance and theatre performances.
office at the Concertgebouw and the information office at INFORMATION > Vlamingstraat 29,
the railway station.
tel. +32 (0)50 44 30 60 (Weekdays
1.00 p.m.– 6.00 p.m. Saturday
10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.),
www.ccbrugge.be
MAGDALENE
36
CONCERT HALL (MaZ)
The place to be for dynamic young
theatre and dance talent as well as for
concerts. Big names next to intimate
club discoveries. Regular shows and
activities for children.
INFORMATION > Magdalenastraat 27,
tel. +32 (0)50 44 30 60 (Weekdays
10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Saturday
10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.),
www.ccbrugge.be
CITY
CARD
DE WERF
17
Celebrated den for jazz lovers. An es-
tablished concert venue for countless
Belgian and foreign musicians as well
as a perfect spot for that enjoyable
contemporary play or kids’production.
Brugge City Card: 25% discount
INFORMATION > Werfstraat 108,
tel. +32 (0)50 33 05 29, www.dewerf.be
113

Bicycle Rental Points
Bruges is bicycle heaven. Haven’t you brought your own
bike? Don’t worry! The following bicycle rental firms
will happily provide you with an iron steed. Let’s mount
that saddle!
114
STATION
LOCATION > Railway station ADMISSION >
½ day: € 6.50 (from 2.00 p.m.); full day:
€ 9.50 (bike must be returned before
7.30 p.m.) CYCLE MAP > no free map, no
sale of maps DETAILS > collection point
Luggage subject to handing in your ID
card and paying a € 12.50 deposit CON-
TACT > Stationsplein, tel. +32 (0)50 30 23 29
DE KETTING
LOCATION > Gentpoortstraat 23
ADMISSION > € 6,00 CYCLE MAP > free city
map (not cycle map!), no sale of maps
DETAILS > a deposit may be required
CONTACT > tel. +32 (0)50 34 41 96
CITY
CARD
ERIC POPELIER
LOCATION > Mariastraat 26
ADMISSION > a bike for 1 hour: € 4.00; for
4 hours: € 8.00; for a full day: € 12.00
(Brugge City Card: € 9.00). Price of a
tandem for 1 hour: € 10.00; for 4 hours:
€ 17.00; for a full day: € 25.00; price re-
duction for students EXTRA > scooters
and tandem bicycles CYCLE MAP > free
city map (not cycle map!), sale of maps
DETAILS > no deposit CONTACT > tel. +32
(0)50 34 32 62, www.fietsenpopelier.be
CITY
CARD
KOFFIEBOONTJE
LOCATION > Hallestraat 4 ADMISSION >
a bike for 1 hour: € 4.00; for 4 hours:
€ 8.00; for a full day: € 12.00 (Brugge
City Card: € 9.00). Price of a tandem for
1 hour: € 10.00; for 4 hours: € 17.00; for
a full day: € 25.00; students: full day at
half-day fare EXTRA > mountain bikes,
tandem bicycles, buggies, wheelchairs
and scooters CYCLE MAP > free city map
(not cycle map!), no sale of maps DETAILS >
credit card number or a € 150.00 deposit
per bike CONTACT > tel. +32 (0)50 33 80 27,
www.adventure-bike-renting.be
CITY
CARD
BAUHAUS BIKE RENTAL
LOCATION > Langestraat 145
ADMISSION > 1 hour: € 3.00; for 3 hours:
€ 6.00; for a full day: € 10.00 (Brugge City
Card: € 6.00). Students are charged only
€ 9.00 EXTRA > mountain bikes CYCLE
MAP > free city and cycle maps, no sale of
maps DETAILS > you have to hand in your
credit card CONTACT > tel. +32 (0)50 34
10 93, www.bauhaus.be/bikes.html
SNUFFEL BACKPACKER HOSTEL
LOCATION > Ezelstraat 47-49
ADMISSION > € 8,00 CYCLE MAP > free
city and cycle maps, no sale of maps
DETAILS > you have to hand in your ID
card or driving licence CONTACT > tel.
+32 (0)50 33 31 33, www.snuffel.be
CITY
CARD
CONCERTGEBOUW B-BIKE
LOCATION > ’t Zand ADMISSION > 1 hour:
€ 4.00; for 4 hours: € 8.00; for a full day:
€ 12.00 (Brugge City Card: € 9.00) OPEN-
ING TIMES > 1/4-15/10: daily 10.00 a.m.
–12.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.;
16/10-31/3: weekends only 10.00 a.m. –
12.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.
CYCLE MAP > free city map and numer-
ous city maps on loan DETAILS > you
have to hand in your ID card CONTACT >
tel. +32 (0)479 97 12 80
115

Guided Bicycle Trips
Are you game for some great sightseeing but loath to have
to rummage for your map in your rucksack all the time?
Then join one of the guided bike tours and follow the tracks
of a local guide. You will discover tiny villages chock-full
of atmosphere like Damme and Oostkerke, ride along
canals that are straight as a poker and traverse one
of Europe’s loveliest rural regions. In short, we promise
you an idyllic day out topped off with a local ale in an
authentic Flemish café.
116
QUASIMUNDO BIKETOURS BRUGES
> ‘Bruges By Bike’: March – November,
daily 10.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Discover the city’s unique character
and medieval street pattern riding
along quiet backstreets.
> ‘Bruges By Night’: July and August
only, 7.30 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Bruges at night is even more alluring
and romantic than by day. Discover the
city during this fairy-tale bike ride.
> ‘The Ommeland By Bike’: March – end
November, daily 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. A
tour through the flat countryside around
Bruges, passing through medieval towns
such as Damme, peaceful Flemish agrar-
ian villages and dead straight canals.
Meeting Point: Toyo Ito pavilion on Burg,
ten minutes before departure of tour.
English and Dutch spoken. Guides are
also available in French, German and
Spanish. Booking is recommended. Tai-
lor-made group arrangements. FEE >
€ 24,00. Youngsters under 27: € 20.00.
Children under 9: free; € 15.00 if you
bring your own bike. Tour includes
guide, raincoat, water and refreshment
in a local café. INFORMATION > tel. +32
(0)50 33 07 75, www.quasimundo.eu
THE PINK BEAR BIKE TOURS
A mere five minutes away from bustling
Bruges lies one of the prettiest rural ar-
eas in Europe. We take you to historic
Damme, the handsome medieval mar-
ket town, once Bruges’ outport. A guide
will furthermore show you the most en-
chanting places of the Polders. It goes
without saying that we will also halt at a
pleasant café for some Belgian beers
and/or Belgian waffles. On our return
we follow the beautiful poplar-planted
banks of a canal and reveal some of
Bruges’ best-kept secrets.
10.25 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. : ‘Damme and the
Polders’ takes you to medieval Damme
and allows you to discover the flat Flem-
ish polders and the Damse Vaart, the
dead straight canal that leads to
Damme. Meeting Point: Belfry. English
spoken but we are multilingual. A
Dutch- or French-speaking guide can be
arranged. Tailor-made group arrange-
ments. Booking recommended.
FEE > € 21,00. Youngsters under 27:
€ 18.00. Children under 9: free;
€ 15.00 if you bring your own bike. IN-
FORMATION > tel. +32 (0)50 61 66 86,
www.pinkbear.freeservers.com
THE GREEN BIKE TOUR
A guided trip to the polders, the flat
countryside around Bruges. The tour
pulls up at medieval Damme and other
important sights along the way for a lit-
tle extra commentary. 10.00 a.m. to early
afternoon from April to October. By ap-
pointment only during the low season.
Meeting point: [Concertgebouw].
English, Dutch and French spoken.
Booking recommended. Tailor-made
group arrangements. FEE > € 15,00;
€ 9.00 if you bring your own bike.
INFORMATION > tel. +32 (0)50 61 26 67
117

