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The first thing I ever heard about Bruges, was people telling me that I should see the movie ‘In Bruges’. So I saw the movie and liked it…but perhaps not as much as people had hyped it. Nonetheless, EVERYONE told me I should go to Bruges and see how gorgeous it is. I also thought this was pretty hyped up but I sure was wrong.

Bruges is situated in the province of West Flanders and serves as the region’s capital. It is the 6th largest city in Belgium, located in the Northwest of the country. It is referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’ with its earliest known origin dating back to approximately 840-875 AD. The etymology of the name is uncertain but is thought to come from the Old Dutch word from ‘bridge’, being brugga.

I took a long weekend to visit Belgium and managed to see some other cities such as Lille, in France, and Brussels. Since I was staying in the Belgian capital, I booked a bus trip to Bruges and came back the next day, but I would recommend spending at least 1 night in the city if you can.

Also, try to come to Bruges early in the morning so you can still enjoy it without too many people wandering about. Once it gets to be about midday, you will find crowds upon crowds of people. This usually ruins the experience for me, however with a city like Bruges, I was constantly left in awe of my surroundings, regardless of how many people were around. (PROTIP: Take a walk away from the main city squares of Bruges. You will get to still see some amazing architecture but it will be a much more relaxed and quieter atmosphere.)

I have compiled my favorite list of places to check out while visiting Bruges. There will be a Google Map at the end of this post highlighting these places. Check out my drone video of Bruges, Belgium below!

The Gunpowder Tower (Poertoren) was one of the first small attractions I stumbled upon while walking from the Bruges bus stop in the early morning hours. The Poertoren tower, which it is also called, is more than 18 meters tall. It was constructed by Jan van Oudenaerde as part of the medieval city walls that were erected back in that time (tower was constructed in 1401). And of course, as the name would suggest, stored gunpowder during that era.

One of the more famous landmarks in Bruges has to be the Hospital of St. John (Dutch: Oud Sint-Janshospitaal). It was a medieval hospital founded in the 12th century. The complex comprises some of the oldest surviving hospital structures in Europe. It was expanded in the 18th century and became a place to treat sick travellers. Rest assured, the city of Bruges now has a much more modern hospital in case of accident from your traveling.

The Church of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) is the most notable church in the city (my humble opinion). It dates back to the 13th century and functions as both a church and a monument, as a symbol of sophistication and wealth of Bruges back in its halcyon days as a Catholic city. Its tower stands 115.6 meters high, which gives it the superlative of being the tallest structure in Bruges. For those who love Gothic architecture, this church features many designs from that era on its exterior, while possessing Baroque styles in its interior.

If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Bruges, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).

The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Dutch: Heilig-Bloedbasiliek, French: Basilique du Saint-Sang) is another Roman Catholic church in the city, built in the mid 1100s. Though it is perhaps not as impressive as the Church of Our Lady, it is also influenced by the Gothic style during its renovation in the 19th century.

The Bruges City Hall is one of the oldest in this region. It sits on a site that used to be home to a castle. [1] It is located on Burg Square, the area of the former fortified castle in the centre of Bruges. Like the churches in Bruges, it was designed in a late Gothic style and completed in 1421. Over the centuries, the city hall has been extended towards the south many times. What I really enjoyed about this structure was just how ornate it was and what immaculate condition it had. There is a grassy around across the square and the city hall where you can sit and take in the sights and rest, which I most certainly did.

In the same vicinity as the city hall is the Brugse Vrije (Liberty of Bruges). It is a manor and was the center of power for centuries for the entire Flanders region. It is most known for its ornate facade. You can take tours of it as well during peak times, it really is like a look back into time with how well preserved the interior is.

Did you know that there is a fish market in Bruges as well? There is small pedestrian road that takes you there from the Bruges City Hall. The street is called Blind Donkey Street (Blinde-Ezelstraat), named after an inn that used to be situated in this area in the 15th century.

