Bruges is a city with a rich event culture and strong tourist appeal, where the difference between a good congress and an impactful congress is increasingly defined by experience. In Bruges, every conference or corporate event is a total experience. As a participant, you experience far more than just a strong programme; The city itself often becomes an integral part of the conference experience. We are proud to introduce you to the new cultural hotspot BRUSK, a place where you can view, experience and discuss art.

This spring edition of our newsletter takes a closer look.

Kind regards, 
Kathy Van Wambeke

The new cultural hotspot BRUSK

BRUSK is the beating heart of a brand-new, two-hectare art site featuring the BRON research centre, the renovated Groeninge Museum (reopening in 2030), Bar Brusk and a green museum park (2030). The building was designed by Robbrecht & Daem and Olivier Salens architects. The new art site is the finishing touch of Bruges' Museum Quarter, similar to cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Vienna.

BRUSK is a place where you can view, experience and discuss art. It will be a new cultural venue for exhibitions with international allure. Exhibitions that connect the magnificent, centuries-old collections of Musea Brugge with surprising new stories.

Integral ecological sustainability also plays an important role in BRUSK:

• BRUSK's roofs are clad in electricity-generating glass shingles that supply the building with renewable energy.
• The BTES field beneath BRUSK provides natural heating in winter and cooling in summer.
• The building is more than twice as energy efficient as the current NZE standard and largely meets circular building standards.

Exhibitions

• Inaugural exhibition BIGGER PICTURE - Connected Worlds of Bruges 900–1550: 8 May to 6 September 2026.

Over the course of the Middle Ages, Bruges developed into a major player on the world stage - a hub in global networks of trade, culture and politics. 'Bigger Picture' goes in search of those connections. What mark did traders from Scandinavia, crusaders from Jerusalem or scholars from the Islamic world leave on Bruges, and vice versa?

• Opening exhibition: Refik Anadol – LATENT CITY: 8 May to 8 November 2026. 

The internationally renowned new media artist Refik Anadol brings a groundbreaking exhibition to BRUSK. The Turkish-American pioneer in digital art is known worldwide for his large-scale art installations created in collaboration with artificial intelligence. An impressive total installation, specially developed for Bruges, driven by data from Bruges. From Bruges’ medieval networks, architectural structures and rich art collections. But also from the invisible – latent – rhythms of daily life in the city. 

Discover BRUSK and the other museums in Bruges: Musea Brugge.  

European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) Summit 2026 

Thanks to collaboration between ESAE and the Flanders Convention Bureau, we were able to participate in various European Association Summit events. Our colleague Saskia Desmidt attended the ESAE welcome reception, organised by Flanders & Flemish Cities in the charming Orangerie of the Le Louise Hotel, followed by the Flanders Inspiration Visit dinner at the Entropy restaurant in Brussels. An excellent opportunity to network with decision-makers from European associations.

We also hosted the post-tour of the ESAE Summit. Bruges is not just a conference destination, it is a unique experience. Guests arrived by train to discover Flanders Heritage Venues, including Bruges Meeting & Convention Centre, the Concertgebouw Bruges (Concert Hall), the Provincial Palace, and four-star meeting hotels such as NH Brugge, Le Bois de Brugge, Grand Hotel Casselbergh, and Crowne Plaza Brugge, during a walk through our beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city.

Spring 2026 - networking events  

Our team was present at:

• PURE International | 12 March, Paris The pinnacle of Parisian event planners.
• Inspiration West Flanders | 20 March, Crowne Plaza Brugge. Meeting planners discovered hidden gems in Bruges and West Flanders.

You can still find us at some upcoming events:

• IMEX Frankfurt | 19–21 May, Messe Frankfurt

Our colleagues Kathy and Saskia are ready. Together with our partners from the BMCC, Historium, Radisson Blu Bruges, and Event Mosaic, Bruges is well represented.

• ICCA France Benelux Chapter Meeting | 17-19 June, Thessaloniki.

Provinciaal Hof awarded M++ label

This Flanders Heritage Venue has become the first location in Flanders to receive the M++ label, the highest accessibility label for meeting and conference venues. Following its recent restoration and refurbishment, strong emphasis was placed from the outset on accessibility for everyone - visitors, organisers, and suppliers alike. As a result, three new lifts, adapted sanitary facilities, and a “changing place” (an accessible care toilet with extra space and assistance equipment) have been installed. Visit Flanders awards the M++ label to meeting and conference venues that excel in accessibility.

Discover the possibilities for seminars, welcome receptions, or dinners at the Provincial Palace.

In the spotlight

Hotel NH Brugge****

Once a monastery and today an elegant four-star hotel, located near Concertgebouw Bruges (Concert Hall) and the BMCC. This Green Key-certified hotel has undergone a full transformation, offering 149 stylish rooms, an extensive breakfast buffet, and the Jan Breydel Bar with a cosy fireplace. The largest meeting room accommodates up to 220 people.

Unique venue Port Bleu in Zeebrugge now under TWICE management 

Event planner Twice is the new operator of the major event venue Port Bleu, which overlooks the marina of Zeebrugge. The team brings 30 years of event planning experience and can assist with the organisation of your event if required.

Port Bleu is the ideal venue for corporate events, product launches, brand activations, trade fairs, networking events, and conferences. The seven-metre-high hall covers an area of 1,600 m², and accommodates up to 1,000 standing guests. It can also be divided into smaller spaces on request. Organisers have full freedom at Port Bleu regarding technical setup, design, caterers, and breweries.

With its new and enthusiastic team, Port Bleu is more than ever the perfect place for inspiring projects. 

Would you like more information about the content of this newsletter? Contact us via meeting@brugge.be or on +32(0)44 46 66.