Tailor-made
for Children
A dolphinarium full of happy dolphins, a public observatory
that allows you to gaze endlessly at the stars, a working
children’s farm and countless swimming pools and indoor
playgrounds. Bruges spoils her smallest visitors rotten with
an exciting mix of tailor-made animation. Or do you prefer
a city walk with the whole family? Then join the historical
kids’ walk and unlock Bruges’ secrets by way of amusing
look&search assignments.
118
CITY
CARD
BOUDEWIJN SEAPARK BRUGGE
A jolly dolphin amusement park
chock-a-block with attractions. The
dolphins steal the show at the dolphi-
narium, the sea lions perform a spec-
tacular show at the open air theatre,
and the panoramic aquaramas provide
a thrilling underwater view.
OPENING TIMES > July and August: daily
10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.; Easter Holidays:
10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.; May and June:
daily (except Wednesday) 10.00 a.m. –
5.00 p.m.; September: every Wednes-
day, Saturday and Sunday 10.00 a.m. –
5.00 p.m. ADMISSION > € 23.50;
Children under 13 and 60+: € 19.50.
Children under 1 metre tall: free;
Pay&Display car park: € 6.00. Brugge
City Card rate: € 12.00 INFORMATION
AND TICKETS > A. De Baeckestraat 12,
St.-Michiels, www.boudewijnseapark.
be; Tickets at the amusement park en-
trance or at the information office
[Concertgebouw]. Boudewijn Sea Park
is situated just outside the city centre
and is connected to the Bicycle Route
Network. Bus: nr. 7 & nr. 17 – departure
’t Zand (map: C10) & Biekorf,
Kuipersstraat (map: E8).
HISTORICAL KIDS’ TRAIL
This adventurous walk allows kids to
discover the city through varied
look&search assignments, funny
anecdotes and amusing facts. The
accompanying map includes child-
friendly tips and detailed information
on museums, cinemas and amuse-
ment parks. Bruges – children allowed
costs € 1.00 and is available in Dutch,
French and English at the information
office [Concertgebouw], ’t Zand.
INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
These indoor playgrounds offer a
handy solution for boisterous birthday
parties, school excursions or rainy
days. And whilst the kids let their hair
down, the adults can keep an eye on
them from the cafeteria.
DE TOVERPLANEET
OPENING TIMES > Wednesday 1.00 p.m. –
8.00 p.m. Friday 3.30 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and school holidays
10.30 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.; May be closed on
hot summer days. ADMISSION > € 6.00.
After 5.00 p.m. € 5.00. Children
under 3 and accompanying adults: free.
119
INFORMATION > Legeweg 88,
St.-Andries, www.detoverplaneet.be;
Bus: nr. 9. Departure: Rozenhof
(map A10)
HET OVERDEKTE SPEELDORP
OPENING TIMES > Opening times:
School holidays, weekends,
public holidays and Wednesdays:
1.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.; Outside these
periods only for schooltrips, booking
mandatory.
ADMISSION > € 5.00. Children under 3
and accompanying adults: free.
INFORMATION > Diksmuidestraat 5,
www.speeldorp.be; Bus: nr. 14. Depar-
ture: Krakelebrug or De Veste (map E3)
CHILDREN’S FARM
DE ZEVEN TORENTJES
This 14th-century farmstead houses
a merry working children’s farm with
a superb recreation area and a gaggle
of farmyard animals. The beautifully
restored dovecot and the Gothic
barn are also worth a visit. The educa-
tional component can be found at
www.brugge.be under kinderboerderij
(children’s farm)
120
OPENING TIMES > Free from sunrise to
sunset. Cafeteria open from Tuesday
to Sunday: 11.30 a.m. – 9.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > Free entry. There’s a
charge for activities that require
supervision: € 1.00 per child from
schools or organisations outside
Bruges. A € 1.00 surcharge for activi-
ties that require the use of educational
resources.
INFORMATION > Canadaring 41,
Assebroek; Bus: nr. 2 A.Z. St.-Lucas/
Assebroek. Departure: Railway station
(map B13)
BEISBROEK MUNICIPAL DOMAIN
AND TUDOR
Two vast areas of natural beauty
ensure endless hours of walking and
playing enjoyment. The immense
Beisbroek castle park includes
woods, heathland, a deer enclosure
and an educational nature trail, while
its nature centre spoils nature lovers
with an interactive exhibition and
a field laboratory. A stone’s throw
away from Beisbroek is another
magnet: the Tudor Municipal Domain.
Although the Tudor-style castle
catches the eye, its ornamental
garden and herb garden are also
more than worth the while. The park
itself boasts pastures and gigantic
deciduous trees. The Chartreuzinnen-
bos (wood of the Carthusian nuns)
links the 40 hectares of the Tudor
Domain with the 98 hectares of
the Beisbroek Domain.
OPENING TIMES > Domain: daily from
sunrise to sunset; Nature centre: every
day 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. (except Sat-
urday). Sunday and public holidays
2.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.; Herb Garden:
daily from 1/5 to 15/10, 2.00 p.m. –
5.00 p.m. Closed Saturday. Guided tour
available, tel. +32 (0) 50 32 90 27
ADMISSION > Free
INFORMATION > Zeeweg 96,
Sint-Andries; Bus: nr. 52 Brugge/
Gistel/Oostende – nr. 53 Brugge/
Jabbeke. Departure: ’t Zand and
railway station (map C10 and B13)
BEISBROEK PUBLIC OBSERVATORY
This public observatory zooms in on the
sun, the stars and the planets. Its mod-
ern planetarium, interactive exhibition
and well-equipped observatory unlock
the secrets of the galaxies. The planet
trail that starts at the castle is a clever
scale model illustrating the distance
between the various planets: each
footstep corresponds to nine million
space kilometres.
OPENING TIMES > Planetarium presen-
tations: Wednesday and Sunday at
3.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. Friday at
8.30 p.m.; Extra presentations during
school holidays: Monday, Tuesday and
Thursday at 3.00 p.m.; Information on
foreign language presentations at the
information office at the Concert-
gebouw and at the railway station.
ADMISSION > € 5.00;
Youngsters under 18: € 4.00
INFORMATION > Zeeweg 96,
Sint-Andries, www.beisbroek.be; Bus:
nr. 52 Brugge/Gistel/Oostende – nr. 53
Brugge/Jabbeke. Departure: ’t Zand
and railway station (map C10 and B13)
SWIMMING POOLS
JAN GUILINI
Keizer Karelstraat 41, bus: nr. 9,
Stop: Visartpark
INTERBAD
Veltemweg 35, 8310 Brugge, bus: nr. 11,
Stop: Sint-Andreaslyceum
OLYMPIA
Doornstraat 110, 8200 Brugge,
bus: nr. 25, Stop: Jan Breydel
All opening times available at the
information office at the Concert-
gebouw or at the Railway Station.
121

Get Even More Out of
Your Stay in Bruges
Do you have any extra time on your hands? Why then don’t
you set out and discover Bruges’ wide surroundings? While
Bruges’ wet- and woodlands treats you to medieval areas of
natural beauty, glorious castles and endless bike routes
that crisscross all those enchanting places, the coast offers
countless splendid beaches and an authentic seafaring
ambiance. And if you’re looking for something more
intense, then head for the tranquil Westhoek, still dominat-
ed by the Great War. Each experience will guarantee some
unforgettable memories!
122
Bruges’ wet- and woodlands
CHURCH OF OUR LADY VISITATION
LISSEWEGE
This impressive brick church was
erected in an early Gothic style in the
13th century. The remarkable interior
counts amongst its treasures a mirac-
ulous statue of the Virgin Mary (1625),
a striking organ-case and an equally
stunning rood loft and pulpit. A truly
great attraction is the monumental
church tower. The top offers a magnifi-
cent panoramic view of the polders.
OPENING TIMES > The church: daily,
10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. In summer
9.00 a.m. till 7.00 p.m.; the tower:
1/7 – 15/9, 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > Church: free; tower:
€ 4,00; children aged to 11: € 0,50
INFORMATION > Stationstraat 23,
Lissewege, tel. +32 (0)499 14 19 57
(tower guard), www.lissewege.be
VISITORS CENTRE LISSEWEGE
The visitors centre traces the one thou-
sand-year-old history of this white
village by way of unique photos, maps,
models and a collection of archeologic
finds from the erstwhile Cistercian
abbey of Ter Doest.
OPENING TIMES > 1/7-30/9: daily
2.00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 2.00; Children
aged to 11: € 1.00
INFORMATION > Oude Pastoriestraat 5,
Lissewege, www.lissewege.be
TER DOEST ABBEY BARN
The commanding early Gothic abbey
barn (14th century) of this former
12th-century Cistercian abbey has only
recently been completely restored.
The dovecote (1651) and monumental
gatehouse (1662) have also withstood
the ravages of time brilliantly.
OPENING TIMES > Daily 10.00 a.m. –
5.00 p.m.
INFORMATION > Ter Doeststraat 4,
Lissewege, www.lissewege.be
123
BRUGES’ WET- AND WOODLANDS
CITY
CARD
LAMME GOEDZAK DAMME
The nostalgic river boat Lamme Goedzak
plies between Noorweegse Kaai in Brug-
es and the centre of Damme. A bus takes
you from Bruges’ railway station or
Markt to the river boat’s jetty and back.
> 1/4-15/10: departures from Bruges to
Damme: daily at 10.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m.,
2.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.; depar-
tures from Damme to Bruges: daily at
9.15 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 3.00 p.m.
and 5.20 p.m. ADMISSION > € 6.00 (one-
way ticket) or € 7.50 (return ticket); 65+:
€ 5.50 (one-way ticket) or € 6.50 (return
ticket); children aged 3 to 11: € 4.50
(one-way ticket) or € 5.50 (return ticket);
Brugge City Card rate: € 5.50 INFORMA-
TION > Noorweegse Kaai 31, Brugge,
www.bootdammebrugge.be
 
