History of Bruges
The history of Bruges is very long. IT dates back to times even before the Middle Ages. The glorious past of this gothic city rests over the city centre like a vail, historical heroes such as Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck are still present and always will be. Memories of the Golden Age are carefully cherished. Even our predecessors did everything they could to protect the historical value of the city and made restauration or rebuilding of buildings compulsory according to gothic style, also called neo-Gothic. Below you'll find the whole history of Bruges .
- In the beginning
- Bruges, a city with maritime destination
- 13th century - medieval city expanding
- 14th century - economic metropolis of Europe
- 15th century - Golden Age for Burgundy Bruges
- 16th century - Gothic Bruges still prosperous
- 17th and 18th century - Baroque Bruges, revival of the port
- 19th century - Bruges la morte
- 20th century - from dead city to big port
In the beginning
Since the first century of our calender there were already people living in the territory that later would become the city of Bruges. In the past 20 years archeological trails have been found of a Gallo-Roman settlement It continued to grow and since the 8th century it became a fortified place where from the 9th century on there was intensive trade between Bruges and Scandinavia.
The origin of the name Bruges or Brugge lies in these trading relations with Scandinavia. The name of the settlement was derived from the water name 'Rugja', the name of the first canal, Reie. In the 8th and 9th century the name evolved and eventually contaminated with the Scandinavian word Bryggia, which means landing stage. This name again changed in time, and that's how the current city name came into being. It was come accross for the first time in coins as 'Bruggia'. A few specimens now belong to the museum collection and can be viewed in the Gruuthuse museum.
From the 9th century on the history of Bruges becomes more clear. It was then the first fortress was built. The probable owner was the count of Flanders, the first one known by name, Baldwin I of Flanders also known as Baldwin Iron Arm, The city grew, parishes were founded, churches built. The most famous still existing churches of this age are the Saint-Saviours Cathedral and the church of Our Lady. An other well known church, Saint-Donaas, was demolished in the 18th century. It had became famous in the first years for the murder of Charles the Good inside the church.
Bruges, a city with maritime destination
Around the beginning of the 11th century Bruges had already grown into a port and a European commercial centre. After all, the city already was accessible from the sea in the Roman era. In the second half of the 11th century this connection silted up and the commercial activity shifted to trade over land. Without the maritime acitivity the city would not have been able to maintain its international reputation. As by luck, the region dealt with a storm flood in 1134, because of which a new waterway arose that reached untill Damme of today. By means of a canal it was connected to Bruges
13th century - medieval city expanding
Background: One of the most urbanized regions of the Europe of that time, besides centre and northern Italy, was the medieval County of Flanders. Italy was at that time further developed. As early as this century Flanders reached an urbanization peak which would not be exceeded in the following centuries. The 13th century is characterized as a period of economic growth in Flanders, and evidently also in Bruges. Cities such as Ghent, Ypres and Douai prospered in industry or textile The region was plagued by serious famine in 1316 and in 1349 the infamous Plague epidemic struck.
Also in this century there was an international year market in Bruges. Bruges counted with a wide range of activities. Bruges' woolen textiles were exported to all of Europe, there was wool import, production of cloth and cloth export. Since the last quarter of the 13th century Bruges was completely evolved into the economic centre of Europe Still, we must reflect upon the fact that despite the prime, there was also a lot of poverty in the city. Just like in other, less developed cities, social tensions grew in Bruges.
Because of the continuous develepment Bruges had no other choise but to expand. Outside the first ramparts construction of houses had begun. The famous mansions were build almost exclusively inside the city walls. A few stone facades from that century are in the Grauwwerkerstraat 2-4, and Jan Van Eyckplein 6. It is also in this century that the city council encouraged the replacement of thatched roofs with tiled roofs. Wooden facades were not untill the 17th century definitively forbidden. Some of the conserved 13th century facades you can find in Kortewinkel 2 and Genthof 7.
Besides the fact that Bruges almost literaly came apart at the seams, there is another indicator of the extreme economic growth, the evolution of the ecclesiastical structures. Many conventual orders settled in Bruges in the 13th century. The Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Carmelites and many others all had a convent in Bruges. Unfortunately they did not pass the test of time and left few trails in the current city centre. The mayor part of the then founded churches did survive. These are the Saint-Jacobs church, Saint-Gillis Church and the then rebuild existing churches of Our lady and Saint-Saviours.
