Bruges
Bruges (/bruːʒ/ ⓘ BROOZH, French: [bʁyʒ] ⓘ; Dutch: Brugge [ˈbrʏɣə] ⓘ; German: Brügge German pronunciation: [ˈbʁʏɡə] ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. It is the sixth most populous city in the country.
Bruges
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City and municipality | |
Southwestern view from the Belfry, with the Church of Our Lady and St. Salvator's Cathedral in the background Canal view with Belfry in the background Zeebrugge beach and outer port | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Location of Bruges | |
Bruges Location in Belgium
Location of Bruges in West Flanders | |
| Coordinates: 51°12′32″N 03°13′27″E | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | West Flanders |
| Arrondissement | Bruges |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dirk De fauw (CD&V) |
| • Governing party/ies | CD&V, Vooruit, Open VLD |
| Area | |
| • Total | 140.99 km2 (54.44 sq mi) |
| Population (2022-01-01) | |
| • Total | 118,509 |
| • Density | 840/km2 (2,200/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 8000, 8200, 8310, 8380 |
| NIS code | 31005 |
| Area codes | 050 |
| Website | visitbruges.be |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Historic Centre of Brugge |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii)(iv)(vi) |
| Reference | 996 |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 410 ha (1,000 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 168 ha (420 acres) |
Logo of Brugge | |
The area of the whole city amounts to more than 14,099 hectares (140.99 km2; 54.44 sq miles), including 1,075 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge (from Brugge aan zee, meaning 'Bruges by the Sea'). The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is oval and about 430 hectares in size. The city's total population is 117,073 (1 January 2008), of whom around 20,000 live in the city centre. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of 616 km2 (238 sq mi) and had a total of 255,844 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.
Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam and Saint Petersburg, it is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North. Bruges has significant economic importance, thanks to its port, and was once one of the world's chief commercial cities. Bruges is a major tourism destination within Belgium and is well known as the seat of the College of Europe, a university institute for European studies.