TRIPLE TREAT QUASIMODO TOUR:
CHOCOLATE, WAFFLES AND BEER
Take it easy on this English-language
minibus tour, which takes you to a.o.
illustrious Tillegem Castle and unique
Neo-Gothic Loppem Château. Included
are a pleasant stroll through medieval
Damme and a visit to the Gothic abbey
barn of Ter Doest at Lissewege. And
124
what would this tour be without some
delicious waffles, mouth-watering
chocolate and a choice selection of
Belgian country ales? > Excursions on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from
February to December. You are collect-
ed at the Parkhotel on ‘t Zand (Map:C9)
at 9.15 a.m. and brought back to the ho-
tel at around 5.00 p.m. If requested, you
can be collected from your own hotel.
ADMISSION > € 60.00; youngsters under
26: € 50.00; including packed lunch
and entrance fees INFORMATION >
tel. 0800 975 25 or +32(0)50 37 04 70,
www.quasimodo.be
CITY TOUR DAMME
City Tour minibuses drop you off at
Damme. Having sailed back to Bruges
on Lamme Goedzak two hours later,
you will be picked up by the bus at the
jetty and transferred to Markt, Bruges’
central square. > Excursions: April-
September, daily at 4.00 p.m. Commen-
tary in French, Italian, Dutch, English,
German and Spanish can be requested.
Departure from Markt. ADMISSION >
€ 24.00; children aged 6 to 11: € 16.00
INFORMATION > www.citytour.be
CITY
CARD
UILENSPIEGELMUSEUM DAMME
Would you like to know more about Tijl
Uilenspiegel and his pranks and tom-
fooleries? And would you like to meet
his clones from all over the world and
understand the cultural-historical con-
text of this capricious figure? Then
Damme is your destination. Here you
will not only shake hands with the fa-
mous Flemish Uilenspieghel from the
19th century, but also with his 16th-cen-
tury German colleague and his various
20th-century brothers. OPENING TIMES >
16/4 – 15/10: weekdays 9.00-12.00 a.m.
and 2.00-6.00 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday
and public holidays 10.00-12.00 a.m. and
2.00-6.00 p.m.; 16/10 – 15/4: weekdays
9.00 -12.00 a.m. and 2.00-5.00 p.m.; Sat-
urday, Sunday and public holidays 2.00-
5.00 p.m. ADMISSION > € 2.50; family
BRUGES’ WET- AND WOODLANDS
ticket: € 5.00; students: € 1.50; Brugge
City Card rate: € 1.50 INFORMATION >
Jacob van Maerlantstraat 3, Damme,
tel. +32 (0)50 46 10 80,
www.toerismedamme.be
CITY
CARD
SAINT-JOHN’S HOSPITAL DAMME
Thirteenth-century Saint-John’s Hos-
pital possesses an impressive collec-
tion of liturgical objects and an inter-
esting selection of unusual furniture,
paintings and earthenware. The hos-
pital’s chapel is open to visitors except
during services. Why not kill two birds
with one stone and discover not only
this fine collection but also the special
place where the objects belonged
and where they were once used on
a daily basis?
OPENING TIMES > Easter to 30/9: 11.00-
12.00 a.m. and 2.00-6.00 p.m.; Closed
Monday morning and Friday morning;
annual closure from 1/10 to 31/3
ADMISSION > € 1.50; family ticket:
€ 3.00; 65+ and disabled persons:
€ 1.00; Brugge City Card rate: € 1.00
INFORMATION > Kerkstraat 33, Damme,
tel. +32 (0)50 46 10 80,
www.toerismedamme.be
125
BRUGES’ WET- AND WOODLANDS
CITY
CARD
PERMEKE MUSEUM JABBEKE
Constant Permeke, the most famous
Flemish expressionist painter, lived and
worked in Jabbeke for more than twenty
years. His abode was the The Four
Winds, a striking villa commissioned by
the artist himself and built, for its time,
in extremely modern design. Today it is
the location of the Permeke Museum,
where the visitor can wander around the
artist’s living quarters as well as his
garden and former studios. It is without
doubt the place par excellence to ad-
mire in total peace and quiet Permeke’s
collection of a hundred and fifty of his
spellbinding works.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday
10.00-12.30 a.m. and 1.30-6.00 p.m. (till
5.30 p.m. from 1/10 to 31/3); annual clo-
sure: 1/1 and 25/12
ADMISSION > € 3.00; OAP’s: € 2.50;
youngsters under 26: € 1.00; children
under 16: free; Brugge City Card rate:
€ 2.25
INFORMATION > Gistelsteenweg 341,
Jabbeke, tel. +32 (0)59 50 81 18 (Mu.Zee
- Kunstmuseum aan zee); for guided
tours please contact the Mu.Zee –
Kunstmuseum aan Zee in Oostende.
126
CITY
CARD
ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM OUDENBURG
After years of trudging through mud,
painstaking excavations and studies,
Oudenburg today possesses a unique
collection of archaeological artefacts
from Roman times. The good news is
that the visitor can pore over them at the
modernised museum. The reconstruc-
tions, scale-models, archaeological
finds and computer simulations enable
you to get to grips with the region’s rich
Roman history in a professional way. The
adjacent visitor centre brings you also up
to date with the Abbey of Saint-Peter’s,
Saint-Arnold and the other attractions of
this region. OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to
Saturday 10.00-12.30 a.m. and 1.30-
5.30 p.m. Sunday 2.00-5.30 p.m. ADMIS-
SION > Visitor Centre: free; museum:
€ 5.00; children and youngsters between
7 and 18: € 2.00; students: € 2.00; chil-
dren under 6 (accompanied by an adult):
free, disabled persons: € 3.00; members
of the Flemish Museum Society and the
International Council of Museums: free;
Brugge City Card rate: € 3.00 INFORMA-
TION > Weststraat 24, Oudenburg,
tel. +32 (0)59 56 84 00
A Trip To the Seaside
CITY
CARD
HARBOUR ROUND TRIP
ZEEBRUGGE
The round trip departs from the old
fishing port and sails past the naval
base, the Pierre Vandamme Lock (one
of the largest in the world), the LNG
terminal, the wind farm park, Stern
Island and the cruise ships and dredg-
ers. All the time gigantic container
ships are being loaded and unloaded
along the quays. An experience that
offers a unique insight into the harbour
and its manifold activities.
OPENING TIMES > May, June and Sep-
tember: Weekends and public holi-
days, 2.00 p.m.; July and August: daily
at 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. Dinner-
dance on Saturday night.
ADMISSION > € 9.00; 60+: € 8.50; chil-
dren between 3 and 11: € 6.80; Brugge
City Card rate: € 6.75; combination
tickets Seafront/Euro-Line: € 17.50;
children under 12: € 15.30
INFORMATION > Tijdokstraat
(Old Fishing Port), Zeebrugge.
www.euro-line.be
THE BEACH AT ZEEBRUGGE
In winter this is the place par excel-
lence to get a breath of fresh air. In
summer the townspeople of Bruges
flock to this wide and safe sandy strip
to sunbathe, swim and potter about.
And why not take a train to the beach?
It’s a piece of cake! Adjacent to the
beach is the summer railway station!
CITY
CARD
SEAFRONT ZEEBRUGGE
This maritime theme park in the old
fish market plunges the visitor in the
harsh world of the fisherman, the
history of Zeebrugge’s port and life
below the sea. Children will enjoy
the Russian submarine Foxtrot, the
lightship West-Hinder and the brand-
new pirates’ paradise.
OPENING TIMES > Daily 10.00 a.m. –
6.00 p.m.; July and August 10.00 a.m.
– 7.00 p.m.; closed 1/1, 4/1-22/1 and
25/12 ADMISSION > € 10.50; Children up
to 1 metre (accompanied by parent):
free; children under 12: € 8.50; 60+:
€ 10.00; Brugge City Card rate: € 7.00
INFORMATION > Vismijnstraat 7,
Zeebrugge, www.seafront.be
CITY
CARD
EARTH EXPLORER OOSTENDE
Earth, water, wind and fire. That’s what
it is all about at this scientific amuse-
ment park unequalled in the world.
Feel in your bones what an earthquake
is like, explore life in the ocean from a
submarine, find yourself in the eye of
a storm and witness a devastating vol-
127
EEN UITSTAPJE NAAR ZEE
canic eruption. What thrills! The Ex-
plorer Zones offer plenty of hands-on
activities, whereas the Discovery
Room allows you to watch experiments
and demonstrations.
OPENING TIMES > Easter holidays to
31 August: daily from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00
p.m. Last entry: 5.00 p.m. ADMISSION >
€ 14.50; Students, 60+ and disabled per-
sons: € 12.50; children between 4 and 12:
€ 10.50; Brugge City Card rate: € 10.90
INFORMATION > Fortstraat 128b,
Oostende, tel. +32 (0)59 70 59 59,
www.earthexplorer.be; public transport:
coast tram
CITY
CARD
MU.ZEE OOSTENDE
This contemporary museum from 1953
offers a stirring overview of Belgian
20th-century art. The School of Latem
is well represented, as is abstract art.
Some early work by René Magritte can
also be admired. Kids are welcome, too!
The children’s section allows your off-
spring to have a go at art in a playful
way. It’s child’s play, as a matter of fact!
And why not drop in on one of the great,
high-profiled exhibitions? I bet you
won’t know where to look first!
128
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
10.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > Permanent collection:
€ 6.00; discounts: € 5.00; youngsters
under 26: € 1.00; children under 13: free;
entrance fees are increased for exhibi-
tions; Brugge City Card rate: € 4.50 IN-
FORMATION > Romestraat 11, Oostende,
tel. +32 (0)59 50 81 18, www.muzee.be,
Public transport: Buses 6 and 14
CITY
CARD
ENSOR MUSEUM OOSTENDE
Oostende is your destination if you
want to wander through the mind of
James Ensor (1860-1949). This house
was indeed the operating base of the
world-famous painter from 1917 on-
wards. This is where he lived and
worked. His aunt and uncle’s shell and
souvenir shop on the ground floor has
been carefully reconstructed, while the
first floor serves as a documentation
centre. The second floor displays the
artist’s salon studio. This space is so
moving that you immediately forget
that you’re looking at reproductions
rather than original works.
OPENING TIMES > Wednesday to Mon-
day: 10.00-12.00 a.m. and 2.00-5.00
p.m. ADMISSION > € 2,00; Students and
OAP’s: € 1.00; Youngsters under 18:
free; Brugge City Card rate: € 1.50
INFORMATION > Vlaanderenstraat 27,
Oostende, tel. +32 (0)59 50 33 37 (recep-
tion) or +32 (0) 497 59 55 76, www.oost-
ende.be. Public transport: Centrumbus
(alight at Vlaanderenstraat), coast tram
(alight at Marie-Joséplein)
CITY
CARD
SEA LIFE MARINE PARK
BLANKENBERGE
Cute seals, dangerous-looking sharks,
sluggish turtles: all these wonderful
sea creatures await you at this top at-
traction in Blankenberge. You also get
acquainted with the fauna and flora of
the North Sea, you see for yourself
how the SOS-Rescue programme for
seals is operating and you gaze in awe
and admiration at the tropical sharks
in the underwater tunnel. Or do you
prefer penguins, Japanese spider
crabs and dwarf otters? Not to worry!
No fewer than 1,500 underwater crea-
tures will show you their best side.
OPENING TIMES > Daily from 10.00 a.m.
Closing times may vary. Annual clo-
sure: 1/1 (morning) and 25/12
ADMISSION > € 16,50; Children from 3 to
11: € 13.00; OAP’s, students, disabled
persons: € 15.50; Brugge City Card
rate: € 12.50
INFORMATION > Koning Albert I-
laan 116, Blankenberge, tel. +32 (0)50
42 43 00, www.sealife.be, Public trans-
port: the coast tram has a stop right in
front of the Sea Life Marine Park
EEN UITSTAPJE NAAR ZEE
CITY
CARD
’T ZWIN KNOKKE-HEIST
The tides have complete free play in
this famous nature reserve that covers
125 hectares. The result is a remark-
able panorama of mud flats, salt
marshes, dunes and creeks. Many bird
species, too, are attracted to this area.
They come to brood or rest during their
great migration. A few couples of
storks for example nestle down here
each and every year. In summer the
rare sea lavender or zwinneblomme
(flower of the Zwin) paints the land-
scape purple: it is a spectacle you truly
don’t want to miss!
OPENING TIMES > Easter to 30/9, daily
from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; October to
Easter, daily 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.;
Closed Monday (except during school
holidays or public holidays)
ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATES >
1/1 and 25/12
ADMISSION > € 5.20; OAP’s: € 4.40;
Children between 6 and 11: € 3.20
Brugge City Card rate: € 4.00
INFORMATION > Graaf Leon Lippens-
dreef 8, Knokke-Heist,
tel. +32 (0)50 60 70 86, www.zwin.be
129

