Sint-Sebastiaansgilde Brugge
Museum of the centuries-old Bruges crossbow archers’ guild, with portraits, church and archers’ silver and furniture; visits by appointment.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Koninklijke Hoofdgilde Sint-Sebastiaan (Royal Head Guild of Saint Sebastian) is a Bruges crossbow archers’ guild that arose around 1375. The oldest mention in an archival document refers to an agreement from 1396 with the Friars Minor about masses in a side chapel of their monastery church. Despite difficult periods, the guild has never ceased to exist and is therefore regarded as one of the oldest sports associations in the world.
Since 1573 the guild has been based in the present guild house on the Carmersstraat, the former Lombaertsheester: a townhouse with a small tower, a garden and an archers’ gallery. The house and garden have been preserved and, together with the archive and the art collection, form the guild’s heritage. The guild still maintains good ties with the Belgian and the British royal houses. The latter go back to the stay of King Charles II of England in Bruges between 1656 and 1659.
The museum displays a varied collection. In the King’s Hall hangs a gallery of portraits with paintings from the mid-17th century to today, largely by Bruges painters. There is also church silver and three kinds of archers’ silver, some pieces dating back to the 15th century, and archers’ furniture such as cupboards, busts, cannons and lottery drums.
Highlights
- Portrait gallery in the King’s Hall with work by Bruges painters from the 17th century onwards
- Church silver and archers’ silver, partly from the 15th century
- Guild house Lombaertsheester since 1573
- Ties with King Charles II and the British royal house
- Six-hundred-year-old archive
Permanent exhibition
- Museum van de gilde – Portraits in the King’s Hall, church and archers’ silver and archers’ furniture in the historic guild house.
- Operated by
- Koninklijke Hoofdgilde Sint-Sebastiaan binnen Brugge
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Good to know | Visits take place after a request by email; the guild also owns an archive and historic buildings. |
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