If you enjoy history and craftsmanship, then no visit to Brugge is complete without a stop at the Kantcentrum, or Lace Center. It is, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Brugge and was the highlight of my time in the city.
I know what you’re thinking. Oh gawd. Lace? Hear me out.
A bit off the beaten path, the Kantcentrum is, at its essence, a museum dedicated to the craft of Flemish lace. Pay the entry fee of €2,50 and you can peruse several exhibition cases containing various centuries-old lace pieces, the sheer size of which will baffle you when you consider they were made by hand. However, the best part about visiting the Kantcentrum is seeing the skilled artisans still making lace by hand.
On the day I visited the Kantcentrum, a group of women had congregated in a small room to make bobbin lace by hand (Brugge lace is different), giving visitors the opportunity to observe and ask questions about the rare art. I felt like I was part of a some kind of cozy club where the women had escaped to make lace and talk about all the latest town gossip. As they worked away on each of their projects while visitors looked over their shoulders, I was floored by the sheer intricacy and precision required to make even a small piece of lace, acquiring a new admiration for handmade lace and respect for those who carry on the tradition. It’s an art I wouldn’t mind learning.
Have your travels ever inspired you to pick up a new hobby? I’d love to hear about it!
I am so looking forward to seeing demo of bobbin lace in Bruges . Going in April. Spent a great afternoon in bruano Italy watching a lady doing needle lace, just the lady and me we couldn’t speak with each other because oh language ,but communicated well!
Nice shot. I know nothing about lacemaking, but I definitely enjoy looking at it!
I didn’t know anything about lacemaking either (confession–I don’t wear a lot of lace, ha!) but my jaw literally dropped for a full five minutes as I watched these women weaving these intricate patterns by hand. What a labor of love to continue such a beautiful tradition!
Actually, I started blogging more and researching trips more since I travelled in 2009. It might seem like a strange hobby but I enjoy scouring the net for good deals, exploring parts of Ontario I can travel to, looking at places in the world I want to travel to etc. I LOVE it and it takes up a good portion of my time per week.