Battlefields: Flanders and the Great War
QUASIMODO WWI
FLANDERS FIELDS TOUR
Quasimodo takes you on a personal-
ised and relaxing minibus tour to all
the highlights: Passchendaele, Hill 60,
several cemeteries, trenches and bun-
kers, the Menin Gate and various
ANZAC, Canadian, British and Irish
monuments. Our stories bring four
years of terrible warfare in the Ypres
Salient back to life.
OPENING TIMES > February to the end
of December: Sunday, Tuesday and
Thursday. April to October: daily except
Monday. You are collected at the Park
Hotel on ‘t Zand (Map: C9) at 9.15 a.m.
and brought back to the hotel at
around 5.00 p.m. If requested, you can
be collected at your own hotel.
FEE > English spoken; € 60.00; Young-
sters under 26: € 50.00; Tour includes
packed lunch and admission fees
INFORMATION > Tel. 0800 975 25 or
+32 (0)50 37 04 70, www.quasimodo.be
130
FLANDERS FIELDS BATTLEFIELD
DAYTOURS
Small parties (maximum 8 people) and
individual passengers are collected at
their hotel for a minibus tour to the
Great War sights of the Westhoek. The
Flanders Inside Out Tour alights at the
German cemetery in Langemark, Tyne
Cot Cemetery in Passchendaele, the
Menin Gate, the Pool of Peace on Kem-
melberg, Talbot House in Poperinge,
the Trench of Death at Diksmuide, the
In Flanders Fields Museum at Ypres
and the Passchendaele Museum. Ca-
nadian, Australian, Irish and American
monuments can be visited on request.
FEE > Tuesday – Sunday; Departure:
8.45 a.m. The tour finishes at 5.30 p.m.
Booking essential. English, Dutch and
French commentary.
ADMISSION > € 65.00; Youngsters under
26: € 60.00; Includes lunch (no pick-
nick); Special Day Tour on request
(tailor-made)
The Last Post Tour is a short evening trip
to Ypres and back to see the Last Post
ceremony at the Menin Gate. Departure
6.15 p.m. The tour finishes at 9.15 p.m.
English, Dutch and French commentary.
FEE > € 40.00
INFORMATION > Tel. 0800 99 133
or +32 (0)50 34 60 60,
www.visitbruges.org
CITY
CARD
IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM
YPRES
Welcome to this moving interactive
museum delving into the history of the
Great War. Don’t expect a dry enumer-
ation of facts and figures, but brace
yourself for a fascinating display of
modern techniques, sound effects and
BATTLEFIELDS: FLANDERS AND THE GREAT WAR
authentic film material that will make
your heart bleed. This is history in its
most moving form: it’s as if you’re cow-
ering down in the trenches yourself or
witnessing the devastating destruction
of the noble town of Ypres with your
own eyes. In short, this is a museum
that you have to experience in order
to believe it.
OPENING TIMES > 1/4 to 15/11: daily
from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.; 16/11 to
31/3: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 a.m.
to 5.00 p.m.; Last tickets 1 hour
before closing time. Annual
closure: first three weeks after the
Christmas holidays
ADMISSION > € 8.00; Youngsters be-
tween 7 and 25: € 1.00; Children under
7: free; Brugge City Card rate: € 5.50
INFORMATION > Grote Markt 34,
Ieper, tel. +32 (0)57 23 92 20,
www.inflandersfields.be
131
BATTLEFIELDS: FLANDERS AND THE GREAT WAR
CITY
CARD
TALBOT HOUSE POPERINGHE
Talbot House was the most famous sol-
dier’s home of the British forces during
the Great War. The house has remained
in its authentic state until now. The
large garden is still a haven of peace,
and the restored Concert Hall is the
place to watch Life Behind the Front, a
life-size album of the soldiers’ exist-
ence behind the lines. The historic con-
cert hall projects a 1917 Concert Party.
It’s as if you step back into the turbu-
lent times of the Great War.
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.; 15/11 – 14/2:
Tuesday to Sunday 1.00 p.m. –
5.00 p.m.; Last entry 4.30 p.m.; Closed
from 22/12 until Tuesday after New
Year ADMISSION > € 8.00; 65+: € 7.00;
Children under 7: free; Youngsters un-
132
der 19: € 5.00; Family ticket: € 19.50;
Brugge City Card rate: € 6.00
INFORMATION > Gasthuisstraat 43,
Poperinge, tel. +32 (0)57 33 32 28,
www.talbothouse.be
CITY
CARD
CANADA POLAND
WAR MUSEUM ADEGEM
If you want to be put in the picture of
Flanders during the Second World
War, then the Canada Poland War Mu-
seum is the place to be. A number of
reconstructed tableaux showing a.o.
the Battle of the Leopold Canal and a
vast collection of photographs, weap-
ons and uniforms give an excellent in-
sight into the war years.
OPENING TIMES > April to October:
Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00 a.m. –
6.00 p.m.; November to March:
Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00 a.m. –
12.00 a.m.
ADMISSION > € 5.00; Children under 6:
free; Brugge City Card rate: € 4.00
INFORMATION > Heulendonk 21,
Adegem, tel. +32 (0)50 71 06 66,
www.canadamuseum.be
Other Places
of Interest
CITY
CARD
TOUR OF FLANDERS CENTRE
OUDENAARDE
This multifunctional visitor centre is
also multitalented: it is both a hands-on
museum and an exhibition space, a film
auditorium and a museum shop, and
there is naturally a bicycle-themed
brasserie as well. Plenty of multimedia
techniques turn you into a protagonist
in the legendary Tour of Flanders. Ex-
tensive information is provided at the
counter, and if you’ve returned exhaust-
ed from a bike tour, then a nice, hot
shower awaits you!
OPENING TIMES > Tuesday to Sunday:
10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
ADMISSION > € 7.00; 65+ and students:
€ 5.00; Family ticket: € 15.00;
Brugge City Card rate: € 5.00
INFORMATION > Markt 43, Oudenaarde,
tel. +32 (0)55 33 99 33, www.crvv.be,
Public transport: a bus links Oude-
naarde railway station (on the Ghent-
Sint-Pieters to Ronse line) with Markt
COLOPHON
This is a publication of Toerisme Brugge.
CONCEPT AND CO-ORDINATION >
Bram De Vos, Uitgeverij Lannoo
TEXTS > Sofie Allegaert, Jo Berten,
Brugge Plus vzw, Rudi Collier, Pierre
Darge, Toni De Coninck, Carine Decroos,
Laurens De Keyzer, Annelies Delchambre,
Bram De Vos, Dieter Dewulf, Noël
Geirnaert, Kurt Götze, Geert Gruyaert,
Evelien Vandenberghe, Ans Vanhoute,
Geert Van der Speeten, Dirk Van Tieghem,
Katelijne Vertongen
TRANSLATION > Joseph Pearce
DESIGN > Nele Reyniers,
Uitgeverij Lannoo
TYPESETTING > Keppie & Keppie
WITH THANKS > West-Vlaamse Gidsen-
kring Brugge, Koninklijke Gidsenbond
Brugge en West-Vlaanderen, S-wan vzw
PHOTOGRAPHY > Layla Aerts , Cel foto-
grafie Stad Brugge, Jens Compernolle,
Jan Darthet, Michel Decleer, Steven
Decroos, Boudewijn Dehaene,
Mieke De Jonghe, Daniël de Kievith,
Daniël Devoldere, Diamantmuseum
Brugge, Luk Eeckhout, Bart Grietens,
In Flanders Fields Museum, Sankai Juku,
Joris Luyten, Hugo Maertens,
Musea Brugge, Johan Persson, Herman
Sorgeloos, Kris Struyf, Tom Van Nuffel,
Westtoer
