A heritage of trade and commerce
City of Bruges
Bruges, the capital of West Flanders, is one of Europe’s finest cities. It has a surface area of 138,4 km² and counted 117,073 inhabitants in 2008. Several names are being used worldwide to refer to this city: ‘Venice of the North’, because of its numerous waterways and canals, or ‘Breydel city’, named after the 14th-century Bruges popular hero Jan Breydel.
Economy
Bruges has played an important role in international trade throughout the centuries. As early as the Middle Ages, Bruges became the main trade centre of North-Western Europe thanks to the vast array of activities: the export of high-quality wool, cloth production, the diamond industry (artistic crafts) etc. But it was especially the development of a unique money system, allowing people to open current accounts, exchange currencies etc., that transformed Bruges into a truly international market. Later on, cloth production was replaced by high-quality luxury products, art and culture. During the 17th century, the textile industry, in turn, constituted a major source of revenue for the city. Lace and china in particular were manufactured in large quantities (Bruges lace, point-de-fée). 1970 saw the beginning of the construction of the port of Zeebrugge.
Culture
Bruges has magnificent art-historical buildings, such as the Belfry, Our Lady’s Church and the Beguinage. The egg-shaped historical centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. In 2002, Bruges was also designated Cultural Capital of Europe.
In addition to these sights, the city also has a lot to offer in terms of gastronomy. For one thing, Bruges is known globally as the chocolate city. It is home to multiple chocolate confectioners and even has a chocolate museum. Besides chocolate, it also boasts numerous regional cakes, such as Bruges ‘kletskoppen' (ginger snaps) etc.
City of Courtrai
A regional city situated in South-West Flanders, Courtrai is one of Belgium’s oldest cities. In the 19th and 20th century, Courtrai, thanks to its location by the Leie (dubbed ‘the Golden River’ by the English), was a main centre of the flax industry. The slow course of this river enabled the city to export the top-quality flax to the rest of the world.
Today, the Courtrai region plays a prominent role in the textile industry. Additionally, Courtrai is a key trade city and fulfils a regional function in the areas of service and education.
Courtrai also has a lot to offer culturally. For one thing, it has a few magnificent historical buildings, such as the medieval Belfry, which bear the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous other medieval buildings were renovated during the second half of the 19th century and have now been labelled ‘protected buildings and monuments’. Referring to the Battle of the Spurs of 1302, the city is sometimes also called ‘the Groeninge City’.
Courtrai is proud of its medieval heritage, of course, but it is also known as the city of Innovation, Creation and Design. A few examples are Courtrai Xpo and Groeninge bridge. In short, it strikes a perfect balance that does justice to both history and the future.
City of Ostend
Centrally located along the Belgian coast, Ostend was and still is a major tourist and economic centre. It has 68,000 inhabitants but in the summertime this number is much higher due to the many tourists in second residences.
Economy
In the 18th century, the port of Ostend played a prominent role in the city’s economic life, in particular in the import of Chinese and Indian merchandise. A key element in the national fishing industry was and is the first Ostend fish market, built in 1877. Over the years, the role of the sea port in international transport has waned considerably with the arrival of Ostend airport. Of course, this seaside resort also is the ideal attraction for thousands of beach-goers.
Culture
During the 20th century, Ostend developed into a Belle Époque city nicknamed ‘the Queen of Seaside Resorts’. The Wellington Racetrack, the Royal Palace and the Mercator (a training ship for marine officers which also repatriated the remains of Father Damian from Easter Island) are but a few examples. The presence of works of art by the world-famous painters James Ensor and Constant Permeke also attract large numbers of tourists each year.
In short, thanks to day tripping, ever-increasing mobility and a captivating history, Ostend has developed into a modern seaside resort and plays an indispensable role in the modern (global) economy.
