Information of the Municipal Archives of Bruges

City Archive
Address
The Palace of the Liberty
of Bruges
T
Hours of opening reading room
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
- 8.30 - 12.30
8.30 - 12.30
8.30 - 12.30
8.30 - 12.30
13.30 - 16.30
13.30 - 18.30
13.30 - 16.30
13.30 - 16.30
13.30 - 16.30
clo sed
Monday morning, Saturday, Sunday
and public holidays
Guided visits
Requests for guided visits can be made via:
www.brugge.be/archief >> activiteiten >> archiefbezoeken
Dr. Noël Geirnaert, chief archivist
Jan D’hondt, archivist
Jan Anseeuw, academic and research adviser
v.u. Johan Coens, Burg 12, 8000 Brugge
www.brugge.be/archief
Bruges
he city archive is housed in the oldest wing
of the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges. It was from
this building that the extensive rural hinterland
around Bruges was governed until 1795. From the 11th
century onwards the Liberty of Bruges acted as the
castellany of Bruges: an area with its own separate
finance, government and judiciary.
In the 16th century, the Liberty of Bruges was governed
by 4 burgomasters and 24 aldermen. It was during this
period that the Liberty had a new courtroom built in
the palace and a meeting room (which now serves as
the library and the archivist’s office).
In the 17th century this new wing was further extended
with the addition of a chapel (now the reading room)
and the orphans’ room (now the office of the chief
archivist). During the 18th century, the Liberty decided
to demolish a number of its Gothic buildings and
erected a new palace that still dominates the eastern
side of the Burg square.
Following occupation by the French republic during
the Revolutionary Wars, the Liberty of Bruges was
dissolved in 1795. Until 1984 the palace served as the
courts of justice for the
city of Bruges. The city
archive was moved into
the eastern wing of the
building in 1988. The former Aldermen’s Chamber
is now a museum (Bruggemuseum - Brugse Vrije),
where visitors can admire
the monumental fireplace
of the Liberty of Bruges,
with its richly decorated
wooden carving.
Stadsarchief
Burg 11a, B-8000 Bruges
t 050 44 82 60
f 050 44 82 61
stadsarchief@brugge.be
www.brugge.be/archief
Archive
Bruges in the picture
Old archives
Image bank
Most of the city’s administrative records since
the late thirteenth century have been preserved. Consequently, the old archives contain
all the surviving documents produced by the
city government between 1280 and 1795, including city accounts, charters, the chronicles
and transactions of the trade guilds, etc.
The city archive possesses a unique collection of photographs and old postcards of Bruges. Thousands of these
images are digitalised.
These can be viewed on: www.beeldbankbrugge.be.
Modern archives
The modern archives contain all city documents dating from 1795 to the present day.
Most of these documents are available to the
public. However, documents containing personal details can only be consulted after 100
years. The archives of the surrounding submunicipalities of Bruges are also kept here.
Gene alogy
Bruges City
Archive
T
he Bruges City Archive is one of the
most important municipal archive reposito-
ries in Europe.
The archive, which houses a huge collection of
documents relating to the city’s administration
throughout the centuries, is the most important
source for the history of Bruges. This unique col-
lection is still being supplemented, in part with new
material from private collections.
The city archive is a favourite haunt of genealogists. The records of the civil registry for both
Bruges and its surrounding sub-municipalities
are fully digitalised. The archive allows access
to various deeds and acts dating from 1795
until 100 years ago. Many baptismal, marriage and burial registers for the period before
1795 are also available. Genealogists can likewise consult inventories and numerous other
sources.
Local history
and building enquiries
Are you curious about the history of your own
city or the building where you live? Local researchers will find a treasure trove of valuable
information in the city archive.
The staff of the city archive collect, preserve, order
and catalogue the different items, in order to make
them available to the public.
Academic research, local history, tracing your fam-
www.huizenonderzoekbrugge.be is the result of a
collaborative project between different disciplines
on the theme of individual building histories.
ily tree, consulting old building plans and planning
applications: these are all part of the archive’s
many activities.
Building pl ans
a n d p l a n n i n g a p p l i c at i o n s
In the city archive you can consult building
plans and planning applications for Bruges
and its surrounding sub-municipalities, dating
from the 19th century until the 1980s.
READING ROOM
Access to the reading room
After completing a registration form and signing the register, the city archive is open to everyone, free of charge.
W hat c a n y o u v i e w/ c o n s u lt ?
The visitor can consult numerous inventories, either on
paper or on screen: these are the archive’s guide book and
will help you to find your way around the different collections. It is also possible to examine digitalised files, original
documents, old maps and (building) plans. These items are
all viewed within the confines of the reading room.
S e r v i c e a n d a s s i s ta n c e
Reception staff and academic personnel are on hand and
will be pleased to assist you with your research.