CARTOGRAPHY > Johan Mahieu
and Tatjana Matysik
December 2009. Toerisme Brugge can not
be held responsible for any inaccuracies
or change in prices.
RESPONSIBLE EDITOR
Dieter Dewulf, PO Box 744, B-8000 Brugge
C I T Y MA P B R U G ES
Big city map for sale at the
information office at the railway
station or at
the Concert-
gebouw.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
CASHPOINTS
DE POST > Markt 5 | Map: E8
KBC > Steenstraat 38 | Map: D9
FORTIS BANK > Simon Stevinplein 3 | Map: D9
EUROPABANK > Vlamingstraat 13 | Map: E8
RAILWAY STATION > Stationsplein | Map: B13
CINEMAS
» Programmes: [Concertgebouw], ’t Zand
» All films are shown in their original language
» See also www.cinebel.be
LUMIÈRE > Sint-Jakobsstraat 36
www.lumiere.be | Map: D7
KINEPOLIS BRUGGE > Koning Albert I-laan
200 | www.kinepolis.com/brugge | Map: A14
CHURCH SERVICES
» BEGUINAGE > Sunday 9.30 a.m.
» BASILICA OF THE HOLY BLOOD >
Sunday 11.00 a.m.
» HOLY FAMILY > Saturday 5.30 p.m.
» HOLY MAGDALENE > Sunday 11.30 a.m.
» CHURCH OF OUR LADY > Monday-Friday
9.00 a.m., Saturday 5.30 p.m.,
Sunday 11.00 a.m.
» CAPUCHINS > Saturday 6.00 p.m.,
Sunday 7.00 a.m. & 10.30 a.m.
» SAINT ANNE’S > Sunday 10.00 a.m.
» SAINT GILES’S > Sunday 10.00 a.m.
» SAINT JACOB’S > Saturday 6.30 p.m.
» SAINT SAVIOUR’S > Saturday 4.00 p.m.,
Sunday 10.30 a.m.
» SAINT WALBURGHA’S > Sunday 7.00 p.m.
» ENGLISH CHURCH (ANGLICAN) /
Saint Peter’s Chapel, Keersstraat 1 >
Sunday 6.00 p.m.
» UNITED PROTESTANT CHURCH /
’t Keerske, Keersstraat 1 > Sunday 10.00 a.m.
» FREE EVANGELICAL CHURCH /
Naaldenstraat 18 > Sunday 10.00 a.m.
» ORTHODOX CHURCH /
Ezelstraat 85 > Sunday 10.00 a.m.
INTERNET
» TELEBOUTIQUE
OPENING TIMES > Monday to Saturday 10.00
a.m.-9.00 p.m. | Sunday 11.00 a.m.-9.00 p.m.
CLOSED > Friday afternoon 2.00 p.m.-3.30 p.m.
CHARGE > € 3.00 per hour
ADDRESS > corner of Langestraat and
Predikherenstraat
INFORMATION >
telephone +32 (0)50 61 67 39 | Map: G8
» SNUFFEL BACKPACKER HOSTEL
CHARGE > € 1.00 per half hour
ADDRESS > Ezelstraat 47-49
INFORMATION > telephone +32 (0)50 33 31 33
info@snuffel.be | www.snuffel.be | Map: D6
» BAUHAUS
CHARGE > € 1.00 for the first 15 minutes,
then € 0.05 per minute
ADDRESS > Langestraat 145
INFORMATION > telephone +32 (0)50 34 10 93 |
info@bauhaus.be | www.bauhaus.be | Map: I7
MARKET DAYS
» WEDNESDAYS > 8.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. |
Markt | Food & Flowers
» SATURDAYS > 8.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. |
’t Zand & Beursplein | Miscellaneous
» SUNDAYS > 8.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. | Ten Briele,
Gemeenteafdeling Sint-Michiels | Miscella-
neous
» TUESDAYS TO SATURDAYS >
8.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. | Vismarkt | Fish
» SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS > 15 March to 15 November | 10.00
a.m.-6.00 p.m. | Dijver | Antiques and bibelots
MEDICAL HELP
» DOCTORS ON DUTY > 7.00 p.m.-8.00 a.m.
> telephone +32 (0)78 15 15 90
» PHARMACISTS ON DUTY
telephone +32 (0)900 10 500
» S.O.S. EMERGENCY SERVICE >
telephone 100
» HOSPITALS
A.Z. St.-Jan > telephone +32 (0)50 45 21 11
St.-Lucas > telephone +32 (0)50 36 91 11
St.-Franciscus Xaveriuskliniek >
telephone +32 (0)50 47 04 70
» POISONS ADVICE CENTRE >
telephone +32 (0)70 245 245
BUREAUX DE CHANGE
GOFFIN CHANGE > Steenstraat 2 | Map: E8
PILLEN R.W.J > Rozenhoedkaai 2 | Map: F9
PARKING
Bruges is a compact city. Most places of
interest are within walking distance of your
accommodation. In order to keep the historic
city centre attractive and accessible, above-
ground parking in the city centre is limited to
a maximum of 4 hours in the Blue Zone and
to 2 hours in the Pay&Display Zones. You can
easily park your car in one of the underground
car parks where you will pay a maximum of
€ 8.70 for 24hrs. The most inexpensive and
largest car park is next to the railway station:
the € 2.50 charge per day includes a bus
transfer with De Lijn to the city centre.
These buses leave every three minutes.
» CAR PARK CENTRUM-ZAND
CAPACITY > 1400
OPENING TIMES > Sunday-Thursday:
7.00 a.m.-1.00 a.m., Friday-Saturday:
24/24hrs
RATES > day rate: maximum € 8.70/24hrs |
evening rate: maximum € 2.50
(from 7.00 p.m. to closing time).
» CAR PARK CENTRUM-STATION
CAPACITY > 1500
OPENING TIMES > 24/7
RATES > € 0.50 per hour
(maximum € 2.50/24hrs)
BUSES
You can use public transport during your
stay. De Lijn connects the railway station
and the centre by a bus every three minutes.
Furthermore, city line 12 “Centrum-Station-
Bargeplein” is a continuous high-frequency
shuttle between the most important city
stops such as Markt (Map E8), Biekorf
(Map E8), the railway station (Map C13)
and the Katelijne car park (Map E13).
The map at the back of this brochure contains
a handy overview of all bus stops.
TICKETS >
Ticket: € 1.20 advanced booking |
€ 1.60 on bus
Day Pass: € 5.00 advanced booking |
€ 6.00 on bus
ADVANCED BOOKING OFFICES >
De Lijnwinkel, NMBS railway station con-
course
[Concertgebouw], ’t Zand
Various city centre book shops
INFORMATION > www.delijn.be
TAXIS
TAXI RANKS >
Markt: telephone +32 (0)50 33 44 44
Stationsplein: telephone +32 (0)50 38 46 60
GETTING THERE
» BY TRAIN
» London – Bruges by Eurostar in 3.05 hours,
one transfer in Brussels (station Midi/Zuid).
» Also one transfer at Brussels (Midi/Zuid)
when coming from other European cities
like Amsterdam, Paris, Rotterdam, Cologne
and Luxembourg.
Multiple direct connections each day from
Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp, but also from
other Belgian cities to Bruges.
» BY CAR / COACH / FERRY
» Dover (Uk) – Dunkerque (F) with Norfolk-
line | Dunkerque (F) > Bruges (B) by car:
45 miles / 50 minutes.
» Dover (Uk)– Calais (F) with Seafrance or
P&O ferries | Calais (F) > Bruges by car:
72 miles / 80 minutes.
» Ramsgate (Uk)– Ostend (B) with Transeu-
ropaferries | Oostende > Bruges by car:
15 miles / 25 minutes.
» Hull (Uk)– Zeebrugge (B) with P&O ferries |
Zeebrugge > Bruges by car: 10 miles /
20 minutes.
» Rosyth (Uk)– Zeebrugge (B) with Norfolk-
line | Zeebrugge > Bruges by car: 10 miles /
20 minutes.
» BY PLANE
» Via Brussels Airport: daily flights from 200
destinations in 66 countries. Easy access to
Bruges by train (one transfer in Brussels-
Midi/Zuid).
» Via Brussels-South-Charleroi-Airport:
Multiple flights a week by low cost airlines
from several European cities. Frequent
train and bus connection between the
airport and Bruges.
More information on www.bruges.be/transport
Detailed train, bus and ferry timetables can be
obtained at the information office at the
Concertgebouw or at the Station.
 Diksmuidestraat E3 Gerechtshof I8 Hoornstraat G7 Kazernevest I9 Kreupelenstraat B9 Mortierstraat C8
