Kantcentrum

About the museum

Lace originated in the sixteenth century. At first mothers taught their daughters to make bobbin lace, and later lace schools sprang up everywhere. Bruges had several large ones, such as the Foere school and the lace school of the Apostolic Sisters. What was once a livelihood for poor families grew into the preservation of a unique craft and into an important part of the city’s tourist heritage.

The Kantcentrum grew out of the lace school of the Apostolic Sisters. In 1970 the sisters founded the non-profit organisation vzw Kantcentrum to give lace education new opportunities, and two years later they took over the school. The sisters have since left the organisation. In 2014 the Kantcentrum left the historic convent buildings on the Adornes estate and moved to the former lace school of 1899 on the same estate, on Balstraat. That year the city of Bruges took the building on a long lease and rents it to the Kantcentrum.

Today the Kantcentrum offers lace courses, has its own publishing house for lace books and pattern folders, runs a lace studio, has published a four-language lace magazine since 1978 and organises a teacher training programme. The interactive and multimedia Kantmuseum focuses on the origin of lace, its basic techniques and stitches, the lace types and their origins, the lace industry past and present, and lace education in Bruges.

Highlights

• Interactive and multimedia Kantmuseum on the origin, techniques and types of lace
• Lace-bobbin demonstrations in the afternoon, included in the ticket
• Lace education in Bruges, past and present
• Library and knowledge centre on lace
• Museum shop and webshop with lace supplies, books and patterns

Permanent exhibition

• Kantmuseum – Interactive and multimedia museum on the origin of lace, the basic techniques, the lace types and their origins, the lace industry past and present, and lace education in Bruges; lace-bobbin demonstrations are included in the ticket.

Operated by

vzw Kantcentrum

Admission & discounts

Free admission for Bruges schools (pupils aged 6 to 18), for children under 12 accompanied by their parents or an adult, for Bruges residents and for holders of the museumPASSmusées. Tickets can be bought in the Kantcentrum webshop.

Accessibility

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

The museum and the lace demonstrations are accessible to people with disabilities. Animals are not admitted.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult. Classes and groups can book an introductory lace-bobbin workshop (from age 9), and there are youth courses.

Getting there & parking

By car, the best way to reach the Kantcentrum is via the Ring and Kruispoort or Dampoort. Tourist coaches are not allowed into the city centre, except to load and unload at hotels; the driver parks at the coach car park at Bargeweg.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop and webshop with lace items, books, yarn, bobbins and souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit