Jan van Eyck Square, or Jan van Eyckplein, is a quiet square beside a canal in the northern part of Bruges’ old town. A statue of the Flemish painter stands among historic buildings with stepped gables, and free virtual binoculars offer a glimpse of the square as it looked in the Middle Ages. The square was once the city’s port, where merchant ships docked. Pause to look at the architecture, then follow the canal past the stone bridges and waterside houses.
A square shaped by Bruges’ port
Jan van Eyck Square lies in the Hansa Quarter, north of Bruges’ historic centre. In the Middle Ages, the city’s old port was here. Ships docked beside the square as international merchants brought goods into Bruges, then an important trading centre linking England, Germany and Scandinavia.
The canal beside the square marks that earlier waterfront setting. Take a closer look at the façades and the surrounding streets, where historic buildings preserve the character of the old quarter.
The painter commemorated here
The square is named for Jan van Eyck, a leading Early Netherlandish painter who settled in Bruges around 1430 after serving Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. His statue stands at the centre of the square. Van Eyck’s work includes the Adoration of the Lamb altarpiece, made for the Church of St Bavo in Ghent.
For more art connected to the Flemish Primitives, the nearby Groeningemuseum has works by Van Eyck and Hans Memling.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Jan van Eyck Square?
It is in the northern part of Bruges’ old town, in the Hansa Quarter, beside a canal.
What can you see at Jan van Eyck Square?
The square has a statue of Jan van Eyck and historic buildings with stepped gables. Free virtual binoculars show the area as it looked in the Middle Ages.
Why was the square important in the Middle Ages?
Bruges’ old port was located here. Merchant ships docked at the waterfront, and the city traded with places including England, Germany and Scandinavia.
