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Text and photos:Nany Giang
Romantic by the canal
Brugge captivates couples with the serene and romantic charm of its houses reflected in the emerald green canals, dating back to the Middle Ages (approximately the 5th to 15th centuries). You could wander here all day without getting bored, strolling along the canal banks and admiring the architecture that is more beautiful than any painting.
Unlike in the past when merchant ships bustled back and forth, today only tourist boats cruise along the shores. If you visit Brugge in the spring, it's simply wonderful. Going a little further, along the ring road and inside the city walls, you'll reach the tourist center of Brugge. In the center, the houses, a mix of white and red brick, were built hundreds of years ago. Most of these houses are small shops with ornate black wooden signs. The shops are filled with traditional handicrafts, most famously embroidery, lace, and magnets depicting images of the city. Riding in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets, admiring the buildings, especially the countless beautiful churches of all sizes, truly reveals the beauty of Brugge.
World Heritage and… French fries
In Brugge, my favorite thing was seeing the marble statue of the Madonna and Son of Michelangelo, one of the world's masterpieces of sculpture. The 83-meter-high bell tower, located in Market Square, is also a valuable asset of Brugge. Built in 1240, it was destroyed by fire 40 years later. Rebuilt in 1300, it is now listed as a World Heritage site. If you take the time to climb the 366 steps, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and admire the 47 bells, each with a different sound and function: emergency bells, city government announcements, timekeeping bells, and more.
Everywhere in this land of chocolate, you can find Belgians walking around with French fries, much like Americans eat popcorn. It's their favorite snack. Belgian fries have a special flavor because they are fried twice in hot oil, served in paper packets or trays, topped with plenty of mayonnaise and sprinkled with salt.
City of Museums
For those who enjoy visiting museums, Brugge is the right choice.
The Frietmuseum – the potato museum – showcases the entire history of potatoes, from their origins to the first French fries. Visitors can view a fascinating collection of machines used for planting, harvesting, peeling, sorting, and making French fries.
You'll also have the chance to learn about the fascinating history of potatoes, which originated in Peru over 10,000 years ago; explore the history of French fries and how they made their way to Belgium. Over the years, French fries have become world-famous, delighting adults and children alike, and virtually every Belgian is proud that French fries originated in Belgium. After visiting the museum, don't forget to enjoy authentic Belgian-style French fries, with delicious sauces and all sorts of meat preparations, in a medieval cellar.
Located in the northwest of the city, on Katelijnestraat, the Bruges Diamond Museum – one of the world's five diamond museums – is also worth a visit. It showcases the role of gemstones in Brugge's history while providing important and interesting information about diamonds.
And, of course: the world of chocolate.
Belgians are very proud of what they excel at, such as comics, beer, and chocolate. If chocolate is the symbol of love, then Brugge is certainly considered the sweetest city in the world. This is because it is the chocolate center of Belgium, a country famous globally for its rich, creamy chocolate made from cocoa powder. Belgian chocolate is undeniably world-class.
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To honor this symbol of love, a dedicated chocolate museum has been built. Choco Story – the name of the chocolate museum – is the most famous and most visited of the many museums in Brugge. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn all about chocolate: cocoa bean samples, chocolate-making tools, statues of the Mayan people (the first to discover the cocoa tree), chocolate sculptures, the legend of the chocolate goddess…
In addition, you can learn to make chocolate yourself under the guidance of museum staff. Like many other museums in the city, this one is housed in an old-fashioned building with wooden floors, wooden stairs, and a narrow but elegantly and scientifically arranged space with clear instructions. After buying a ticket, you immediately receive three pieces of white and brown chocolate along with an instruction booklet. Right at the foot of the stairs on the first floor is a huge chocolate egg, which made me wonder if it would last me a whole year. The museum meticulously introduces the history of chocolate from when it was a "sacred" drink and a form of currency for Native Americans.
Each room features models and detailed explanations of how chocolate is made. Belgian chocolate is famous for its praline – meaning "with a filling" – invented by the Neuhaus company nearly 200 years ago. Pralines consist of an outer layer of milk or white chocolate and an inner filling of hazelnut, a type of roasted peanut ground with cocoa butter. Everywhere you look, you'll find charming little shops, attractively decorated with colorful boxes of chocolates to entice visitors to stop by and enjoy.
Exploring Brugge during the day isn't enough. You should enjoy the beauty of this picturesque city in the afternoon and evening, admiring the magical light reflecting off the buildings. Everything becomes strangely beautiful with restaurants brightly lit with golden lights, fashion boutiques, and elegant women in captivating evening gowns. Then, as night falls, the city returns to its charming, peaceful atmosphere of days gone by.
The city was exceptionally quiet at that moment. For me, the lasting impression of this city is that its people cherish and preserve the beauty of the past, of things that endure through time. And visiting Brugge is not just about chocolate!
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