History of Bruges
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As early as the 2nd and 3d centuries, there was a Gallo-Roman settlement on the site of Bruges.The inhabitants of this settlement were not only farmers, but also merchants with contact in England and Gaul. Artefacts from this period can be viewed in the Archaeological Museum.
The town of Bruges acquired its current name at the beginning of the 9th century, thanks largely to its trading relations with Scandinavia. “Bryggia” is an old Norse word meaning “landing place”. In the mid 9th century, the Counts of Flanders built a stronghold in the current Burg square.
From the 11th century onward, Bruges became an international commercial centre thanks to its direct access to the sea. The cloth produced in Bruges was of such high quality that it was exported all over Europe. Thus, Bruges became a prosperous commercial centre.
The first exchange building in the world was also located in Bruges, in the house of the family Van der Beurse, a renowned mercantile clan. The name of the family eventually gave rise to the Dutch word “beurs” – a word that has been incorporated into many different languages (bourse, Börse, borsa, birsja, etc.) to describe “an exchange” or “trading market”.
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Around 1350, Bruges’ population amounted to some 40.000 to 45.000; twice the current population in the historical city centre. The second city ramparts date from that same period. These ramparts, which still exist today, of course lost their military function, but now invite to a stroll, a cycle ride and a visit to one of the 4 windmills.
In the 15th century, Flanders passed to the Burgundian state. The Dukes of Burgundy marked a new era of luxury and prosperity in Bruges during which arts an banking flourished ... . Bruges became the favourite residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Famous painters, such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling had their atelier in Bruges. A lot of art treasures from the Burgundian period have remained in Bruges: the monumental city hall, the many merchant houses and parish churches, the mausoleums of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold in the Church of Our Lady and the many paintings by the “Flemish Primitives”.
At the end of the 15th century, the Burgundian Court left Bruges for good, and Bruges’ Golden Age was over. Moreover, the city lost its outlet to the sea trough the silting up of the coastal area. Antwerp gained ascendancy over Bruges and took over the wool trade, although Bruges was able to maintain its leading position as the production centre of luxury goods and arts (e.g. silverware).
In 1548, Bruges was conquered by the Spaniards. The religious wars and the fact that Bruges no longer had an outlet to the sea marked the beginning of the city’s decline.
After the period of Spanish dominance (1524-1713), Bruges was successively ruled by Austria (1713-1795), France (1795-1815) and the Netherlands (1815-1830).
In the 19th century, Bruges became increasingly poor and missed the opportunity to play a role in the Industrial Revolution.
At the end of the 19th century, Georges Rodenbach’s novel “Bruges La Morte” put Bruges back in the spotlights. In his book, he describes Bruges as a sleeping, dead, but mysterious city.
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Bruges’s European renown as an art city and later as a tourist centre,has constantly grown ever since.
Today, the monuments, museums and historical cityscape impress visitors from all over the world.
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From primitive settlement to international trading centre (…-1200)
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851:
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the earliest mention of the city in existing records.
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862:
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Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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892:
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construction of the first recorded annual fair in Bruges. Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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1089:
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Bruges is accorded capital city status within Flanders. Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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1127:
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Count Charles the Good is murdered in the Church of St. Donatlan. Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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1134:
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the creation of the Zwin, a channel linking Bruges with the sea. Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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1150:
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Dirk of Alsace brings the Holy Blood of Christ to Bruges. Baldwin I arrives in Bruges and begins work on a castle on the site of the Burg.
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Bruges as the economic capital of north-west Europe (1200-1400)
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1240:
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construction of the Belfry (first phase) commences.
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1244:
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foundation of the “Wijngaard” (Vineyard) Beguinage.
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1285-1294:
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construction of a covered mooring area for ships on the Market Square.
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1302:
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18 May – the Bruges Matins (revolt against French rule).
11 July – the Battle of the Golden Spurs.
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1376:
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construction of the late-gothic Town Hall.
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Burgundian period (1384-1524)
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1430:
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the Burgundian duke, Philip the Good, founds the Order of the Golden Fleece.
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1436:
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Jan Van Eyck paints the triptych “Madonna with St. Donatian and St. George and the donor, Canon Joris van der Paele” (now in the Groeninge Museum).
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1468:
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marriage of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York.
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1488:
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Maximilian, Emperor of Austria, is held prisoner in the Craeneburg on the Market Square.
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1489:
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Hans Memling decorates the Reliquary of St. Ursula (Memling Museum).
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1506:
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Jan Mouscron a local cloth magnate, purchases the statue “Madonna and Child” by Michelangelo (now in Our Lady’s Church).
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1526:
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the Bruges Bear together with a lion, are adopted as bearers for the city’s coat of arms.
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1528-1531:
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Lanceloot Blondeel designs the chimneypiece for the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges.
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1548:
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the scientist Simon Stevin, is born.
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1559:
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Bruges becomes a bishopric.
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1562:
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Marcus Gerards draws the first official town plan of Bruges (now in the Gothic Chamber of the Town Hall).
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1580:
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the “Breaking of the Images” – the iconoclast fury.
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A modest town with a maritime calling (1600-1800)
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1604:
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the silting up of the Zwin denies Bruges direct access to the sea.
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1794:
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Bruges is occupied by the French.
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A poor town in a poor province (1795-1895)
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1799:
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demolition of the Cathedral of St. Donotian on the Burg.
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1814:
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11 February – Bruges is liberated form the French.
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1814-1830:
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Dutch rule.
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1830:
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Belgium becomes independent.
On 1 May the poet, Guido Gezelle, is born (Gezelle Museum).
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1885:
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Dutch becomes the offcial language.
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A provincial town with ambitions (1895-1970)
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1896:
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construction of the harbour at Zeebrugge.
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1902:
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first exhibition of the Flemish Primitives.
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1914-1918:
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First World War.
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1940-1945:
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Second World War.
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1958:
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First Golden Tree parade through the streets of Bruges.
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The new town (1971-2002)
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2002:
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Bruges, Cultural Capital of Europe.
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