Gruuthusemuseum

About the museum

The Gruuthusemuseum is housed in the castle-like town palace of the lords of Gruuthuse on the Dijver, a 15th-century building. Its best-known resident, Lodewijk van Gruuthuse, gave the palace its splendour; his life motto “Plus est en vous” (there is more in you) belongs to the house.

The highlight is the late-15th-century oratory from 1472, which connects the palace to the Church of Our Lady and overlooks the Gothic choir of the church. From the museum's balcony you have a fine view over the Dijver and the church.

The collection covers history and applied arts from the 13th to the 19th century: tapestries, stained-glass windows, wood sculpture, historical lace, Burgundian manuscripts, goldsmiths' work, weapons and Chinese porcelain. The museum reopened in 2019 after a five-year renovation and received, among other awards, the Onroerenderfgoedprijs 2020 and the title Europe’s Most Welcoming Museum 2021.

Highlights

• Authentic late-15th-century oratory overlooking the choir of the Church of Our Lady
• Majestic tapestries and colourful stained-glass windows
• Historical lace, wood sculpture and Burgundian manuscripts
• Chinese porcelain and goldsmiths' work
• Balcony with a view over the Dijver and the Church of Our Lady

Permanent exhibitions

• Gruuthusecollectie – Five hundred years of Bruges history in historical objects: tapestries, stained-glass windows, wood sculpture, lace, manuscripts and porcelain.
• Bidkapel van Gruuthuse – The authentic late-15th-century oratory connects the palace to the Church of Our Lady and overlooks the Gothic choir.

Founded

1876

Operated by

Musea Brugge (Stad Brugge)

Admission & discounts

Residents of Bruges and of the districts Koolkerke, Sint-Andries, Sint-Michiels, Assebroek, Sint-Kruis, Dudzele, Lissewege and Zeebrugge, as well as Friends of Musea Brugge, visit the venues for free. Admission is also free with ICOM, the Museumpas, Merito Club, Riebedebie (passport campaign), the SELECT Card, and the Brugse Stadsgids with FTG card. Reserve a free ticket online and have it activated at the cash desk with your card or identity card. Holders of a UiTPAS Regio Brugge with a social tariff receive 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: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The access paths are wheelchair-accessible on your own, but the entrance and the museum itself can only be reached by stairs. The adapted toilet is wheelchair-accessible with assistance. There are rest points with free folding chairs and walking sticks. For visitors with a visual impairment there are tactile stations, a descriptive audio tour, a tactile model and a guide line from the Church of Our Lady bus stop to the entrance. There is a tour in Flemish Sign Language (VGT) and International Sign (IS), a treasure hunt for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and a text-based audio tour. Neurodivergent visitors can borrow sensory bags and watch a preparatory video.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children under 13 enter free. Free treasure hunts are available at reception: Ik zie, ik zie... Een doosje vol schatten (from age 5), Op zoek naar het verloren perkament (from age 8, also accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing children) and the family game Missie Manuscript (from age 10, family pack). There is a changing table and toys.

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

• Wi-Fi

Bicycle parking. Free Wi-Fi at Musea Brugge venues. The museum pavilion with the ticket desk next to the Gruuthusemuseum and the central museum shop (Dijver 16) are nearby.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit