Updated February 2020.
The Crazies
Bruges is derived from the Old Germanic word "brugj", which means "mooring" as Bruges has served as a trading city due to its favorable location to the sea. Its nickname has an interesting history.
During the Middle Ages, Bruge wanted more autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire and held Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I captive in their town. As a result, Maximilian I took away the city's right to hold fairs. Consequently, the city held a party in the emperor's honors and all was forgiven. Bruges was granted more rights to collect their own taxes, could hold fairs again, and allowed to build a madhouse to which the emperor commented "Close all the city gates and it is a madhouse." Henceforth, Bruges residents refer to themselves as Brugse zotten, which means "the Bruges fools" or the "Bruges crazies", which happens to also be the name of Bruges's beer. If one is lucky enough to come in early April, one can experience the "craziness" accompanying their annual Beerfest!
Outside of beer, it is one of the most well-preserved towns in Europe with medieval and Gothic architecture. Bruges is also famous for all the canals that criss-cross through the city and provide beautiful scenic shots.
Fun Facts:
During the Middle Ages, Bruge wanted more autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire and held Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I captive in their town. As a result, Maximilian I took away the city's right to hold fairs. Consequently, the city held a party in the emperor's honors and all was forgiven. Bruges was granted more rights to collect their own taxes, could hold fairs again, and allowed to build a madhouse to which the emperor commented "Close all the city gates and it is a madhouse." Henceforth, Bruges residents refer to themselves as Brugse zotten, which means "the Bruges fools" or the "Bruges crazies", which happens to also be the name of Bruges's beer. If one is lucky enough to come in early April, one can experience the "craziness" accompanying their annual Beerfest!
Outside of beer, it is one of the most well-preserved towns in Europe with medieval and Gothic architecture. Bruges is also famous for all the canals that criss-cross through the city and provide beautiful scenic shots.
Fun Facts:
- There are so many different varieties of beer because each indiviual family would brew their own beer as a water substitute during the Medieval Ages, since the canal water was contaminated. Even children would drink beer as well.
- The number of steps on the top facade of a house used to determine wealth. Only the rich had them, so the more steps one had, the more wealth one possessed.
Overview
- 8:00 - 9:00 AM: Minnewaterpark - park
- 9:30 - 10:00 AM: Church of Our Lady Bruges - Gothic church
- 10:00 - 10:30 AM: Sint-Salvatorskathedral - Gothic cathedral
- 10:30 - 11:00 PM: Burg Square - famous square
- Basilica of the Holy Blood - double chapel
- Bruges City Hall - Gothic facade
- Kissing Frog - statue
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Belfry of Bruges (Halletoren) - panoramic view.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:15 - 2:00 PM: Koningin Astridpark (Queen Astrid Park) - botanical park
- 2:00 - 2:30 PM: Kruispoort Gate - medieval city gate
- 2:30 - 3:00 PM: Windmills - grain mills
- 3:00 - 3:30 PM: Jeruzalemkerk (Jersualem Chapel) - chapel
- 3:30 - 3:45 PM: Jan Van Eyck Square - scenic plaza
- 3:45 - 4:00 PM: Huis Ter Beurze (House of the Van der Beurse Family) - former salt bank and contemporary expo space
- 4:00 - 5:00 PM: Frietmuseum - fries museum.
Click the star to add the map to your Google Maps! To view it, simply open Google Maps, navigate to the Menu, choose “Your Places,” click "Maps", and voila, the map should be added.
1-Day Plan
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Minnewaterpark
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Start at the Gunpowder Tower (Poertoren), a defensive tower built in 1387. One can walk across Minnewaterbrug ("Lover's Bridge") and enter into Minnewaterpark. Legend has it that anyone who walks over the bridge and kiss their loved one will have eternal love.
Known for having the Lake of Love and the Lover's Bridge, legend has it that anyone who walks over the bridge and kisses their loved one will have eternal love. Even though the lake is actually a reservoir, it is a nice place to visit with lots of swans swimming in the water |
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9:30 - 10:00 AM: Church of Our Lady Bruges
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Gothic exterior with a Baroque interior that boasts a white marble Michelangelo Madonna and Child sculpture inside, which is the only one of the artist's statues to have left Italy during Michelangelo's lifetime. It also has a 12-story spire, which is considered the largest brickwork tower in the world. and the tallest tower in Bruges. There is a 6€ entry fee.
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10:00 - 10:30 AM: Sint-Salvatorskathedral
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Otherwise known as St. Salvator's Cathedral, this gothic tower was built in the 1300s and has survived without much damage over the years. It originally served as a parish church before it was renovated after the other church burned down. It has Flemish artwork and a cave-like interior. |
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10:30 - 11:00 AM: De Burg (Burg Square)
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Basilica of the Holy Blood: A Renaissance-exterior double chapel consisting of two floors. There is the lower Romanesque style and the upper chapel showcasing Gothic decor. Bruges's most prized relic is a crystal vial with a bloodied piece of cloth believed to hold the blood of Jesus Christ in the museum. The relic is shown from 2 - 4 PM on afternoons and from 10:15 - 11:00 AM on Fridays. Entry to the Basilica is free, but the museum costs 5€.
