A (photo-) blog about the beautiful Belgian town Bruges as seen through the very two eyes of an inhabitant. Sharp, witty, and... always admiring.
17-05-2006
Georges Dumerey
Georges Dumery. In Bruges, the name rings as a bell. As well it should since he... poured bells. Throughout the centuries, the Halltower was damaged by several fires. In 1741, a fire completely destroyed the belfry and Georges Dumery was commissioned to replace the 46 bells, as well as a Victory Bell. Which he did. But not all Dumery bells are in Bruges. Damme, Antwerp and quite a few other cities are the proud possessors of Dumery bells. In Bruges, however, there is also a Dumery bell outside the Halltower, namely here, on the "Joris Dumery square", on the corner of the Boeverie street. This bell too, was rung by hand, but only in very exceptional circumstances and, for no longer than 10 minutes.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Prinsenhof (Princes' Court)
Maria of Burgundy. The name still inspires respect in Bruges. And yet, her life and her achievements go back a good 500 years. During her all too short life, she did not live in Bruges all that long, and yet, this particular period in time still evokes a magical echo. That she married Maximilian of Austria is general knowledge. And so is the fact that she died on March 27, 1482, a few days after being thrown from her horse. But while in Bruges, Maria of Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria lived at the Princes Court.
In a fragment of the admirable "excellente cronike van Vlaenderen" (excellent chronicle of Flanders) we find the following anecdotal story of how Maria came to be married to Maximilian :
"On the 16th day of April 1477 there arrived in Bruges a delegation, sent by emperor Frederik III, to speak to our queen (Maria of Burgundy) and her noble counsellors. (.....) The delegates message and supporting letters, bearing the true seal of the emperor, announced that Maximilian, son of the emperor, wished to take Mary of Burgundy, sole daughter of the Duke Karel (Charles) as his wife. These letters had been written jointly by the emperor and Duke Karel when the latter was still alive, and the documents spelled out all provisions and conditions whereupon the two men had agreed after their discussions, which took place in the city of Neuss. These acts and letters of intention were delivered to Maria of Burgundy. Considering the far-reaching and beneficial effects on many affairs of state such an alliance would mean, Maria and her noble counsellors agreed to the marriage. The wedding took place on the 21st day of April, at 11:00 o"clock in the evening, at the Princes Court in Bruges. Since the traditions of the nobility demanded that the wedding had to be immediately consumed, the Duke of Beieren (Bavaria) spent the night in our noble ladys room, in the name of Maximilian. On his right hip the Duke of Bavaria had a weapon by which he proved to Maximilian that he would help and protect the bride against all her enemies. When all this had been accomplished, wine and sweets were served and the delegation left Bruges, well pleased and full of joy to have succeeded in their mission, each according to their rank."
Dont imagine that in 1477 the Princes Court looked anything as what it is now. Through the centuries, it fell in different hands, Parts were demolished, other parts were added, and there were restorations galore. And now, once again, at the treshhold of the 21st century, drastic changes are in store for the Prinsenhof domain : only the tower building and the two French neo-gothic wings dating from the end of the 19th century will be kept standing and undergo restoration.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Rozenhoedkaai (The Rosehat quay)
The same restaurant which was the subject of yesterday's photo, the "Duc de Bourgogne" (the Duke of Burgundy). Today, we are looking at it from above. This is the Rozenhoedkaai. Notice the usual throng of sightseers, gathered at the corner, and see how all the elements of an idyllic Bruges picture come together here : the water lapping along the walls of the canal, the small boat, eventually a swan nearby, and a few old (or pseudo-old) houses. Then right and left a beautiful tree and behind it all, domineering a truly magnificent view, the majesty of the Halle toren (the Hall tower). Oops, they are looking at me !?!
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Concertgebouw
The people of Bruges use their language in a very picturesque manner and are always ready to comment upon facts and situations in the city. The building of this concert hall was barely finished when they had already a different name for it : the new Pizza Hut ( Pizza Hut ). When you are at the Albert I Park and look towards the concert hall, and compare it with the logo of the international pizza concern, you have to admit that the mocking name is not all that much amiss.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Candidate for the title of "Smallest Window"
This is one of three candidates for the title of smallest window in Bruges. Curiously enough, all three have the same form. This one is on the corner of the Smedenstraat (the Blacksmith street) and the Zeven Sterrenstraat (the Seven Stars street), barely a few steps away from the Vrijdagmarkt (the Friday Market) and 't Zand (the Sand).
