Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk
Gothic church with a museum section centred on Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child and the monumental tombs of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
A chapel already stood on the site of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in the ninth century. Construction of the present church began around 1230; the oldest part, the central nave, was built in Tournai stone. The choir and apse date from around 1270–1280, the north aisle from 1370 and the south aisle from 1450.
The brick tower, at about 115 metres, is the tallest building in Bruges and the second-tallest brick tower in the world. Together with the Belfort and the Cathedral of Saint Salvator it defines the city’s skyline.
The highlight of the interior is Michelangelo’s marble Madonna and Child. In the high choir lie the monumental tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy, and a Passion triptych by Bernard van Orley hangs there. Via a prayer chapel the church is connected to the neighbouring Gruuthuse Palace. Since 2019 the paying museum section has been part of Musea Brugge; the church itself remains a parish church and is free to visit.
Highlights
- Michelangelo’s marble Madonna and Child
- Monumental tombs of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy in the high choir
- Passion triptych by Bernard van Orley
- Prayer chapel connecting the church with the Gruuthuse Palace
- Tower of about 115 metres, the second-tallest brick tower in the world
Permanent exhibition
- Museumdeel van de kerk – The paying section shows Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child, the tombs of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy, and Bernard van Orley’s Passion triptych.
- Founded
- 1210
- Operated by
- Musea Brugge (Stad Brugge) (museumdeel)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9Visitors under 26; holders of the Klasse Lerarenkaart |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 12 · Young people aged 13 to 17 pay €5; children under 13 enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Carers of people who cannot visit the museum independently enter free; reserve a free ticket online or on site. |
| Groups | –A group consists of up to 15 participants; group tickets are sold online only. |
| Combi ticket Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk Museum + Gruuthusemuseum (valid 72 hours) | €19Available online and at the ticket desk |
| Musea Brugge Card (72 hours, all open Musea Brugge locations) | €49€37 for under 26, €25 for under 18; the card is only activated at the first visit and can be activated up to one year after purchase |
| Museumpas (1 year, all Musea Brugge locations and more than 250 other Belgian museums) | €64.95 |
The church itself is free to visit; a ticket is needed for the museum section with Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child and the tombs. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket desk of another Musea Brugge location (not in the church itself). 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
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access paths are wheelchair-accessible independently; the entrance (steep slope) and the museum (some slopes) are wheelchair-accessible only with assistance. There are reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities and resting points. There is a touch station with the Madonna and Child and a tactile model of the church and its surroundings. Neurodiverse visitors can watch a preparatory video. There is no toilet.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
|---|
- Stroller-friendly
Children under 13 enter free and pushchairs are welcome. Musea Brugge describes all its museums as child- and family-friendly.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Brugge Olv Kerk
Nearest De Lijn bus stop: Brugge Olv Kerk (stop 502818). The city centre shuttle bus also runs nearby. Nearest train station: Brugge station.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park of its own; the nearest car park is Parking Pandreitje. The whole city centre is a paid parking zone; park preferably at the free park-and-ride car parks, at P Centrum Station or in the underground public car parks.
- Accessible 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.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Wi-Fi
No toilet. Free wifi at Musea Brugge locations.
Events & venue rental
A private mass in the church is not possible.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash and without a tripod is allowed; photo and film recordings are for personal, non-commercial use only. |
| Good to know | The MB Explorer tour of this museum is available without audio. A guided tour can be booked through one of Bruges’ recognised guide associations. |
