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City Guide Bruges

Size? 138,4 km²

Population? 116.734 (on December 31ste, 2010)

Did you know that? Bruges is known as the world capital of Chocolate.

Lace, Brugse Zot, and Pieter Aspe

Bruges is one of the many things Belgians pride themselves on. It is the place our history teachers tell us to take foreign friends to. It is the capital of lace, the home of the blond ale Brugse Zot, and the birthplace of Flemish detective writer Pieter Aspe.

Lace was invented in Bruges in the 15th century, or so some say. (Others claim it was first created in Venice.) Nevertheless, lace is what draws many tourists to Bruges year after year. The city’s “Kantcentrum” (“Lace Centre”) was founded in honour of the city’s long history and consists of a small museum, and a workshop where summer courses are taught.

Brugse Zot (“Fool of Bruges”) is a well-known beer, yet has only been in existence since 2005 when Xavier Vanneste renovated the brewery De Halve Maan and then launched this new Belgian beer. The origin of the name can be found in many of the city’s legends. One of which is that Emperor Maximilian of Austria once said that “Bruges is one big fools’ house!” The beer has an alcohol content of 6%, and because of its low level of bitterness it can be easily used in dishes and desserts.

Pieter Aspe has been a well-liked Flemish author since 1995 when he published his first detective novel Het vierkant van de wraak. All of his stories take place in Bruges, and many of them have been adapted to television for the television programme Aspe.

Top 5 Things to See in Bruges

Begijnhof (“The Béguinage”) – Heilig-Bloedbasiliek (“The Basilica of the Holy Blood”) – Arentshuis (“The Arentshuis”) – Belfort (“Belfry”) – Boudewijn Seapark

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The goldenpages.be Team

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