My best photographs of the waterways in Bruges. I can’t resist walking along canal banks to experience a different side to a city 🙂
Away from the crowds, I found being near the canals really calming – maybe that’s why I always end up near water!
Some of my best “life” images. I definitely got my fix of people-watching in Bruges!
I think some of those people were watching me, watching them! Next time – Best of Bruges: Water. Peace and love to all 🙂
I’d like to share my best “architecture” images from my walk around Bruges. Enjoy the views!
I hope you enjoyed the architecture. Next time – Best of Bruges: Life 🙂
Being a popular tourist destination, Bruges is always packed with people. In spite of this, it’s possible to find pockets of the city bereft of the hustle and bustle!
It was really peaceful meandering through these empty streets without having to share it with anyone else!
Another post full of fabulous street life, this time in Bruges.
On the way from the train station along Oostmeers seems to be the way most people walk to and from the centre of Bruges..
The Markt is always full of people.
Whether they are enjoying the lovely buildings that surround the market..
..shopping at the market stalls..
..doing a spot of sightseeing at the Belfry..
..or exploring the city by horse and carriage..
There are people shopping along Steenstraat..
..Braambergstraat – another lovely cobbled street..
..and Sint-Jakobsstraat..
Not far away is Huidenvettersplein, near to the Vismarkt (fish market), with people milling around this little square..
Over the bridge and along Blinde-Ezelstraat into the Burg, people are making a beeline for one of Bruges’ attractions – the Basilica of the Holy Blood..
Near the Poortersloge is a popular place for taking photos..
I hope you enjoyed a little people watching with me in Bruges. If you’ve been to Bruges, you’ll know it is a perfect place to spend a day, wandering around seeing all it has to offer. If you’ve never been, I recommended a visit – you will not be disappointed.
I am somehow drawn to water, so if I visit somewhere with canals, you can be sure they will be on my list of things to see.
While in Bruges, I headed to the Spiegelrei Canal and wandered along its banks. There are some lovely colourful buildings in the traditional stepped-gable design.
Next, the Augustijnenrei Canal with water so still it creates beautiful reflections.
I skirted around the old-town and headed south to the Groenerei Canal. There is a viewpoint where you can sit and watch the boats go by or take a break from sightseeing in one of the cafe bars located along its banks.
Bruges is a beautiful place to explore. Walk around the city or take a trip on a canal boat to see a different view of the city.
On a trip to Belgium in 2020, just two days into the new year, I went to Bruges for the day. It was a lovely way to spend a few hours. I loved it so much, I’m going to retrace my steps and hope that you will join me for a little tour around the city.
Bruges is just under an hour and a half from Brussels. Leave the station and walk up Oostmeers towards the city centre. There will be plenty of people doing the same, so you won’t get lost.
The narrow street is lined with houses including the almshouse of Reylof de Blieck – used as a shelter for the poor in the past.
At the end of Oostmeers, take a right onto Goezeputstraat and second-left onto Kleine Heilige-Geestraat. You’ll see the tall tower of Saint Salvador Cathedral on Sint-Salvadorskerkhof.
Walk around and you’ll see the whole cathedral.
From Sint-Salvadorskerkhof, go right onto Steenstraat and you’ll find yourself in the shopping zone with typical Belgian buildings converted into cute boutiques.
Keep going and you’ll come across the Markt – Bruges’ market square with its impressive buildings including the Belfry – arguably the most impressive.
The Provincial Hall isn’t bad either.
The market square is bustling with people and and there are also colourful old guild houses which have been converted into restaurants, so it’s also a good place to sit and eat and watch the world go by.
Just off of the Markt, you’ll find Eiermarket with some nice cafes and restaurants – stop for a coffee in Het Hof Van Rembrandt,
Venture onward and pass by Dumon Chocolatier, housed in this cute little building.
Go along Kuipersstraat, turn right onto Jakob Van Ooststraat, left onto Vlamingstraat and, finally, right onto Academiestraat and you’ll see The Burghers’ Lodge (Poortersloge) – a place where important citizens of Bruges held their meetings.
Head towards Augustijnenrei Canal and located by the Ezelsbrug or Donkey Bridge is thebeautiful Restaurant De Bottelier. I didn’t eat here, but I thought it was worthy of a photo.
Go back the way you came along Sint-Jakobsplein and St James Church stands on the corner.
Double back on yourself through the Markt, walk along Breidelstraat and you’ll come across Burg Square. In the far corner, you’ll see Blinde-Ezelstraat or Blind Donkey Street – a narrow alleyway running between Burg Square and Vismarkt. Apparently, there was an old inn called The Blind Donkey in the late 15th century.
Back on Burg Square, you’ll find part of the Brugse Vrije (Liberty of Bruges).
And the beautiful Gothic Stadhuis or town hall.
My walk took me further around the city centre but, for this tour, I wanted to show you some of the buildings in Bruges. I hope you enjoyed yourself. More of Bruges next time!
Gouden-Handrei is, arguably, one of the prettiest streets in Bruges so, of course, I had to make a beeline for it when I visited in January 2020. The street carries on into Spaanse Loksaai and ends at the Augustijnenreibrug – a three-arched bridge dating from the 14th century, making it the city’s oldest. After the bridge, you can carry on walking along Augustijnenrei for more lovely views.
It certainly was very pretty and I enjoyed walking along this lovely part of Bruges.
