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Were it not for the excessive silting of the river Zwin in the 16th century, Bruges might today be a commercial power. But when the silting made the river unnavigable, taking away access to the canals that led to the North Sea, the traders, both foreign and local, packed up and moved to Antwerp, which at that time was a ripe, flourishing port. But the commercial world's loss was the present-day tourism industry's gain. What remains today is a town that was seemingly frozen in time after the mass exodus of the traders. Were it not for the droves and droves of tourists, you might think that you were transported back to the 16th century. That being said, I wasn't too impressed by Bruges. It's a nice enough little town, and certainly has its charm, but it's Belgium's most visited town, which means one thing; tourist trap. Any joy I would normally derive from it has been tainted by the "new" businessmen, who jack up prices, and ruin the old world charm with their souvenir stands everywhere. But don't let me dissuade you if you've heard good things about Bruges. I'm being a little dramatic, but I did still enjoy it - it's a nice little day trip from Brussels. Click on picture to enlarge... The view from the Belfry
There are canals all over Bruges
Relaxing with the Belfry in the background
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