Bruges |
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The ‘ Venice of the North ’, Bruges is a medieval , UNESCO city that ’ s been partially converted into a conference centre . One of the main pulls of the city is that delegates will want to explore it . With a network of medieval canals , cobblestone streets and old Gothic buildings , Bruges is one of the most picturesque towns in central Europe . Not to mention that fans of the movie will be able to say they ’ ve been “ In Bruges ”.
Hospitality-wise , the city is also a high performer – Bruges has more Michelinstarred restaurants per capita than Paris .
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Practically , what does Bruges offer to organisers ? Oud Sint-Jan One of Europe ’ s oldest hospitals , the 12th century Oud Sint-Jan site has been converted into a conference venue . It has kept its medieval interiors , yet now offers modern facilities that host medical and scientific conferences . Concertgebouw Completed in 2002 , the Concertgebouw Brugge is one of the city ’ s most contemporary structures . Located near the historic centre , the concert hall is built to host world-class performances , including conferences . Its state-of-theart acoustics make it ideal for scientific congresses , panel discussions and multimedia presentations . BMCC The ‘ hyper-modern ’ label can also be attached to Bruges Meeting & Convention Centre ( BMCC ), the city ’ s main venue . It was built to an extremely high sustainability standard . BMCC has geothermal heating and cooling , solar energy , bio-insulated roofing and sustainable carpeting .
Walkable conference experience Bruges ’ greatest logistical advantage is that it ’ s entirely walkable . From the moment delegates arrive , everything is within reach :
• No shuttle buses or taxis needed –
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Gotische Zaal museum in Bruges
venues , hotels and restaurants are within minutes on foot
• More than 50 hotels within walking distance of conference venues
• Sustainable by default – low emissions , minimal transport impact and reduced event footprints
A history of ‘ legacy conferencing ’ The impact of the EACD 2024 conference in Bruges , hosted by KU Leuven , went beyond the boardroom . The EACD + programme partnered with local organisations and public sectors , which led to the establishment of a task force advocating across Europe . The
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Above : Rosary Quay , Bruges |
conference was recognised by ICCA and BestCities with the 2024 Incredible Impacts Programme grant for this lasting effect .
Odd facts :
• Bruges hosted the first European hydrogen-powered tour boat – In December 2023 , the Port of Antwerp-Bruges introduced the Hydrotug 1 , the world ’ s first hydrogen-powered tugboat . The Hydrotug 1 is part of the port ’ s initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 .
• Bruges pioneered ‘ silent nights ’ for sustainable tourism – Since 2023 , the city enforces noise-free evenings in certain areas , ensuring that events can host evening receptions without excessive urban noise .
• Best for : high-impact , lowdisruption conferences . Bruges isn ’ t a city for large-scale trade expos or high-capacity arenas .
But for knowledge-sharing events , the city ’ s UNESCO medieval beauty , sustainability and efficiency make it an impressive conference location . n
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