History

Bruges (Brugge) was founded in the 9th century by Vikings; the name Bruges is thought to derive from the old-Scandinavian word 'Brygga' meaning 'harbour' or 'mooring place'. The river Zwin linked the settlement to the North Sea and it very quickly became an important international trading port.

In the 12th century, Bruges gained city status, but soon after the Zwin started to silt up. Bruges adapted by creating outports in Damme and in Sluis; simultaneously, land transport became more and more prevalent. Traders from all over the world continued to flock to the city to sell their products and to buy internationally-acclaimed Flemish cloth, which was produced in various cities, including nearby Ghent.

In the 14th century, Bruges developed into the warehouse of the North-European Hanseatic cities. Several countries, such as Italy, Germany and Spain, had their own representation in Bruges, making it a truly European centre where different languages could be heard daily and where exotic products could be found.

Bruges' wealth started to decline in the 15th century, when the larger harbour of Antwerp came to dominate and the cloth industry fell into crisis. Art and architecture continued to flourish, however, with splendid late-gothic buildings and churches constructed and the Flemish painting school (including Anthony Van Dyck and Memling) producing great works.

By the end of the 16th century, Bruges no longer held any great power and by the middle of the 1800s, Bruges was the poorest city in Belgium. The 20th century, however, brought new life, when the city was discovered by international tourism and the medieval heritage turned out to be a new source of wealth for the 'Venice of the North'. The new harbour of Zeebrugge (10 miles from the city, at the Flemish Coast) brought new developments and new industries to the region.