STREET NAMES Dirk Boutsstraat C4 Gevangenisstraat F9 Hortensiastraat H14 Keersstraat E8 Krom Genthof F6 Muntplein-Muntpoort D8
Dokwerkersstraat I1 Gieterijstraat C6 Houthulststraat C4 Kegelschoolstraat B9 Krommestraat G2 Muur Der Doodgeschotenen*
A Boninvest H11 I8
Driekoningenweg* J8 Gistelse Steenweg* A10 Hugo Losschaertstraat D6 Keizer Karelstraat B6 Kroonstraat B4
Academiestraat E7 Boomgaardstraat G8 Driekroezenstraat E11 Giststraat D9 Hugo Verrieststraat H7 Kelkstraat F8 Kruisboogstraat* I12
Achiel Van Ackerplein D6 N
Boterhuis D7 Driezwanenstraat G7 Gloribusstraat C10 Huidenvettersplein F9 Kemelstraat D9 Kruisvest I6
18-Oktoberstraat A10 Naaldenstraat D7
Boudewijn Ostenstraat* F7 Dudzeelse Steenweg G1 Goezeputstraat D10 Kersenboomstraat* H8 Kruitenbergstraat G9
Adriaan Willaertstraat E7 Neststraat C8
Boudewijn Ravestraat F11 I
Dweersstraat C9 Gombertstraat (Nikolaas) D3 Ketsbruggestraat C13 Kuipersstraat E8
Albrecht Rodenbachstraat* Nieuwe Gentweg F10
Braambergstraat F9 Ieperstraat E8
Gotje G5 Kipstraat E7 Kwekersstraat I8
H7 Nieuwstraat E9
Brandstraat B8 E IJzerstraat E3
Gouden-Boomstraat B5 Klaverstraat D5
Altebijstraat J9 Nijverheidsstraat I10
Breidelstraat E8 Edestraat J4 L
Gouden-Handrei F6 Kleine H. Geeststraat* D10
Annuntiatenstraat F5 J Niklaas Desparsstraat E8
Britse Kaai F1 Edward De Denestraat* G13 Lane B9
Gouden-Handstraat F6 Kleine Hertsbergestraat* G8
Arsenaalstraat E12 Jagerstraat* A14 Nikolaas Gombertstraat D3
Brugse-Mettenstraat* J7 Eekhoutpoort F10 Lange Raamstraat F6
Goudsmedenstraat F10 Kleine Hoedenmakersstr.* E6
Artoisstraat C9 Jakobijnessenstraat F11 Noord-Gistelhof E6
Buiten Begijnenvest C13 Eekhoutstraat F9 Langerei G4
Graaf Visartpark B6 Kleine Hoefi jzerstraat* C9
Augustijnenrei E6 Jakob van Ooststraat E7 Noordstraat E11
Buiten Boeverievest* B11 Eiermarkt E8 Langestraat H8
Graaf De Mûelenaerelaan H2 Kleine Kuipersstraat C8
Azijnstraat* D6 James Wealestraat E4 Noordzandstraat D9
Buiten Boninvest H11 Eiland C12 Lange Vesting A9
Grauwwerkersstraat D7 Kleine Nieuwstraat F5
Jan Blockxstraat G12 Noorweegse Kaai I3
Buiten de Dampoort* H3 Elf-Julistraat D5 Lauwerstraat A5
B Greinschuurstraat B9 Kleine Sint-Amandsstr.* E8
Jan Boninstraat D6
Buiten de Smedenpoort* A10 Elisabeth Zorghestraat G6 L. De Potterstraat J1
Bakkersstraat C10 Groenerei G8 Kleine Sint-Jansstraat B8 O
Jan Breydellaan A8
Buiten Gentpoortvest G12 Emile Cousindok F1 Leemputstraat B9
Baliestraat F5 Groenestraat C7 Klokstraat B10 Oliebaan H5
Jan Miraelstraat E6
Buiten Katelijnevest F13 Emman. De Neckerstraat B5 Leestenburg H4
Balsemboomstraat I8 Groeninge E10 Kloostermuur J5 O.-L.- V.-kerkhof-Zuid* E10
Jan Moritoenstraat* G13
Buiten Kazernevest J9 Engelsestraat F7 Leeuwstraat D7
Balstraat H7 Gruuthusestraat E10 Koetelwijk H2 Ontvangersstraat D8
Jan van Eyckplein F7
Buiten Kruisvest I6 Engelstraat G9 Leffi ngestraat G8
Bapaumestraat I7 Guido Gezellelaan B9 Kolenkaai C3 Oostendse Steenweg A1
Jan van Ruusbroecstraat G13
Buiten Smedenvest* A9 Esseboomstraat I8 Leliestraat H14
Bargeplein E13 Guido Gezelleplein E10 Komvest E3 Oosterlingenplein F7
Jasmijnstraat H14
Burg F8 Eugeen Van Oyestraat G14 Lendestraat D10
Bargeweg E13 Guido Gezellewarande* H7 Konfijtstraat I9 Oost-Gistelhof F6
Jeruzalemstraat G7
Burgstraat* F8 E. van ‘t Padstraat H12 Leo van Geluwestraat A2
Baron Jos. Ryelandtstraat A5 Gulden-Peerdenstraat I13 Koning Albert I-laan A13 Oostmeers D11
Joe Englishstraat A4
Ezelpoort C5 Leopold I-laan A5
Baron Ruzettelaan F14 Gulden-Vlieslaan C6 Koningin Astridpark G10 Oost-Proosse H4
C Joost de Damhouderstr. G7
Ezelstraat D6 Leopold II-laan C3
Baron Ruzettepark* E3 G. Vincke-Dujardinstraat* B4 Koningin Elisabethlaan D4 Oranjeboomstraat* D10
Calvariebergstraat F4 Jozef Suvéestraat F9
Loppemstraat E9
Beaupréstraat J9 Koningstraat F7 Oude Burg E9
Camiel v/d Busschestraat F Jozef Wautersstraat* A14
H Louis Coiseaukaai G1
Beeldenmakersstraat F10 J14 Koolbrandersstraat D10 Oude Gentweg F11
Filips De Goedelaan B6 Julius Delaplacestraat J6
Haanstraat C9 Luikstraat D3
Beenhouwersstraat C7 C. v/d Walle de Ghelckestraat Koolkerkse Steenweg I2 Oude Zak C7
Filips Wielantstraat H13 Julius Dooghelaan J5
G14 Haarhakkerstraat H4
Begijnenvest D12 Koolstuk J5 Oude Zomerstraat* E9
Fonteinstraat B10 Julius & M. Sabbestraat F4 M
Carmersstraat G6 Hadewijchstraat H13
Begijnhof D11 Koopmansstraat I8
Fort Lapin H2 J. Van Praetstraat J1 Maagdendal E5
Cesar Gezellestraat H12 Hallestraat E9 P
Bekeweg B1 Kopstraat D8
Freren Fonteinstraat G9 Maagdenstraat B10
Chartreuseweg* A14 Hans Memlinglaan A7 Paalstraat B9
Beursplein B10 K Korte Blekersstraat* G7
Maalse Steenweg J8
Colettijnenstraat E12 Hauwerstraat B10 Palmstraat D8
Bevrijdingslaan A7 G Kalkovenstraat D6 Korte Raamstraat* F6
Magdalenastraat A11
Collaert Mansionstraat F5 Havenstraat G2 ’t Pand F10
Biddersstraat E5 Ganzenplein* H9 Kammakersstraat B9 Korte Riddersstraat F7
Mallebergplaats F8
Cordoeaniersstraat E8 Heilige-Geeststraat D10 Pandreitje F9
Biezenstraat D5 Ganzenstraat H9 Kandelaarstraat G8 Korte Rijkepijndersstraat*
Marcus Laurinstraat J6
Coupure G9 Helmstraat D8 H6 Pannebekestraat I1
Bilkske H8 Gapaardstraat G10 Kantwerkersplein* H7
Mariastraat E10
Hemelrijk H5 Korte Ropeerdstraat* H6 Paradijsstraat I4
Binnenweg* G1 Garenmarkt F10 Kapelstraat E5
D Maria van Bourgondiëlaan A6
Hendrik Consciencelaan B10 Korte Sint-Annastraat G7 Park G9
Biskajersplein F7 Garsoenstraat C11 Kardinaal Mercierstraat C4
Dampoortstraat J6 Markt E8
Hendrik Waelputstraat A2 Korte Speelmansstraat* H6 Past. V. Haecke plantsoen*
Blankenbergse Steenweg A2 Geernaartstraat* E8 Karel Defl oustraat A4
Damse Vaart-Zuid I3 Meestraat F8 C6
Hertsbergestraat F8 Korte Sportstraat J4
Blekerijstraat I11 Geerolfstraat F9 Karel de Stoutelaan A6
Daverlostraat H12 Middelburgstraat* F8 Pater Damiaanstraat C7
Hoedenmakersstraat E6 Korte Vuldersstraat C10
Blekersstraat G7 Geerwijnstraat D8 Karel van Manderstraat J5
De Garre* E8 Minderbroedersstraat G9 Pathoekeweg D1
Hoefi jzerlaan B8 Kortewinkel E7
Blinde-Ezelstraat F9 Geldmuntstraat D8 Kartuizerinnenstraat E9
Delaplacestraat (Julius) J6 Minneboplein* G8 Paul Delvauxstraat J1
Hof Sebrechts C8 Korte Zilverstraat D8
Bloedput B7 Generaal Lemanlaan I12 Kartuizersstraat J6
De Tuintjes J4 Minnewater E12 Peerdenstraat G8
Hoogste van Brugge C10 Koudemarkt F10
Bloemenstraat H13 Genthof F7 Kastanjeboomstraat E10
Dhoorestraat I13 Moerkerkestraat H9 Peperstraat H7
Hoogstraat F8 Kraanplein E7
Blokstraat D5 Gentpoortstraat G11 Kasteelgeleed B1
Diamantslijpersstraat F10 Moerkerkse Steenweg J7 Peter Benoitlaan A7
Hoogstuk H10 Kraanrei* E7
Boeveriestraat B10 Gentpoortvest F12 Katelijnestraat E12
Dijver E9 Moerstraat D8 Peterseliestraat H5
Hooistraat H9 Krakeleweg E1
Bollaardstraat C8 Gerard Davidstraat A4 Katelijnevest E12
Molenmeers G8 Philipstockstraat E8

