How can one not fall for Venice of the North?! The city of Bruges charms starting with the first step onto its old cobblestone streets. The intricate canal network meandering amid medieval and modern structures, traditional lace making, old picturesque bridges, the aroma of fresh waffles, the taste of delectable Belgian chocolate all converge to give this beautiful city a unique vibe -the memory of which will make you perpetually nostalgic.

I am thankful to my cousin Assad and his lovely wife Dolly who took us to Bruges when we visited them at Boulogne-Sur-Mer in March 2024 during our vacation in France. They were wonderful hosts and terrific guides, who made sure to point out the city’s main attractions and their history. The visit culminated with a succulent Flemish lunch at what appeared to have been an old castle right on the canal. I imagined myself being a noble guest at this castle visiting one of the Counts of Flanders in the 9th century….

Bruges was first mentioned in history in the 7th century. Its unique location on the Zwin esturary, connected it to the North Sea through a former tidal inlet. It established a monopoly on English wool in the 13th century. Its most successful years were between the 13th and 15th century when it became a commercial trade center establishing major trade agreements with its neighbors. As the estuary silted up in the 15th century, the city trading days came to a halt, and it became an artistic center through its school of Flemish painting. It was also prominent for being the location where the powerful dukes of Burgundy held court. Bruges struggled and lost its luster in the 16th century until 1895-1907 when the port of Zeebrugge was built 10 miles north on the North Sea. A canal connected Zeebrugges to the city resulting in reviving its trade industry and tourism. Today Bruges is mostly a touristic city with some industry such as ship building, electronic equipment, glass, lace, spinning, weaving (Britannica).

References Britannica, Wikipedia