🏰 Discover Bruges: Art, History & Beer in a Medieval Masterpiece

📍 Meeting point: Grote Markt, Bruges
🗓 Sunday, May 10th, 2026
🕚 11:00

The day after our beer exploration, we slow things down (just a bit 😉) and dive into the timeless beauty of Bruges — one of the most enchanting cities in Belgium and, arguably, in all of Europe.

With its gothic architecture, canals, swans, cobbled streets and medieval atmosphere, Bruges feels like stepping into a living painting. But it’s not just a postcard — it’s a city with over 1,000 years of history, shaped by trade, art, power and decline… and then rediscovered.

Once one of the richest cities in the world during the Burgundian Golden Age, Bruges was home to masters like Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, before falling into centuries of quiet obscurity — only to re-emerge as one of Europe’s most beloved destinations.

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🚶‍♂️ What we’ll do
We’ll spend the day exploring Bruges on foot, following a route that combines history, art, architecture and atmosphere.

We’ll start from the iconic Grote Markt, surrounded by historic buildings and dominated by the Belfry Tower, symbol of the city’s wealth during its golden age.

From there, we’ll explore:

• The historic heart of Bruges, including the Basilica of the Holy Blood
• Hidden corners, canals and medieval streets that define the city’s character
• The Groeningemuseum, home to masterpieces of the Flemish Primitives — including works by Van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, and Hugo van der Goes, as well as later artists like Magritte and Delvaux

⚠️ Please note: some locations (such as museums) require an entrance ticket.
Participation in these visits is completely optional — if you prefer, you’re free to skip them and enjoy the city in your own way while the rest of the group visits.

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🍺 Lunch break at De Halve Maan Brewery
Around midday we’ll stop at De Halve Maan, Bruges’ historic brewery, to relax, have lunch (optional) and taste some of their iconic beers — including Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik — directly where they are brewed.

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🎨 Afternoon highlights
In the afternoon we’ll continue exploring the city, visiting:

• The Church of Our Lady, home to Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child
• The Sint-Janshospitaal, one of the oldest hospitals in Europe, hosting extraordinary works by Hans Memling
• The peaceful Begijnhof, a quiet and reflective historical enclave
• The beautiful Minnewater Park, with its lake and swans — the perfect place to slow down and take in the atmosphere of Bruges

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A full day of art, history, beauty and beer, in a city that manages to be both iconic and surprisingly intimate.

Whether it’s your first time in Bruges or not, this is the kind of place you don’t just visit — you experience.