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Ay Marieke
Without love, warm love
The light, the dark light reigns
And the sand scours my land
My flat land, My Flandersland
Ay, Marieke, Marieke
I loved you so much
Between the towers
Of Bruges and Ghent
Ay, Marieke, Marieke
So long ago
Between the towers
Of Bruges and Ghent
In 1988, between the towers of Bruges and Ghent, but really quite near the towers of Bruges (namely near the Coupure) a statue of Marieke was unveiled. The Brel fan and expert Johan Antierens who was then still among the living, gave a speech at the ceremony. Jacques Brel wil eternally be linked with Belgium, and even with his "flatland", even though he spit on Flanders and the Flemish now and again, the Flemish being - in his opinion - a rather narrowminded lot. This mitigated love was - and still is - quite reciprocal.. Last year, while the Walloons elected Brel as the all-time great Belgian personality, the Flemish left him in 7th position. The girl Marieke of the song really did exist. It seems he knew her, somewhere in West-Flanders, when he was still a young boy. "Marieke" is probably still around, a glorious unknown, living in a small appartment in Knokke.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
The bearing of the Cross. The Cross... symbol of the suffering and of the eternal life Jesus brought his followers. During his symbolic calvary-walk through Bruges, Jesus receives some help from Simon of Cyrene. A bit further up (but outside the scope of this picture) Veronica, will wipe the sweat and blood from the face of Jesus, and there is also the mother of Jesus, leaning on John the Apostle.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
16-05-2006
Duc de Bourgogne (Duke of Burgundy)
All who know about Bruges, do, of course, know the hotel Duc de Bourgogne. Sitting right in the fold between the Rozenhoedkaai and the Groenerei, the hotel is reached by way of the Huidevettersplein (the Tanners square) and this photo has been taken from the Wollestraat (the Wool street). What most people do not know is that, between 1799 and 1800, during the French Régime, a great many church possessions were seized, some churches were demolished, and even parts of them sold and transported to France and elsewhere. The most flagrant example was the demolition of the gigantic Sint-Donaat Cathedral, which used to stand on the Burg. The small marble columns you see here (the restaurant of the hotel Duc de Bourgogne) are from this famous Sint-Donaat cathedral..
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
modern art
Contemporary art, alongside the Dijver.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Look up
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Sketchbook
Let's have a peek over this gentleman"s shoulder, to see what he makes of it.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Rozenhoedkaai (The Rosehat Quai)
The small square that made - and still does - Bruges famous. The cobblestones of the Rozenhoedkaai are worn by the hundred of tourists who come here daily, camera at the ready. And some do bring their sketchbook, too.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
De Gouden Boom (The Golden Tree)
... was the name of the brewery. The "Gouden Boom" lies between the Lange street and the Nieuw Verband Land (New Burnt Land). This building and its installations were under provisional protection from demolition, under an ordinance signed by the Flemish Minister of Culture Dirk Vanmechelen (VLD) This protective measure ended last May 6th, then was prolonged for another six months, but now... the gloves are off and the demise of this piece of Bruges' heritage has been signed. A real estate company from Vilvoorde, operating under the ludicrous name of "NV Caesar Real Estate" is the new owner and all they have to do before going in for the kill is... wait a mere six months.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
Hey, it was just yesterday that we saw this statue being loaded and brought to the starting locale of the procession. From there, surrounded by a troop of Roman soldiers, it will be part of the procession's itinerary, through the streets of Bruges. It symbolizes the torturing and suffering of Christ.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
15-05-2006
A last picture of the Burg
A last picture of the Burg for today. It is not immediately obvious that this is in the centre of the city and yet, there it is. Our city administration recently started promoting the "petanque" game, as a means to strengthen companionship and fraternity amongst the population of Bruges. Thus, suddenly, last year, new "pétanque" lanes (the French game of bowling, if you prefer) were installed here and there, as, for example, in the Minnewater Park, near the small castle. But, for now, besides those who were already practitioners of this particular sport, merely onlookers seem to be attracted to the game.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
One more as seen from the Burg
Detail of the pedestal upon which rests the sculpture "The lovers" by the artists-duo Depuydt-Canestraro, who like to leave their signature on their work. Notice the frog : Kikker is a synonym for Depuydt, and a kikker is a frog, of course. Yes, you got it.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Toyo Ito
While I was on the Burg this afternoon, I took the opportunity to show you a view of Bruges as Japanese artist Toyo Ito tried to show us how to look at it. That is, through the honeycomb-glass windows of his carwash business.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Sybilla of Anjou
"Sybilla of Anjou?" I hear you wonder over this worldwide web. Yes, Sybilla of Anjou. She was the spouse of Diederik van den Elzes (Diederik of Alsatia) and together, sometime after 1134, they had a most remarkable chapel built, in Bruges, to honour Maria and Saint Baselius. This chapel we know know as The Sacred Blood Chapel and Sybilla of Anjou is represented here, among the other personalities depicted in the upper right of the façade of the chapel. It is a rare instance to see her in close proximity with Jesus "on the cold stone" by the hands of Michiel D'Hondt, a work he did in 1900, as well as with the Mary of the pieta. Under normal circumstances these sculptures are inside the Sacred Blood Chapel and their closeness as seen here was not brought about by hours of Photoshop trickery. It was really a chance happening, as you see it here, around half past three this afternoon.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Loading
... and leaving. No, this is not a bold daytime artwork robbery and neither is it a filming session for a new television detective series. These statues will be promenaded in the Sacred Blood procession ten days from now, and were taken from their assigned spot in the Sacred Blood Chapel this afternoon, around half past three. So, cautiously loading, safely securing and then... driving towards - I think - the Beurshalle, from where the procession is to start its walk through the city.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
De Zomere (The Summer)
. This is actually the only house in the Oude Zomer street. What you see in the rest of the street are the backsides of the houses in the Oude Burg street and garage doors. The name of this house is "De Zomere" (The Summer) and I surmise that it is also the name of a previous owner. In any event, there were families in Bruges bearing the name De Zomere. This was built in the late-gothic style in 1479. With the exception of the groundfloor, this is still the authentic old façade. I was lucky enough to visit the house a few years ago, during an "Open House" day. (But, I did not have a camera with me.)
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
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