136 137
Pieter Pourbusstraat E7 Sint-Claradreef E4 Stoelstraat I7 Wapenmakersstraat F8 KEY HISTORIC SITES AND PUBLIC OR SEMI-
Pijpersstraat D10 Sint-Clarastraat E5 Stokersstraat G4 Weidestraat H14 PLACES OF INTEREST PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Pleinstraat B1 Sint-Gillisdorpstraat* F5 Stoofstraat E10 Werfplein D4 Ring (road): two-way
Poitevinstraat D6 Sint-Gilliskerkhof F6 Strostraat G7 Werfstraat D4 traffic H10 01 Conzett bridge F8 01 Administrative
Potentestraat A1 Sint-Gilliskerkstraat F6 Sulferbergstraat E12 Werkhuisstraat F11 centre ‘t Brugse
Pedestrian area or C5 02 City gate-Ezelpoort Vrije
Pottenmakersstraat D7 Sint-Gilliskoorstraat F6 West-Gistelhof E6
T area with limited
Potterierei G4 Sint-Godelievedreef J3 Westmeers C11
traffic G11 03 Bruggemuseum - B10 02 Exhibition centre
Ter Pannestraat E3
Predikherenrei H9 Sint-Jakobsplein* D7 Wevershof* D11 Gentpoort
Ter Lake G14
Predikherenstraat G8 Sint-Jakobsstraat D8 Wijnenburgstraat A3 Pedestrian/cyclist E9 03 College of Europe
Ter Looigemweg H1 E7 Genoese Lodge
Prinsenhof D8 Sint-Jan in de Meers C10 Wijngaardplein D11 tunnel 04
Timmermansstraat H8 (Saaihalle) I8 04 Courthouse
Prins Albertstraat J8 Sint-Jansdreef A8 Wijngaardstraat E11
Torenbrug* F6 No through traffic
Prof. Dr. J. Sebrechtsstr. D12 Sint-Jansplein F8 Wijnzakstraat F7
Torhoutse Steenweg* A10 D7 20 Bladelin Court D10 07 Meeting Event &
Sint-Jansstraat F7 Willemijnendreef G11
R Tornooistraat* B5 One-way-traffic Congress Centre
Sint-Jorisstraat E6 Witteleertouwersstraat G9
E9 22 Watervliet Court Oud Sint-Jan
Raamstraat D6 Tuiniersstraat J5
Sint-Jozefsplein H1 Woensdagmarkt F7
Two-way-traffic
Riddersstraat F8 Tuinstraat H14
Sint-Katarinastraat G14 Wollestraat E9 E7 24 House Ter beurze F9 12 City hall
Rijkepijndersstraat G6 Twijnstraat F8
Sint-Maartensbilk B10 Wulfhagestraat C8 Parking area
Rijselstraat A14
Sint-Maartensplein* F7
’t Zand C9
Wulpenstraat H3
H4 25 Bruggemuseum- B6 15 Swimming pool
Robijnstraat E7
Sint-Niklaasstraat E9
’t Zweerd* G9 Coach park Koelewei mill Jan Guilini
Rode-Haanstraat E7 Z
Sint-Obrechtsstraat C11
Rodestraat H7
V
Zakske D7
Camper van park J7 26 City Gate-
Sint-Pietersgroenestraat C1
Rolweg H6
Vaartstraat D2
Zandstraat* A10
Kruispoort
Sint-Pieterskaai C3
Van Arteveldestraat D1
Camper van overnight RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS
Rond den Heerdstraat B1 Zevensterrestraat C9
Sint-Pietersnoordstraat B1
Van Steenestraat I13
parking area D13 27 Gunpowder tower
Ronsaardbekestraat H1
Sint-Pieterszuidstraat C1
Zilverstraat D9 D11 01 Beguinage church
Van Voldenstraat B11
Roompotstraat B7
Sint-Salvatorskerkhof D10
Zonnekemeers D11 Railway station E7 28 Burghers’ Lodge
Ropeerdstraat G6
Veemarktstraat C2
Zuidervaartje J3 (State archives) D10 02 Episcopal Palace
Sint-Salvatorskoorstraat D9
Rozemarijnstraat* E8
Veldmaarschalk Fochstr. D4
Zuidzandstraat C9
Access road or
Sint-Walburgastraat F8
Veldstraat A14 entrance gates D8 29 Princes’ Court H6 03 English convent
Rozendal C6 Zeger Van Malestraat* A6
Slachthuisstraat B2
Venkelstraat H7
Rozenstraat H14
Sledestraat* D6
Zuider Boomgaard I14
Bus stop De Lijn E8 30 Deanery G4 04 Episcopal
Verbrand Nieuwland H8
Rozenhoedkaai F9
Sluisstraat F1
Zwaluwenstraat C3 seminary
Verversdijk G7
Rubenslaan H13
Smedenstraat B9
Zwarteleertouwersstraat G9 Boats E8 31 Provincial Palace
Rustenburgstraat A3
Vestingstraat F13
Zwijnstraat B9 F9 05 Basilica of the
Snaggaardstraat H6
Violierstraat G10 Horse-drawn cabs I6 32 Bruggemuseum- Holy Blood
Spaanse Loskaai E6
S Vismarkt F9 Sint-Janshuis
Sasplein H3
Spanjaardstraat E7
Visspaanstraat F12 Sightseeing Line mill G10 06 Church of the Holy
Schaarstraat G10
Speelmansrei C9
Vizierstraat H10
Magdalena
Speelmansstraat H6 Cash machines B9 33 City gate-
Scheepsdalelaan B4 Vlamingdam E5
Speelpleinlaan J10 Smedenpoort H7 07 Jerusalem church
Schottinnenstraat* F6 Vlamingstraat E8 Boudewijn Seapark
Spiegelrei F7
Schouwvegersstraat B8 Vrijdagmarkt C10 Brugge C8 34 Minstrels Guild’s E8 08 Saint Peter’s
Spinolarei F7
Schrijnwerkersstraat* F7 Vrijheidstraat G14
chapel chapel (Protestant
Spoorwegstraat B14 Almshouses
Schrijversstraat E6 Vuldersreitje I7 Church & English
Sportstraat J5
Schuttersstraat* D6 Vuldersstraat H8 F9 35 Fish market Church)
Stalijzerstraat G10 Meeting point guides
’s-Gravenstraat G3
Simon Stevinplein D9
Stationslaan A11 W E13 36 Barge bridge B10 09 Capuchin
Bike Rental
Stationsplein C13 Waalsestraat F9 monastery
Singel A10
Steenhouwersdijk F9 Wagnerstraat G12
F7 38 Old Toll house
Sint-Amandsstraat D8 Public toilet
Steenkaai A3
E9 10 Military chapel
Walplein E11
Sint-Annakerkstraat G7 B11 40 Dumery bell (Carthusian
Steenstraat D9 Walstraat E11 Information office
Sint-Annaplein* G7 chapel)
Sterstraat F6 Walweinstraat F3
Sint-Annarei G7
Stijn Streuvelsstraat I7 Wantestraat G14 (*not indicated on the map)
Sint-Brunostraat I8

