The famous painter Jan Van Eyck (1390 ? - 1441) lived and
died in Bruges. He was the greatest artist of the early Dutch
school. He held high positions throughout his career, including
court painter and diplomat in Bruges. So it is not surprising that
one of the squares is called after him. You can admire the statue
of Jan van Eyck, looking out over the square towards the
Poortersloge (Burghers' Lodge)
The Burghers' Lodge
(15th-century) is a former meeting place of well-to-do Bruges
citizens (poorters) and foreign merchants. Several figures
decorate the facade, most notably that of the bear, "Beertje
van de Logie", which dates from 1417.
The legend of the bear
starts in 862 when Baldwin I, Count
of Flanders kidnapped Judith, the daughter of the French king
Charles the Bold, from a monastery in Senlis (France). After the
kidnapping, Baldwin married Judith, but was not accepted by her
father as his new son-in-law. To punish Baldwin, Charles the Bold
sent him off to one of his northern territories, the area now
known as Flanders.
When Baldwin and his new bride arrived in the forests surrounding
the area where now Bruges lies, he did not see one living soul.
Suddenly, a ferocious bear came out of the woods. Baldwin killed
the animal with his spear. According to legend, the bear crept out
of his skin and took his place in the town weapon of Bruges. Later
he received a statue in the Porters' Lodge.
One of the buildings
on the square is Old Toll House. In this restored building
(built in 1477), toll was levied on the goods brought in by ship
from Bruges’ outer ports. It now houses a provincial information
office. Close by are Woensdagmarkt (statue of Hans Memling)
and Oosterlingenplein where the German Hanseatic League had its
headquarters.
Standing at the quai one has a
marvellous view on the Spiegelrei (left) and the Spinolarei
(right) with the bridge in the background. Even in winter this
view is breathtaking.
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