Belgian waffles with cream, the insanely beautiful old town and many museums: Bruges is a good place for cloudy winter days. It is not by chance that the great film takes place See Bruges… and die? just before Christmas. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are constantly freezing and swearing in it, it’s always cold, foggy, dark in the Bruges canvas. Gloom suits this city, which thrived in the late Middle Ages and sank into poverty at the end of the 15th century when the only tributary to the sea silted up. So was it a mistake to go to Bruges in August? Does the sun fade the sombre charm of this city?
No, Bruges also works in shorts. In summer you can bathe in the dark canal water in a closed off part of the canals, which is pretty spooky. And the regional train only takes 15 minutes to get to the sea. On the same day in Bruges you can see the blood drops of Christ in the Basilica of the Holy Blood, then jump into the North Sea in Zeebrugge and in the evening stroll through Bruges’ medieval streets again.
Let Geert, one half of the couple who own the »Maison Amodio B&B«, tell you what else Bruges can do. The older gentlemen have furnished three holiday rooms very stylishly, breakfast is served in their living room with a view of the lovingly tended little garden. With croissants and fresh juice, Geert explains everything there is to know about Bruges in German. He covers the city map with “You have to go here” and “Don’t miss this” crosses.
Maison Amodio B&B, Molenmeers 22, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
phone 0032/468/35 96 40,
two people including breakfast from 145 euros/night
maisonadio.eu