14th century - economic metropolis of Europe
Background: At the end of the 13th century the French king Philips IV incorporated the County of Flanders. An important part of the rich classes sided with the king. Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck were important in leading the uprise in Bruges. The consequence was the famous Bruges Matins or 'Brugse Metten'. Also to remember is the great victory over the French with the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk in 1301.
Bruges was definitely economic capital in the 14th century. Products became more and more refined and many craftsmen developed artistic crafts. Since the fifties of the 14th century 1/5 of the population worked as tailor, artistic craftsmen or maker of appliances. An other quarter of the inhabitants worked as realtor-hotelier or was active in the wholesale or financial business. Bruges grew into an international market
Banking was also very important in that time. You might even say that the entire financial system as we know it today came into being in Bruges. A unique advanced financial system was developed. Money-changers, bankers and other credit granters became indispensable. The money changers were active in financial services together with the hoteliers. Besides normal change activities they offered current accounts, deposits, transfers and locally even paper currency, loans and investments. They even came up with solutions for international money transports: bills of exchange instead of cash. It became a lucrative trade for the italian bankers. This trade took place in Bruges on the square next to the houses of foreign nations of the Genoese, Florentines and Venetians.
15th century - Golden Age for Burgundy Bruges
Background: At the end of the 14th century the County of Flanders merged with the Duchy of Burgundy. The daughter of the then count of Flanders, Louis married with the Burgundian duke Philip the Bold. From then on the County belonged to a group of principalities between France and the German Empire, that would grow into the Burgundian Netherlands. Because of this the international character of Bruges was placed in a new dimension.
But there are suggestions that the 15th century already showed marks of deterioration. Bruges was not the easy to access port anymore. The silting up of the Zwin area was partly responsible, but another factor was the time-consuming procedure to get into Bruges. Cargos had to be transferred from large ships to little ones. The staple right became hard to defend in the 15th century. The staple right meant that al merchandise imported from the Zwin had to be sold in Bruges.
Bruges maintained its position of international trade centre untill 1580. This was unquestionably because of the union between Burgundy and Flanders. The economy did change fundamentally in respect to the 14th century. Instead of cloth trade and industry Bruges focussed on a more diversificated production of goods and services. Traditional products were replaced by high quality luxury. Particularly in the artistic sector, when we think of the Flemish Primitives movement with renowned painters like Jan Van Eyck Apart from that, the diamond and weapon industry, miniature art and other disciplines are also good examples of this luxury.
Despite that the 15th century was a golden age for Bruges, the city did deal with several serious crisises that provoced political lability, agitation and uprises. Mary of Burgundy died suddenly in 1482, which caused the end of political stability. Bruges saw itself disappear in international isolation and the Burgundy Court left. After 1492 most foreign nations returned, but in the meantime Antwerp had already developed into an international metropolis. At the end of the 15th century Bruges was left empty and poor. Other crisises that didn't spare Bruges were the uprise against Philip the Good, which was hard-handed repressed and the growing tensions between England and Flanders that lead to military actions. As a consequence of a temporary economic crisis the city also had to deal with famine and the plague. The death of Charles the Bold provoked riots.
Still many trails prove that Bruges did live a golden age. The Flemish Primitives are a good example of the cultural and artistic charisma of the Burgundy Court. The pioneer of this movement was the court painter of Philip the Good, namely Jan Van Eyck. A few important and rich families had themselves perpetuated. The family Adornes built the Jeruzalem church. The Hof van Watervliet belonging to the family De Baenst and the Gruuthuse house of the Gruuthuse family are also examples.
16th century - Gothic Bruges still prosperous
Background: In history the period starting from 1500 is called Early Modern Period, introduced by the Renaissance period. The discovery and exploitation of the New World is typical for that time. This caused a shift of the centre of world trade from mediterranean regions to the Atlantic world. Before this time the first world empire came in to being, and was ruled by a modern ruler, Charles V. This Habsburg Empire consisted of the Netherlands, the Spanish, Autrian and Italian countries, the German Empire and the colonies in the New World. Bruges, in particular, welcomed this ruler enthousiastically.
Around the turn of the century Bruges seemed to have gone silent, after a century of desperately trying to maintain position. The city seemed economically, commercially and culturaly schrinked to a regional centre and no langer the trade wheel in North-western Europe. But Bruges still had some cards to play. With an important amount of effort it achieved a satisfactory position in the new economical world order. In the end of making foreign nations return to Bruges, the city focussed completely on its medieval trumps: the connection with the sea. But Bruges suffered competition from Antwerp, which by then had grown into the new trade metropolis. Bruges tried to fight the silting-up with great plans with the aim of making it possible for big sea-going vessels to pass through Bruges again, but these plans ended in disaster.
