Van Eyck Square

We’re now going to head down Academiestraat or Academy Street, located opposite the Van der Beurze house. After some 100 yards or so we’ll come to the small Jan Van Eyck Square. We’ll meet you at the end of the street in front of the entrance to the square. PRESS PAUSE So here we are in front of Jan Van Eyck Square. Stop a moment and look across the square where you’ll see a canal. In the Middle Ages, this canal continued all the way up to the Markt and you can just image the bustle of the unloading boats at this inner harbour in medieval times. Note that this square has only been named after Van Eyck since the 19th century when a statue was erected in honour of this famous painter over by the entrance to the harbour. Before moving into the square, you may have noticed the long façade on your left at number 18 Academiestraat. This is known as the Burghers’ Lodge, where the city burghers would meet to conduct business. The back of this building, which is visible from the square, has retained its 15th century style. The façade that we see here is more recent. Take a look at its highly decorative doorway, characteristic of 17th century Baroque architecture. The Burghers’ Lodge was also at one time, the municipal academy, hence the name of the street. Nowadays it houses the National State Archives. To the far left of the facade at the corner nearest the square you’ll see a small alcove in the wall where there’s a statue of a bear. The bear is the emblem of Bruges and appears in the town’s coat of arms. According to legend, the town grew up on the spot where Baldwin Iron Arm, Count of Flanders, killed an enormous bear with an arrow. We’ve already discovered this was not the origin of the town but no doubt the slaying of this bear, itself a symbol of dangerous and hostile forces, is a metaphor for the Count’s victory over Viking attacks. Let's now walk into the square and stop in the centre. PRESS PAUSE Are you there? Now that we’ve had a look at the façade, let's turn our backs to the canal in order to admire the rear of the Burgher’s Lodge. The building’s Gothic features are far more obvious here, such as the elegant decoration of its arches. What is particularly characteristic of this period is the décor of the high turret. Take a good look at its walls: you’ll see that each section is decorated with a large pointed arch containing a row of windows. These decorative arches strongly accentuate the height of the building, yet another Gothic feature. On our right is a row of ancient façades crowned with their large triangular or stepped gables. Let's concentrate on the attractive large white façade at number 2. This is yet another example of the opulent yet functional commercial architecture of Bruges. The ground level built in grey stone served as a warehouse. Nowadays it houses the Information Office of the Province of Western Flanders, which you can visit if you so wish, before leaving the square. Look at the upper levels in white stone and the simple yet majestic arrangement of the large rectangular windows. Above this façade in the tip of the gable you’ll also see a set of bells behind a grill. These bells rang out the hours of the day for the merchants and traders on the square as well sounding the opening and closing of business. They still ring out today, but only for the pleasure of the inhabitants and tourists. What was this building used for, you may well ask? Built in 1477, it was the ancient Toll House, where duty was paid on merchandise entering the town. Even though at that time the canal continued beyond this point, all ships had to stop here to declare their cargo. Now look to the right of the Toll House where you’ll see the narrow red brick façade of the House of the Guild of Dockers, who unloaded the boats in the harbour. As you’ll see, we’re right at the very heart of the Medieval business quarter of the town. That said, you’ll notice that this area, every bit as delightful as the Markt district, is noticeably less popular with tourists. If you head off into the lanes from this square you’ll find yourself in a setting similar to that described in the novel “Bruges-la-Morte”. Along the way, you’ll come across many more civil and religious architectural treasures and many places which will leave their mark on you. We would thoroughly recommend it. In the meantime we’re going to return to the major monuments of the town centre and the crowds of tourists. However, we’ve still got a few peaceful streets t