Bruges is a city of contrasts. Medieval buildings and cobbled laneways sit alongside busy tourist attractions and lively markets. Cars and buses squeeze past horse-drawn carriages in the narrow streets. Shops are filled with traditional lacework and divinely decadent chocolates while a few steps away stalls sell Belgian frites and waffles. The blend of old and new is seamless.
Walk through the door of the Volkskundemuseum in Baalstraat and suddenly you’ve travelled backwards in time for a unique shopping experience. Inside this row of 17th century almshouses is a collection of olden day shops; their stories told in life-sized dioramas.
The milliner’s shop has the latest fashionable hats, created to match a new dress purchased from the dressmaker, while for men the tailor can craft a new suit in just a few days.
No outfit would be complete without a pair of bespoke shoes handmade by the local cobbler.
At the grocer’s there’s a wide range of food on display while the confectionery store is a magnet for those with a sweet tooth.
And if too many chocolates have been eaten, the apothecary can help with the necessary medicine.
At the Black Cat Tavern one of Bruge’s famous beers might be stored in barrels just like this one.
At the end of a busy shopping day refreshments might just be the best purchase of all!
Thanks for the tour. I’ve always wanted to have a pair of handmade shoes. The Black Cat sounds like the perfect watering hole after a busy day spent shopping. 🙂
And there was an actual black cat wandering around too!
what a nice post 🙂 🙂
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. We had a fun visit there.
I do love these old-tech museums. They look like they haven’t changed since they were first established in the 19th century. Not an iPad or digital display in sight! Great!
It was so interesting to compare with similar style museums in Australia and see what was the same on the other side of the world.
I love to look at this type of museum, where they put the artefects in their ‘natural’ setting rather than just in glass cases or on shelves.
I agree, it’s so much more interesting.
I’m obsessed with lace work – my grandmother, her mother and my mother all made it and I have some lovely pieces. So naturally my eyes were immediately drawn to the third picture with the lacework on the table. Absolutely beautiful! 😀
Did you read the post https://theeternaltraveller.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/belgium-is-famous-for-1-lace/
You will find lots more gorgeous lace there.
I want to work in the milliner’s shop.
You would make some very funky hats mrs c.
actually I might go on a course…..
That would be fun.
I think I would need the apothecary for the chocolate overdose! I think it’s great that villages like this preserve traditional shops for people to see. 🙂
This was in Bruges. It was a wonderful way to use these old buildings.