Groeninge Museum, Brugge

The Groeninge Museum, located in the historic heart of Bruges, is built on the former site of the medieval Eekhout Abbey. This municipal gallery of fine arts proudly showcases a rich collection spanning six centuries of Flemish and Belgian painting. Renowned for its comprehensive coverage, the museum features seminal works from key periods and movements in European art history.

Visitors to the museum can admire masterpieces by pioneering figures such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, whose works epitomize the Early Netherlandish painting era. The collection also includes significant pieces by Renaissance and Baroque masters like Hugo van der Goes, Gerard David, and Hieronymus Bosch. These artists, who frequently operated in Bruges and received local commissions during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, are noted for creating works that marked significant milestones in European art.

The Groeninge Museum also holds important works from subsequent periods, including the neo-classical and realist paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries by Bruges-born artists like Joseph-Benoît Suvée and Joseph Ducq, who gained international acclaim. The museum’s collection continues into the 19th and 20th centuries with pieces by Edmond van Hove and leading Flemish expressionists such as Permeke and De Smet, showcasing the evolution of Belgian art through modernism and symbolism.

Further enriching its offerings, the museum presents an array of post-war modern art, including almost all printed works by Marcel Broodthaers, as well as significant works by modernists such as Paul Delvaux and René Magritte. The Groeninge Museum not only celebrates historical masterpieces but also engages with contemporary art, evidenced by its holdings of works by Georges Van Tongerloo, Raoul De Keyser, and Roger Raveel.

Why You Should Visit:
This is unquestionably Brugge's most popular and impressive museum, which is also one of the country's leading art galleries.
There's a huge collection of fantastic art on show here, showcasing some of the very best Flemish art created, guiding you through Belgium's long history in the process.
Highlights include works by Jan van Eyck, as well as the work of Hieronymus Bosch "The Last Judgement" – particularly interesting because it was super-advanced for its time.

Tip:
Check the website to learn what upcoming temporary exhibitions are scheduled at the time of your visit to Bruges.
Tickets also give entry to the nearby Arentshuis, the highlight of which is the small but good collection of Frank Brangwyn works.