138 139
C6 11 Oecuminical E11 12 Brewery I7 35 St George’s Arch- CITY CENTRE MAP
chapel ‘De Halve Maan’ ers Guild

D6 12 Discalced C10 13 Concertgebouw A11 36 Magdalena

Carmelites (concert hall) concert hall
A B C D E F G H I J

G4 Church of our Lady A9 14 De Bond G4 37 Our Lady

p.142/143
13
of the Pottery (cultural centre) of the Pottery- 1 1

Hospitaalmuseum
E10 14 Church of our Lady D7 16 Cinema Lumière
F8 38 Bruggemuseum-
D6 15 Orthodox chapel D4 17 De Werf City Hall
2 2

(Saint Helen and (cultural centre)

Constantine) E8 39 Bruggemuseum-
E11 18 Diamond museum Belfry p.44
3 3
G7 16 Saint Anne’s
church G1 19 Entrepôt F7 41 Choco-Story
(Youth and (chocolate
F6 17 Saint Giles’ Cultural Centre) museum) 4 4

church
E10 20 Groeninge C10 42 Forum+
B10 18 Saint Godelieve’s museum [Concertgebouw]
abbey 5 5

E10 21 Bruggemuseum - F7 43 Lumina

D7 19 Saint Jacob’s Gruuthuse Domestica
church 6 6
I6 22 Bruggemuseum - A14 44 Kinepolis Brugge p.34
D10 20 Saint Saviour’s Gezelle
cathedral E7 45 Belgian Fries p.144/145
D6 23 Joseph Rylandt museum 7
p.24 7

F7 21 Saint Walburgha’s Concert Hall

church E8 46 Dalí X-po Gallery
H7 24 Lace Centre
E7 23 Free Evangelical 8
MARKT
8

church E10 25 Memling in

Sint-Jan -
B9 23 Chapel of our Hospitaalmuseum
9 9
Lady of the Blind
H7 27 Bruggemuseum - P
1434
Centrum
't Zand

folklore
CULTURE - MUSEUMS D8 Organ hall (Music
10 10
29 Wheelchair friendly
Academy) approved by an
D10 01 Bruggemuseum -
Archeologie officially recognized
I6 31 St Sebastian’s accessibility bureau
11 11

Archers Guild
E10 02 Arentshuis
F8 32 City Archives -
D11 03 Beguine’s house 12 12
Bruggemuseum-
E8 04 Biekorf library Liberty of Bruges
CITY
CARD
Brugge City Card STATION
P
E8 06 Biekorf theatre E7 33 City theatre with free admission 13
1500
Centrum
Station
13
+ gratis

(cultural centre) (cultural centre) bus

CITY
CARD
Brugge City Card
E11 10 Bogarden chapel discounts N
14 14

10mm = 100m

A B C D E F G H I J

140
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2k 2 km
LOPPEM(N397)

AAT
A B C D E F G H I J
If you want to discover Bruges,
this is the guidebook you can’t do without!
• Three atmospheric walks past museums, monuments,
famous locations and quaint corners
• Fascinating interviews with well-known connoisseurs
of Bruges on the city’s World Heritage, the Flemish Primitives and
gastronomy, Bruges as a centre of culture and as a bike-friendly city
• An overview of all places of interest, museums and attractions,
including short descriptions and practical information
• Everything you need to know about the Brugge City Card discount pass
• Idyllic spots in the vicinity of Bruges, ideal to discover by bike
• An overview of the most important events in 2010,
with an extra supplement on the city festival Bruges Central
• A list of the most charming and attractive cafés, restaurants and shops

Information Offices More information

[Concertgebouw], ’t Zand
Mon-Sun: 10.00 a.m.- 6.00 p.m.
Railway Station, Stationsplein
Mon-Fri: 10.00 a.m.- 5.00 p.m.
Sat-Sun: 10.00 a.m.- 2.00 p.m.
Toerisme Brugge
PO Box 744, B-8000 Brugge
T +32(0)50 44 46 46
F +32(0)50 44 46 45
toerisme@brugge.be
www.bruges.be/tourism