Bruges, Belgium: Classic Medieval Charm Meets Contemporary Living

Situated in the Flanders region in northwestern Belgium, the historic city of Bruges (Brugge) is a medieval gem that still captivates audiences today for its medieval architecture that encompasses many buildings, in addition to canals providing pristine waterfront views, contributing to this medieval wonder dubbed "the Venice of the North." There have been several different interpretations regarding where the name Bruges comes from, although many speculate that it was either derived from the Scandinavian word "Brygga," meaning "harbor," or from a similarly derived Dutch word meaning "bridge."

Image from theculturetrip.com.

The history of the Belgian port city can be traced back to the 9th century CE when Bruges was originally colonized and established by the Vikings for its convenient location near the North Sea and English Channel. Eventually, Bruges would become a major economic capital in Belgium during the latter part of the Middle Ages due to its close proximity as a coastal town and the Zwin River connecting Bruges to the North Sea. These aspects allowed merchants from across Europe to flock to the harbor town in exchanging an influx of goods, cultures, and ideas with one another, promoting a diverse landscape for travelers. One item in particular which was sought by many European traders was Flemish cloth and textiles that were commonly produced in Bruges and other cities throughout Belgium.

Image from theculturetrip.com.

Despite Bruges expanding economically during the 12th century, the port town began experiencing issues when the Zwin River began filling up with excessive amounts of silt, which would temporarily jeopardize Bruges' thriving trade industry by cutting off access to the North Sea. Despite these struggles, Bruges attempted to expand once more through establishing outports that still allowed for trading to occur, although the area that was once economically stable started experiencing sharp declines during the last half of the Middle Ages, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was due in part to other Belgian rival port cities, such as Antwerp experiencing their economic claim to fame, and the Flemish textile industry was no longer relevant. In later centuries, Bruges would become the poorest city in Belgium and had to endure years of financial hardship before tourism became widely popular after the town was spared from both World Wars. This allowed Bruges to once again flourish, allowing tourists to acquire a deeper, behind-the-scenes look into the Middle Ages through observing preserved architecture and artifacts, and most importantly, understanding the significance of the Flemish people in Medieval Europe and their contributions to society.

Works Cited

"A Brief History of Bruges." Visit Flanders, https://www.visitflanders.com/en/destinations/bruges/history/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019. 

Sewell, Abby. "A Guide to the Historic Center of Bruges, Belgium." National Geographic, 10 Aug. 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/belgium/brugge-bruges-unesco-world-heritage-guide/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.

"Top 25 Medieval Cities in Europe: Best Preserved Towns to Visit." BigBoyTravel.com, https://www.bigboytravel.com/europe/topmedievalcities/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.