Kantcentrum vzw — Local services in Bruges

My husband and I ended up in Brugge somewhat unexpectedly during our honeymoon, and he was a wonderful and patient enough man to suggest we visit the Kant Centrum even though he isn't necessarily into fiber arts. This was one of the most wonderful museum experiences of our entire trip, which was somewhat of a surprise. If you're in Brugge and interested in lace/fiber arts, fashion, or local history at all, I would HIGHLY recommend this experience!

Although it is a smaller museum space, the exhibits were incredibly beautiful and really engaging even for my non-crafty partner--he noticed a lot of interesting connections to computer programming and polygon modelling that we talked about for days afterwards.

We arrived a little late in the afternoon, but the group of folks demonstrating lacemaking upstairs were all incredibly sweet and generous with their time and expertise even though they were getting ready to pack up for the day. They answered a ton of my questions and even invited me to their lacemaking sessions and classes! (For the record--the lacemakers are usually there 2-5pm/14:00-17:00, and I would STRONGLY recommend planning your visit so you have plenty of time to observe their work. It's super hypnotic and fascinating to watch.)

I walked in determined not to pick up another craft, but the stunning examples of lace were VERY tempting, and the lacemakers were so kind and helpful that I walked out with a how-to book, a really reasonably-priced, beautiful set of bobbins, and a massive...

A wonderful museum, warm and welcoming, celebrating one of the most significant aspects of Bruges history. On the ground floor there is a small shop selling patterns and supplies for lacemakers, as well as an exhibition space showing a loop documentary about lace making. There are also interactive digital displays where you can try following a simple lace-making stitch, examples of different forms of lace spanning several hundred years, and documentation from the Vatican archive used to date specific types of lace to commercial records. On the upper floor, in the afternoon there are demonstrations by highly experienced lacemakers who are happy to answer questions. Courses are also held here, although only for very dedicated lacemakers as it can take a number of years to progress through an entire programme. Housed in an old convent, if you want to see and experience the culture, history, and ongoing development of lacemaking, this is one of the best places in the world to visit. Highly...

A small but unique museum/ workshop. At the entrance, there will be a small documentary played that orients the visitors regarding the art of lace making and what role Bruges played in the development of this fine art. On display, we can find some very intricate and beautiful lace work, including the oldest piece of lace in Bruges. But the most important part of the museum is the workshop, where many talented ladies are involved in learning, teaching and enjoying lace making. They are friendly and kind enough to interact with us (sometimes in spite of the language barrier). A must visit, even if one feels the ticket price is steep!

PS: The lace making demonstration is not a generic display, but actual knowledgeable women propagating the art and science of lace making. It is important to respect their work and behave...