Blinde Ezelbrug

Blinde Ezelbrug is a small but strikingly picturesque stone bridge at the very heart of historic Bruges, linking the Burg square with the Vismarkt (fish market) via the narrow Blinde-Ezelstraat lane. Spanning the Reie canal, it is one of the most photographed spots in the city — the view from here toward the neighboring Groenerei canal, lined with old facades reflected in the water, has ended up on countless postcards and travel photos.

Where does the name come from?

The name "Blinde Ezelbrug" literally means "Blind Donkey Bridge," and it rarely fails to raise an eyebrow. Legend has it that a blind donkey once turned a horse-powered mill on this spot. A better-documented explanation, however, points to a 1490 document mentioning an inn called "Den Blinden Ezele," which stood along the narrow street running from the Burg to the Vismarkt, between the city hall and the former civil registry. According to researcher Karel De Flou, the term "blind donkey" may also refer to a brewer's custom of blindfolding the donkeys that worked the treadmill in a brewery, so the animals would not become dizzy from walking in endless circles.

History of the crossing

This spot has carried traffic across the canal for centuries: a bridge here was originally one of four that, in the 10th century, provided access to the count's castle, the predecessor of today's Burg complex. The bridge visitors see today, though, is not medieval — it was built in 1855 to a design by Jean-Brunon Rudd (1792–1870), the city architect of Bruges at the time. It originally had iron railings, and stalls selling fish once stood on either side — a fitting arrangement, since the bridge leads directly onto the Vismarkt. Those iron railings were only replaced with stone parapets in 1955, giving the bridge the appearance it has today.

Why visit?

Blinde Ezelbrug marks the point where two very different sides of historic Bruges meet: the administrative Burg, once home to the city's government and law courts, and the commercial Vismarkt, which has bustled with market trade for centuries. The bridge itself, though modest in size, is an elegant elliptical-arch structure that blends smoothly with the surrounding townhouses and waterways. It is also one of the best vantage points over the Groenerei, a stretch of canal often considered among the most beautiful in the entire city.

Frequently asked questions

Is Blinde Ezelbrug a protected monument? Yes, the bridge was officially listed as a protected monument in 2002.

Who designed the current bridge? The 1855 bridge was designed by Jean-Brunon Rudd, the city architect of Bruges at the time.

What does the bridge connect? It connects the Burg square with the Vismarkt fish market via the Blinde-Ezelstraat street.

Is fish still sold on the bridge? No, the old fish stalls are long gone; today the bridge mainly serves pedestrians as a scenic crossing.

Where does the bridge's name come from? The most credible explanation links it to an inn called "Den Blinden Ezele," documented as early as 1490, though a legend about a blind donkey turning a mill wheel also persists.