Bruges City Hall: The City's hall Gothic façade has statuettes of Flanders’ counts and countesses and ornate arches. There is a polychrome vaulted ceiling and historic murals painted in the 19th century in the "Gothic Hall". Kissing Frog: One of my favorite legends in Bruge is in regards to a "Kissing Frog" located at the back of "The Lovers Sculpture" statue in the Burg square. Legend has it that once the frog has been kissed 100,000 times, it will transform into a prince/princess just for you. |
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Belfry of Bruges (Halletoren) and Markt (10€ to ascend)
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The tallest building in the Bruges sklyine, the Belfry sat atop the old market hall when it was built in the 13th century. However, it was destroyed by lightning and fire three times. Originally the belfry was used to store and display Flemish cloth and other goods. After a very narrow two-way staircase, one reaches the bell tower on top which has over 27 bells that play show tunes and other songs during the day, especially around 11 - 12 in the morning.
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Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay): Stop here for a beautiful city view that was once where rosaries were sold.
Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay)
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch
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1:15 - 2:00 PM: Koningin Astridpark (Queen Astrid Park) A monastery garden that was turned into a botanical park with a gazebo and a small pond and fountain. There is also a beautiful church, Heilige Magdalenakerk (St. Magdalene’s Church), one of the earliest neo-Gothic churches, at the end.
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Koningin Astridpark (Image from the visitbruges.be website)
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Kruispoort Gate
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2:00 - 2:30 PM: Kruispoort Gate One of the the four medieval city gates around the city that were destroyed by Philip van Artevelde destroyed the gate when he captured the city with the Ghent militia in the late 1300s. This is also the gate where Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Napoleon and the German army all entered Bruges. |
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2:30 - 3:00 PM: Windmills Along the Gent-Bruges Canal, there are four historic windmills still remaining along the way. Of particular note are the Sint-Janshuismolen and the Windmolen De Nieuwe Papegaai. Sint-Janshuismolen windmill was used to grind grain and has been open since 1770. One can only visit inside between June and September.
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3:00 - 3:30 PM: Jeruzalemkerk (Jersualem Chapel) A private chapel of the Adornes family, Genoa Italian merchant family. It was built in 1429 and the Church modeled after Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre
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3:30 - 3:45 PM: Jan Van Eyck Square
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Scenic plaza with a statue of the famous painter Jan Van Eyck. This is a great place to start looking at the canal and the traditional houses in Bruges.
In the square is also the Poortersloge (Burghers' Lodge), a beautiful building since the 14th-century that was a place of international trade but now serves as a temporary exhibition space. Checkout the famous het beertje van de loge (the bear of loggia) on the side carrying a shield. |
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3:45 - 4:00 PM: Huis Ter Beurze (House of the Van der Beurse Family)
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This is one of the first salt banks opened in Bruges, since salt used to be a form of currency. It has also served as the first ever stock exchange. Today, it serves to showcase temporary art exhibitions. |
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Frietmuseum (8€)
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The first and only fries museum in the world! It's dedicated to the history of fries in both Belgium and throughout the world. One can learn the history and then one can go to the fryshop to buy some fries and try an assortment of dipping sauces. |
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Canal Tours
Wandering the streets of Bruges is an amazing way to explore the town and the website provides a list of places along the canals to see. If you want a ride on the idyllic canal, I highly recommend getting there right when they open around 10:00 AM if you stop by the one by the Rosary Quay. Otherwise, there are a multiude of other locations as shown on the map.
Museums
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What to Eat
Fun Fact: There are two types of waffles and neither is called a Belgian waffle. Instead, there is the Brussels waffle which looks similar to the Belgian waffle. This one is crispy and airy in the inside. The other is the Luikse waffle, moist and filled with carmalesized sugar balls inside. It is possible to try both of these from the waffle carts around Markt and Burg Square.
- Poules Moules: Known and recommended for their mussels
- Waffle Truck in Burg Square (Arlecchino by John): Get good Luikse waffles here that are ALWAYS baked fresh. People recommend getting the plain waffle to taste the difference. (See picture, but easily spotted). It is closed on Mondays unfortunately.
- Tonka Tearoom: Find good Brussels waffles here.
- Ganzespel: Daily specials and soup for 12.90€ but only on weekend dinners.
- Patisserie Schaeverbeke: Try their 'Boterkoeken' which is a Belgian breakfast pastry filled with chocolate, cream, and raisins.
- De Garre: Beer house in "Jack the Ripper Alley" that serves house beer called 'Garre'.
Bruges Beerfest
Bruges hosts its annual Beerfest (in early February), where they invite 80 different breweries into one location for all the residents of Bruges (and all the travellers) to drink to their heart's content. Like many other cities in Belgium, Bruges boasts amazing beers and for 20€ one gets a beer glass and six tastings at each stand.
Unlike Oktoberfest, this event is much more low-key and not as crowded. Everyone inside was very jovial, wearing cool hats that represent different bars. Highly recommend stopping by Delirium for their fun pink elephant hats!
Unlike Oktoberfest, this event is much more low-key and not as crowded. Everyone inside was very jovial, wearing cool hats that represent different bars. Highly recommend stopping by Delirium for their fun pink elephant hats!