Rozenhoedkaai, or Rosary Quay, is one of the more popular landmarks in Bruges, Belgium. As one of the most photographed places in the city, you will always managed to find a good amount of people around. It is an inflection point for the river running through the city, thereby surrounding the building on two sides. There are numerous cafes here with great views of the building as well.

The Belfry of Bruges (Dutch: Belfort van Brugge) was one of my favorite landmarks to capture by drone. It is a medieval bell tower in the center of Bruges, towering over Market Square. It used to house a treasury and archives, as well as an observation post to spot fires. Ironically enough, a fire in 1280 devastated the belfry and it was rebuilt. It’s most unique feature, I feel, is its octagonal shape and Gothic revival style of architecture. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999.

Market Square is the open area that is overlooked by the Belfry of Bruges. This is where most of the people are. It wasn’t until 1995 that the square became mostly traffic free as parking in the square became forbidden. The center of the square features statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, who played large roles in the Franco-Flemish war. I usually try to stay away from areas like this with just too many people slowing down my otherwise upbeat walking pace. Nonetheless, this area is really lovely to pass through en route to other sites.

Patisserie Vanmullem is a cafe that I went to for lunch on my day trip. It is located on a street corner, perfectly positioned to capture the early afternoon sun. The food here was fresh and delicious, and not terribly pricey. There are plenty of noteworthy cafes in Bruges but I can’t speak to any of them as this was the only one I stopped in.

Carmersstraat was probably my favorite street in all of Bruges. It is located away from the Market Square, further northeast in Bruges. The street is immaculate and adorned with street art, clean buildings, iconic architecture, and colorful facades. You can start this small walk at the Carmelite Bridge, which stands at the junction of a few canals, a great place for photographic opportunities.

I then walked down this street for about 1 km before getting to a grassy area containing some notable windmills. Word on the street is that there used to be 23 windmills in Bruges, however only four remain now, located between Dampoort and Kruispoort.

• Koeleweimill - also known as Coelewey mill, this mill was used for corn and originally built in 1765 in Muelebeke. It was relocated to its current spot in 1980.

• Nieuwe Papegaai - This mill was called the Hoge Seinemolen and was an oil mill, it was moved into its current position in 1970.

• Sint-Janshuismill - This mill is the oldest as it was built in 1770 and is the only mill of the four still standing on its original position. It also contains a museum that is open to the public.

• Bonne Chiere - This mill is also called Staakmolen and rebuilt in 1911. Unfortunately this mill was really just made for decoration and never actually used to grind grain.

I loved this area not just for the windmills but for the abundant green spaces. Coupled with the warm weather it was easily one of my favorite parts of Bruges. I really recommend going to this area to escape the crowds to get some peace and quiet.

Lastly, I myself usually love walking tours around cities and therefore do not partake in other types of transport when traveling. When it comes to Bruges however, I think that a Boat Tour is absolutely worth it, considering that there is a well connected highway of canals that run throughout the city, giving a very unique perspective when touring this area. The boat tours take about half an hour, in vessels that carry up to 40 people.

The trips run early March to mid-November and pick up from several locations (reservations not required). The companies that offer boat services can be seen below (company name, location, contact info):

• Venetië van het Noorden, Huidenvettersplein 13, tel. +32 50 33 00 41, jos.boot@skynet.be

• Coudenys, Rozenhoedkaai, tel. +32 50 33 13 75, info@coudenys.com

• De Meulemeester, Wollestraat 32, tel. +32 50 33 41 20, rondvaarten.de.meulemeester@skynet.be

• Gruuthuse, Nieuwstraat 11, tel. +32 50 33 32 93, info@bootex.be

• Stael, Katelijnestraat 4, tel. +32 50 3 327 71, boten@nvstael.com

And there you have it, what to do and see in Bruges. You can spend a whole day here and see all of the main sights but if I were to return, I would spend at least 1 night to check out more of the hidden gems that it must also possess.

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