Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ter Potterie

About the museum

The hospital on the bank of the Potterierei is first mentioned at the end of the 13th century. It was then a hostel where pilgrims, travellers and the sick could find shelter. The miracle statue of the Madonna and Child on the high altar of the church made the site a popular place of pilgrimage.

The historic infirmary ward and the cloister walk now house a museum with artworks, relics from the convent and church, and everyday objects that tell the story of centuries of care. The showpiece is the silver cabinet with reliquaries, candlesticks and holy-water vessels. Some panel paintings show the sisters who commissioned them. Notable is the little cantor’s desk from the mid-16th century, bearing the initials of Emperor Charles.

The adjoining church, with its baroque interior, belongs to the museum. The 13th-century limestone miracle statue is one of the oldest surviving statues in Bruges. The miracles attributed to the statue recur in tapestries, in a miracle booklet with drawings and in the colourful stained-glass windows.

The name Potterie recalls the potters who once lived along the water. Every year on 15 August the Brugse Belofte (Bruges Vow) procession winds through the city. It goes back to a vow made by the women of Bruges in 1304 and sets out from the Chapel of Our Lady of Blindekens.

Highlights

• Silver cabinet with reliquaries, candlesticks and holy-water vessels
• Historic infirmary ward and cloister walk, with art and everyday objects from centuries of care
• Little cantor’s desk from the mid-16th century with the initials of Emperor Charles
• Panel paintings showing the sisters who commissioned them
• Baroque church with the 13th-century miracle statue Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van de Potterie met Kind
• Miracle booklet with drawings and stained-glass windows about the miracles

Permanent exhibition

• Zorg, zilver en mirakels – In the infirmary ward and the cloister walk you see artworks, convent relics and everyday objects from centuries of care, with the silver cabinet as the showpiece; the baroque church houses the miracle statue.

Operated by

Musea Brugge (Stad Brugge)

Admission & discounts

Residents of Bruges and of the districts of Koolkerke, Sint-Andries, Sint-Michiels, Assebroek, Sint-Kruis, Dudzele, Lissewege and Zeebrugge, and Friends of Musea Brugge, visit the museum free. Admission is also free with ICOM, the Museumpas, the 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 till of another Musea Brugge museum with your card or identity card. Holders of a Klasse Lerarenkaart (teacher card) receive a discount. Holders of a UiTPAS Brugge with the social rate receive a discount, only via the Musea Brugge website. An online ticket cannot be changed, exchanged or cancelled.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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

The access paths are wheelchair-accessible independently; the entrance is wheelchair-accessible with assistance. The toilet is not wheelchair-accessible. The museum has rest points. Wheelchairs can be taken on all De Lijn buses. Assistance and guide dogs are allowed; other pets are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Musea Brugge describes all its museums as child- and family-friendly. Children under 13 enter free; pushchairs are accessible.

Getting there & parking

Wheelchairs can be taken on all De Lijn buses. Plan your route via the De Lijn website.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi and free toilets.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit