On Thursdays, this huge square in the centre of town hosts a popular market where stalls sell food and household products. Its proximity to the Stadhuis, de Drvkkery bookstore and many cafes and bars makes it popular at other times, too.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.11 MILES
The heart of ancient Bruges, the old market square is lined with pavement cafes beneath step-gabled facades. The buildings aren't always quite as medieval…
26.22 MILES
Bruges’ most celebrated art gallery boasts an astonishingly rich collection that's strong in superb Flemish Primitive and Renaissance works, depicting the…
26.39 MILES
In the restored chapel of a 12th-century hospital building with superb timber beamwork, this museum shows various torturous-looking medical implements,…
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26.83 MILES
Occupying a 12-hectare former industrial site, this is one of Europe's largest private contemporary-art initiatives. The indoor-outdoor interactive…
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26.13 MILES
Towering 83m above the square like a gigantic medieval rocket is this fabulous 13th-century belfry. There’s relatively little to see inside, but it’s…
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0.17 MILES
Dating from the 12th century, this huge abbey complex houses the regional government as well as two churches: the Koorkerk (built for the clergy) and…
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26.05 MILES
Just east of the Markt, the less theatrical but still enchanting Burg has been Bruges' administrative centre for centuries. It's in this area you'll find…
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29.51 MILES
Around 10km south of Bruges, Kasteel van Loppem is a mid-19th-century brick castle-mansion which had its moment of fame at the end of WWI when it was…
Nearby attractions
0.06 MILES
Dominating the Markt, the town hall certainly grabs the eye. It's ornately beautiful, and displays a pastiche of styles: the Gothic side facing the Markt…
0.14 MILES
Part of the original 13th-century Abdij but largely rebuilt in the 16th century after a fire extensively damaged the complex, this double-naved church is…
0.14 MILES
Dating from the 1600s, this walkway between the two churches in the Abdij holds the tombs of Jan and Cornelis Evertsen, admirals and brothers killed…
0.15 MILES
This 91m tower is topped with a gilded imperial crown, a tribute to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Climb the 200-odd steps to enjoy views over town.
0.16 MILES
Dating from the 1300s but largely rebuilt in the 16th-century after a fire devastated the Abdij complex, the vaulted Koorkerk (Choir Church) operated as a…
0.17 MILES
Dating from the 12th century, this huge abbey complex houses the regional government as well as two churches: the Koorkerk (built for the clergy) and…
0.2 MILES
Housed in the former monks’ dormitories of the abbey complex, this museum is divided into three permanent sections: one concentrating on fashion; another…
0.26 MILES
The area around the elongated Damplein (east of the Abdij) preserves many 18th-century houses, some of which have been turned into interesting shops,…