About Bruges

Bruges: historic city with unique heritage

Bruges is one of a kind: a historic city with a lot of cultural heritage, pleasant shopping streets and a pleasant city center. In the 19th century, Bruges saw a renewed interest: the Gothic Revival conquered the city. Many buildings were decorated and restored in neo-Gothic style. The canals, history, archaeological finds, but also the shopping streets attract a lot of people to this city every day. Enjoy your stay to the fullest and book a room at Hotel Central, with a view on the Market Square!

In 2015, Bruges had almost 8 million visitors. Day trippers as well as overnight tourists found their way to one of the most beautiful cities in Western Europe. Tourism in Bruges is experiencing continuous growth today.

Car traffic is kept out of the city center as much as possible. The speed limits (30 km per hour), an ambitious loop plan, a lot of one-way traffic (two-way for cyclists) and peripheral car parks should make Bruges a pleasant walking and shopping city. You can explore the city on foot, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage, with City-Tour vans or with boats on the canals.

Be sure to visit the Bruges website in preparation for your visit!

Culture and relaxation

The main shopping streets in the city center are the two streets that connect 't Zand with the Grote Markt: Noordzandstraat, which is further called Geldmuntstraat, and Zuidzandstraat, further known as Steenstraat. The Zilverpand shopping center is located between these two axes near the cathedral. Other shopping streets in the center are the Smedenstraat, the Sint-Amandsstraat, the Vlamingstraat / Sint-Jorisstraat, the Philipstockstraat, the Simon Stevinplein, the Grote Markt, the Wollestraat, the Langestraat / Hoogstraat, the Ezelstraat / Sint-Jakobsstraat, the Academiestraat, Gentpoortstraat and the Katelijnestraat / Mariastraat. There are also the shopping galleries Ter Steeghere on Burg and De Gouden Boom in Hallestraat. More info: www.visitbruges.be/n/winkelen or www.shoppingbrugge.be

In the theater hall of the Biekorf, which has a folding grandstand with 224 seats, concerts and often small-scale and more experimental productions of theater, music theater and dance take place. The hall is located in the Biekorf complex, which also includes the capital library. The Concert Hall, a modern cultural temple built on the occasion of Bruges 2002 - European Capital of Culture, includes a large concert hall, which seats about 1300, and a chamber music hall, which can accommodate 320 people. Thanks to the architectural ingenuity - the entire construction rests on immense springs - the building offers excellent acoustics.

Theater hall De Dijk is a suitable location for previously accessible productions that appeal to a large audience, but due to the nature of the performance require a smaller hall. De Dijk has about 250 seats. The small theater and concert hall De Werf occupies a prominent place in the Belgian jazz world; many top names pass in review every year. In addition, De Werf presents a dozen of its own theater productions as well as guest performances every year and there is ample attention for children's theater. The Het Entrepot youth center has a large and a small hall, both of which are regularly used for (rock) concerts. In addition, (young) theater and dance work often also takes place. The Joseph Ryelandtzaal is a concert hall located in the church of the former Theresian monastery complex. Classical as well as other concerts can be held.

The Magdalenazaal often organizes events aimed at young people, such as rock and pop concerts, with big performances alongside smaller club events, as well as regular theater and dance work. The hall has a retractable grandstand and provides about 400 seats and approximately 1000 standing places. The hall can be reduced in size for club concerts. It is one of the permanent locations of the Cactus music center. The Stadsschouwburg, which is considered one of the best-preserved city theaters in Europe, primarily serves as a platform for national and international top productions. The hall can accommodate about 650 people.

You can find more information about the cultural offerings in Bruges on the website of the Bruges Cultural Center.