Bruges (Dutch: Brugge) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.

The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is egg-shaped and about 430 hectares in size. The area of the whole city amounts to more than 13,840 hectares, including 193.7 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge ("Seabruges" in literal translation). The city's total population is 117.000, of which around 20.000 live in the historic centre.
The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone (incl. Sint-Andries), is covering an area of 616 km² and has a total of 255.000 inhabitants.

Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North".

Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its port, and is also home to the College of Europe.
Known as the Venice of the North, because of its peaceful canals, Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
It was a justified motive that prompted UNESCO in 2000 to include the entire historical city centre on the World Heritage list. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city centre, and the spaces and structures that were so typical of Bruges in the past have been preserved.

Walking along the maze of winding cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you imagine yourself to be in medieval times.

The wealth of museums is a striking image of this city's stirring history. You must start your stay with a walk through this splendid medieval city, one of Belgium's crown jewels and world heritage. In no other European city is the feel and the look of medieval times so present as here on Bruges' peaceful canals and streets.

You can discover much more about our beautiful city in this page of Wikipedia. You will find all touristic and general information on the public city-website.

And by clicking here you can admire 90 nice pictures of Bruges in our "Brugge diashow".

Another overview of Bruges' wonderful treasures is to discover on this website.

And, if you want to make a personalized citytrip, you can choose your preferences in this virtual sight-seeing planner. This Citytrip Planner presents to you a tailored trip fast and easily. Only the attractions that interest you will be included.

On YouTube you can find a movie "Discover Bruges" with several tips of museums, shopping and typical eating addresses.
A few years ago Bruges was the brillant scene of a movie with Colin Farrell: In Bruges. You can find the full movie on YouTube. We can assure you that Bruges is not the "shithole" as mentioned in the first minutes of the film.