Volkskundemuseum

Volkskundemuseum is a folklore museum in Bruges that recreates everyday life in the city during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It sits at Balstraat 43, in the quiet Sint-Anna neighborhood, away from the busiest tourist routes through the historic center.

What is the Volkskundemuseum?

Also known as the Folklore Museum or Museum of Folk Life, it is made up of eight restored 17th-century dwellings joined to a more modern addition. The buildings once served as almshouses for the Shoemakers' Guild — a type of charitable housing common in Bruges, where elderly craftsmen and their families were given shelter. Today each small room has been turned into a scene from the past.

What can visitors see inside?

The rooms are arranged as a series of period settings: a cobbler's workshop, a milliner's shop, a pharmacy, a grocery store, an inn, and a traditional Flemish living room and bedroom. The displays hold a wide range of everyday objects from decades past, including old tobacco products, children's games, and biscuit and chocolate moulds. There is also a reconstructed school classroom, a pharmacy counter, a milliner's workroom, and a candy shop, where sweets are still made by hand on the first and third Thursday afternoon of each month using traditional methods.

Is the museum suitable for families?

Yes, it is considered one of the more family-friendly museums in Bruges. Seven interactive game stations are placed throughout the museum, letting younger visitors try their hand at old-fashioned activities such as practicing handwriting, weighing coffee on a vintage scale, trying on period hats, or playing tailor for a few minutes. A quieter highlight for many visitors is Aristide, the museum's resident cat, who wanders freely through the rooms and often greets guests along the way.

Where did the museum come from?

The idea for a folklore museum in Bruges dates back to 1865, when poet Guido Gezelle — one of the most important figures in 19th-century Flemish culture — laid its early groundwork. It took until 1936 for the Bond der Westvlaamsche Folkloristen association to form, and in March 1937 it opened the first folklore exhibition in a concert hall on Sint-Jakobsstraat. That exhibition eventually grew into the museum now housed on Balstraat.

Is there anything else to see nearby?

Right next to the main building stands De Zwarte Kat (The Black Cat), the museum's own tavern, which also tells the story of Bruges' puppet theater tradition through props, stage scenery, old programs, and archival photographs collected over the years.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Volkskundemuseum located? At Balstraat 43, in the Sint-Anna district of Bruges, away from the busiest central squares.

Is the museum a good option for children? Yes — seven interactive stations let children try out old trades and pastimes themselves, from handwriting to weighing goods on antique scales.

Can visitors buy sweets made on site? Yes, in the reconstructed candy shop, where sweets are handmade on the first and third Thursday afternoon of each month.

Is there somewhere to sit down for a drink nearby? Yes, the adjoining De Zwarte Kat tavern doubles as the museum café and a small exhibition on puppet theater.

How old are the museum's buildings? The eight dwellings that make up the complex date from the 17th century and once served as almshouses for the Shoemakers' Guild.