Groeningemuseum

About the museum

The origins of the Groeningemuseum lie in the late eighteenth century. After the French confiscations of 1794, the remaining artworks from Bruges churches and monasteries were gathered in a central museum; part of that group, including works by Hugo van der Goes and Gerard David, still forms the core of the collection. From 1816 some masterpieces that had been carried off to Paris returned, such as paintings by Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, and they ended up at the Bruges Academy.

At the end of the nineteenth century the city council took over the collection and the Municipal Museum of Painting was established. Because the existing buildings were poorly suited, a new museum building designed by Joseph Viérin was built on the Dijver, which was inaugurated in 1930.

Alongside the Flemish Primitives the museum holds works by Renaissance and Baroque masters, a selection of Bruges neoclassicism, symbolism by Fernand Khnopff, Flemish expressionism and modern art by, among others, René Magritte, Roger Raveel and Raoul De Keyser. Since 2019 the museum has been part of Musea Brugge.

Highlights

• Flemish Primitives by Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes, Gerard David and Hieronymus Bosch
• Renaissance and Baroque painting by, among others, Pieter Pourbus and Pieter Bruegel the Younger
• Bruges neoclassicism by Joseph Odevaere, Joseph Ducq and their contemporaries
• Symbolism by Fernand Khnopff and Flemish expressionism by Permeke, De Smet and Brusselmans
• Modern art by René Magritte, Roger Raveel and Raoul De Keyser

Permanent exhibitions

• Vlaamse primitieven – Masterpieces by Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes, Gerard David and Hieronymus Bosch form the highlight of the museum.
• Van neoclassicisme tot moderne kunst – Bruges neoclassicism, symbolism, Flemish expressionism and modern art, with, among others, Fernand Khnopff, Constant Permeke, René Magritte and Roger Raveel.

Founded

1929

Operated by

Musea Brugge (Stad Brugge)

Admission & discounts

Residents of Bruges and of the sub-municipalities Koolkerke, Sint-Andries, Sint-Michiels, Assebroek, Sint-Kruis, Dudzele, Lissewege and Zeebrugge, and Friends of Musea Brugge, visit the locations free of charge; admission is also free with ICOM, Museumpas, Merito Club, Riebedebie (passport campaign), SELECT Card and the Brugse Stadsgids with FTG card. Reserve a free ticket online and have it activated at the desk with your card or identity card. Holders of an UiTPAS regio Brugge with the reduced rate get a discount, only via the Musea Brugge website; with the UiTPAS you can also collect points. An online ticket cannot be changed, exchanged or cancelled.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access paths and the entrance (via a slope) are wheelchair-accessible with assistance; the museum itself is wheelchair-accessible. The accessible toilet is not suitable for electric wheelchairs. There are resting points with free folding chairs and push wheelchairs. Free EnChroma glasses for visitors with colour blindness, an audio tour in text form for visitors with a hearing impairment, and an adapted guided tour (Memorabel) for people with dementia are available. Registered assistance dogs are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Children under 13 enter free. Free trail sheets are available at reception: Allemaal Beestjes (from age 3) and the look-and-do booklet De Groene Pluim (ages 6 to 12, in Dutch, French and English). There is a changing table, pushchairs are welcome, and toys are also available.

Getting there & parking

Wheelchairs can be taken on all De Lijn buses and on the city centre shuttle bus. Plan your route via the De Lijn website.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Museum shop and bicycle parking. Free wifi at Musea Brugge locations.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit