The Provincial Palace of Bruges

The Markt is lined with some of Bruges’ most important landmarks. You’ll see traditional Flemish-style gabled houses, the towering Gothic belfry, and the Provincial Palace of Bruges – a striking, decorated building with an ornate façade. In the past, the Markt—known as the Grand Square—was home to a vast covered warehouse where ships would arrive via the canals to unload their cargo. The site was known as the Waterhalle—water obviously meaning water, and halle meaning hall. It all made perfect sense. But by the 18th century, the canals had started to silt up, and the Waterhalle lost its purpose. The space was replaced by homes, shops, and a government building used for provincial meetings. That building was destroyed in a fire in 1878, and the Provincial Palace of Bruges was built in its place between 1887 and 1921. It was designed to host ceremonial events, house government offices, a post office, and even serve as the governor’s residence. By the late 20th century, the provincial council had relocated, and the building took on a new life—hosting exhibitions, seminars, and public events. Recognised as a protected monument since 2002, the Provincial Palace underwent a major renovation in 2024. It has since reopened as the new Open House of the Province of Flanders.