Nevertheless, Bruges was able to adjust well to the new situation. Antwerp en Bruges grew complementary rather than in competition. Definitely in the second half of the 16th century Bruges was relatively the most commercial city of the Netherlands without regard to the development of Antwerp into the new trade wheel of the Atlantic world. Proof of this is the presence of the foreign nations like the Spanish merchands who traded almost exclusively wool. Big Spanish families were amongs others Pardo, De la Torre and Aranda. The house of La Torre is still intact, at least the facade is, and it is located in the street with the appropriate name De Spanjaardstraat
Merchands from Bruges also continued to contribuite to the international character of the trade.
Construction was mostly in Gothic style , what makes Bruges to this day probably the most Gothic city of Europe. Many buildings after that time were build according to this style, it is called neo Gothic style. This style was then used especially because of the lack of creative inspiration. The Provincial Court was rebuilt in this style after it had been demolished.
In the second half of the 16th century a strong anti-Spanish feeling grew in Flanders. A new Spanish reign of terror was feared, which caused revolutionary politics in the cities, lead by Bruges. Ghent took resistance a step further and tried to incorporate Bruges as well. Protestantism was restored and became the only official religion in the region. Catholicism had completely died in Bruges. Many of the clergy and many catholics moved to the South, Doaui and Lille. Between 75-85 of that century Bruges reconciled with Spain again and a small elite became calvinistic. The consequences of these reconciliations were enormous. Lots of important dynamic forces from Bruges emigrated North where they contribuited to the Golden Age. Bruges got closed of the North because of military actions, even Sluis was definitively lost. The separation between North and South was a definitive fact with the fall of Antwerp in 1585. Bruges' economic life shrinked into nothing. This meant the end of a glorious and powerfull Bruges.
17th and 18th century - Baroque Bruges, revival of the port
Background: The Southern Netherlands remained under the Spanish crown untill the 17th century. It wasn't untill 1713 that these regions were transferred to the Austrian empire. All this time they were trapped between France, the United Provinces (Holland) and England. These superpowers settled their militery conflicts untill the 18th century by preference in the Southern Netherlands. Belgium was called 'battlefield of Europe' because of this. Bruges made it through this century and a half during war.
From 1620 on the population of Bruges restored itself considerably after the deterioration of the 16th century. In that century a lot of renovation and rebuilding was going on. Most wooden facades were replaced by stone facades. That's how Baroque and Classicist facades were brought into the townscape. In the mid 18th century the famous majestic mansions were also built. They refer to a lively business sence in the city. In the 17th and 18th century Bruges continued to persue the challenge to play a role as maritime trade city in Western Europe. This wasn't without struggle. With the further digging out of canals Bruges was connected to Ghent and Ostend. This accessibility meant the revival of Bruges as seaport. It was also then that the commodity exchange revived, with the difference that it had moved from the merchands house 'Van der Beurse' to the city Belfry halls on the market. Bruges played out protectionist politics concerning the waterways. To be able to pass by Bruges one had to cross the city, on the canals (Reien), through the Minnewater to proceed to Ghent.
Still the trade business in Bruges remained internationally anchored. Because the Southern Netherlands still belonged to the Spanish Empire, merchands and undertakers were now benefiting from it. Bruges prospered as seaport.
Maritime trade also brought new life to the industry in Bruges which removed itself more and more from the crafts atmosphere. Faience and china was made, under influence of colonial goods tabaco plants and sugar refineries were established, but the biggest trump still was textile. Flemish cloth was history, while fustians, serge and lace were now core business.
But still a lot of families in Bruges were living in poverty, which caused a proliferation of charitable initiatives. Numerous almshouseswere founded or restored. During the same period another element of a Catholic reformation occured. Churches were built, the number of convents doubled and the layment piety was promoted with dozens of initiatives. This period was very much influenced by Catholicism. In that time, these regions were the most Catholic of all. Bruges was now more than in the Middle Ages a convent city. The monks however didn't play a very dynamic role in the city society. It thus ended very suddenly at the end of the 18th century. A few of today's city parks in Bruges, are located on what used to be convent territory.
