Municipal Museums

Ticket Sale

Till 04.30 pm

Closing Day

Monday (except Easter and Whit Monday)
All museums are closed on New Year's Day, Ascension Day and Christmas Day

Reduced Rates for ...

• Groups of minimum 15 persons
• Youngsters (6 to 25 years old)
• Seniors (+65)
• Children under 6 - free entrance

Combined Ticket for ... 

• 5 municipal museums (at random) - approx. € 15.00
• 3 municipal museums + bicycle       - approx. € 15.00

Museums

• Groeninge Museum (Dijver 12)
  This museum houses a comprehensive and fascinating survey of six centuries of Flemish, Dutch and Belgian paintings, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers. The museum's many highlights include the world-famous collection of 'Flemish Primitive' art, works by a wide range of Renaissance and Baroque masters, a selection of paintings from the 18th & 19th century, Neo-classical and Realist periods, milestones of Belgian Symbolism and Modernism, masterpieces of Flemish Expressionism and many items from the city's collection of postwar modern art. 
• Gruuthuse Museum (Dijver 17)
  Located in the former palace of the Lords of Gruuthuse, this museum contains a most varied collection of decorative art. A large collection of sculptures, Bruges tapestries, furniture, silverware, ceramics and coins is displayed. The magnificent interior will take you back to the late Middle Ages.
• Brangwyn Museum / Arentshuis (Dijver 16)
  This magnificent 18th-century mansion, located at the entrance to a picturesque garden, is dedicated to Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956), a versatile artist of british nationality who was born in Bruges. The ground floor is the location for a varied programme of visual arts exhibitions (associated with the Groeninge collection)
• Memling Museum (Mariastraat 38)
  This recently restored museum is housed in one of the oldest surviving medieval hospitals in Europe (12th-17th century). Everyday life at the hospital is reconstructed in the magnificent historic wards by a collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture and decorative art. The adjacent church is the hospital's undisputed treasure-room, containing as it does several brilliant 15th-century paintings and the St. Ursula Shrine, all by Hans Memling. The 17th-century pharmacy has been completely preserved in the former monastery.
• Church of Our Lady  (Mariastraat)
  This church (13th-15th century) with a 118 m (approx. 400 feet) high tower, can boast an array of art treasures: paintings, wood sculptures, the white marble Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, the 16th-century mausoleums of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy and some remarkable painted tombs (13th-14th century) in the presbytery. 

• Gothic Hall - City Hall (Burg Square)
  The Gothic Hall on the first floor of Bruges City Hall is open to the public. This former council chamber continues to play an important part in city life. The wooden, polychrome, vaulted ceiling is decorated with a profusion of latemedieval carvings. The murals, illustrating Bruges' glorious past, were added during the chamber's restoration in the late 19th century. The adjoining 'historical chamber' contains several objects, documents and works of art with a bearing on the city's past.
• Liberty of Bruges (Brugse Vrije, Burg 11a)
  The Bruges countryside was originally governed from here, then this stately home acted as a Courthouse. Today the oldest wing (16th century) contains the city archive and in the Renaissance Room you can admire the monumental mantelpiece. 
• Belfry (Markt 7)
  The medieval Belfry Tower (13th-15th century) is 88 metres tall (approx. 289 feet) and houses the former city treasury, in which Bruges' valuables (money and royal charters) were once kept. A climb of 366 steps will take you to the impressive clock mechanism. Once you've reached the carillon with its 47 bells, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.  
• Archeological Museum (Mariastraat 36a)
  This museum contains a wide variety of material witnesses to Bruges' past, discovered during excavations in the city centre and in the outskirts. Pottery, glass, leather and crypts illustrate the city's history from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages and beyond.
• Folklore Museum (Balstraat 43)
  The restored and picturesque 17th century almshouses, which used to belong to the cobblers' guild, evoke the atmosphere of the past. Historic objects are used to reconstruct a classroom, a cobbler's workshop and a chemist, a confectionery, etc. You can round off your tour at the museum inn, 'The Black Cat'.
• Museum of Our Lady of the Potterie (Potterierei 79)
  This museum is located in a historical hospital complex (14th-17th century). Its numerous paintings and sculptures alone are worth a visit, but the museum also contains furniture from the Gothic to Baroque era. The adjoining church can boast one of the city's best preserved Baroque interiors and houses a wealth of art treasures.
• Sint-Janshuismolen / Koeleweimolen (windmills) (Kruisvest)
  Ever since their completion in the 13th century and until the 19th century, Bruges' outer ramparts were dotted with windmills. Nowadays, 2 windmills dominate the 'Kruisvest'. The St. Janshuismolen, which dates from 1770, is the only mill that has remained in its original position. Both windmills are still operational and are used to grind flour.
• Guido Gezelle Museum (Rolweg 64)
  The literary and biographical museum of Guido Gezelle (1830-1899), one of Flanders' best-known poets, is located in the house in which the writer was born. The museum has been completely renewed and redecorated in view of the 'Guido Gezelle Year' (1999). Documents, books and souvenirs reconstruct the life and work of this poet-priest. The house has a large romantic garden and is located in a peaceful, typical city quarter. 

For more detailed information

Do not hesitate to click through to the website of the Bruges Museums

Private Museums

• Bruges Diamond Museum (Katelijnestraat 43)
  The theme of this museum is the extraordinary history of Bruges as Europe's oldest diamond centre. Visitors can find out about the mysterious world of the diamond, one of Belgium's most important export products. Open daily till 05.30 pm. Diamond-cutting demonstrations - daily at 12.15 pm.
• Chocolate Museum - Choco-Story (Wijnzakstraat 2)
  A great experience! You are immersed in the ancient Mexican world of the Mayas and the Aztecs for whom chocolate was the drink of the gods and cacao beans a means of payment. The chocoholic gets to find out all about the production of chocolate truffles, chocolates, hollow figures and bars of chocolate. Lots of information but also very interactive and child friendly.
• Frietmuseum (Vlamingstraat 33)
  This museum dedicated to the history of Belgian fries will be located in the Saaihalle, one of Bruges’ oldest and best preserved historical buildings (1399). The Frietmuseum is unique in the world. It is the first museum that shows the entire history, from the origin of the potato to the first fries. Visitors will be able to see an interesting collection of machines used for the cultivation, harvesting, peeling, sorting and frying of potatoes. The museum will, however, also focus on Belgian fries in art, in music and on film. After the museum tour, the visitors will be able to taste the real Belgian fries, with delicious sauces and all sorts of meat preparations, in the medieval basement. 
• Lace Centre (Peperstraat 3a)
  A lace museum in the beautifully restored almshouses 'Jerusalem' (a 15th century foundation established by the Genoese merchants Adornes). It is in the former family house that lacemaking demonstrations are given every afternoon. 
• Lamp Museum - Lumina Domestica (Wijnzakstraat 2)
  This museum focuses exclusively on the history of interior lighting. It houses the world's largest lamp collection.
  You can buy a combination ticket for the chocolate + lamp museum.
• Museum-Gallery Xpo Salvador Dali (Markt 7)
  Within the Belfry of Bruges, you can visit an exhibition of art created by the celebrated artist Salvador Dali.
  On display is a rich collection of world-famous graphic art and sculptures, along with a splendid choice of watercolours and drawings.