The last decades of the 18th century announced a new era, introduced by the French Revolution
19th century - Bruges la morte
Background: During the French Revolution our regions were incorporated by France. In a short period of time the structures that pionered the modern municipal and provincial institutions were instaured here. In 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in Waterloo, which provoced a fracture and so the end of the French era. Our regions were reunited with the Northern Netherlands and fell under King Willem I. His innovative language and education politics aroused a lot of mistrust. The uprise in 1830 that ended in the independend kingdom of Belgium knew little opposition. On July 18, 1831 Leopold 1 was welcomed warmly in Bruges. The city had had to put up a new flag 7 times in half a century. Now it is time for the introduction of the modern world. The first industrial revolution was responsible for an amazingly high production and technology in the coal mines, iron foundries and textile companies. This industrialisation was also introduced in Flanders by means of the mechanisation of the coton industry in Ghent.
Despite capacities and opportunities, Bruges remained watching from the side. Undertakers in Bruges refused to take risks, they continued showing interest for business enterprises but refused to take part in the mechanisation. As a consequence not one single mechanized textile company settled in Bruges. In the linnen industry a crisis provoced a lot of unemployment. By the mid 19th century Bruges had become the poorest city of Belgium. In the seventies bankers aimed their investments at the industrialisation, what caused bancrupcy for banks in Bruges, and killed dozens of companies. There were attempts to emprove the employment, but they were never succesful.
The second half of the 19th century experienced a U-turn. Several companies were established and were responsible for a more varied economic life.
The first industrial revolution passed Bruges by, but the city didn't give up. 
The railway route Ostend-Bruges-Ghent came into use and the first railwaystation was build on 't Zand. When it became clear that the station could not handle the increasing railway traffic, a convent was demolishded to make way for a big railway station. This prestigous building in neogothic style disappeared again in 1948 because of the construction of the current station. 't Zand became an open square again.
20th century - from dead city to big port
The 20th century to Belgium means favorable economic evolutions, known as the 'second industrial revolution'. Another important factor is the establishment of the universal plural suffrage, which introduced an expansion of the civilian democracy. The first social laws were brought into force.
After all these centuries Bruges kept trying to be a seaport. A lot of people had the opinion that the old glory would be restored by the construction of a seaport with direct connection to the city.
The port project was not the only large-scale economic initiative that determined life in the city untill this very day. In the metal industry 1500 jobs for labourers were created by LaBrugoise (established in 1905). At the end of the 19th century the yeast and methylated spirits factory from Delft was established in the city of Bruges. It is now, several merges later , part of the international Genencor.
Still Bruges could not be called an industry city. That's why the socialist worker movement couldn't set foot on the ground, giving the Catholic inspired organisations more opportunities to gain and keep with more and more territory.
To many inhabitants the glorious medieval past of Bruges grew into mythical proportions. Further development fo architecture was threatened because of this. By preference people continued to build in 19th century style or in Bruges' style, as it was called. It was a style inspired by the building styles of the 14th to the 19th century.
The wars - 1914-1945
On August 4, 1914 the German army invaded Belgium. Bruges was taken on October 14 after a minor struggle. This German regime lasted untill 1918. At the end of WWI the port was completely destroyed, companies were loothed and nearly all bridges around the city destroyed. The city centre itself remained miraculously intact. Between the wars Bruges was not very dynamic.
In 1940 the Germans invaded again, and occupated Bruges for another 4 years. The port of Zeebrugge suffered once again from this second war. It sounds almost incredible, but the city centre again came through intact. But when the Germans left, they destroyed a few city gates and took the famous Madonna by Michelangelo and a number of paintings to Germany where they were luckily found a year later. Inmediately after the libration the port was rebuilt.
The necessary attention was pas payed to tourism. The Holy Bloodgame came into being, the Pageant of the Golden Tree was organized every lustrum and a few years later the Reie festivities were also introduced.
From 1970 Bruges started a sequence of merges with the surrounding towns, which are now the suburbs of Bruges.
Today Bruges is still a tourist draw, and many initiatives are being taken, traditions are loyaly followed to maintain this wonderful city in the centre of attention. Tourism also accounts for an important part of this historical city's income.
Today Bruges is with 116.978 residents a mediocre to big city, only in its kind in Belgium hanging between the big cities such as Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels and the municipalities, towns and little cities. But it knows perfectly well how to maintain between the other Flemish art cities.
This history outline is mainly a summery from the book 'Bruges, 2000 years of history', written by Noël Geirnaert (historian, city archivist of Bruges) and Ludo Vandamme (historian, scientific colaborator, historical collections, municipal library of Bruges). ISBN:978-90-74377-44-7.
