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Park · Bruges, Flandres Ocidental
Minnewater
Lake south of the center, with swans, the 16th-century lock house and the surrounding Minnewaterpark. It's adjacent to the Begijnhof.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Minnewater
The Minnewater is an elongated lake at the southern edge of Bruges' center. In the Middle Ages it functioned as a reservoir that regulated the water level of the city's canals and the port.
At the northern tip stands the Sashuis, the lock house built in 1519. The bridge over the lake is a popular photo spot, with the Begijnhof on one side and the park on the other.
The name is often translated as Lake of Love, and the city tells romantic stories about it. The swans are another tradition: according to legend, Bruges must keep swans on the canals since the late 15th century, in memory of Pieter Lanchals, a treasurer who was executed and whose coat of arms bore a swan.
Surrounding the lake is Minnewaterpark, with lawns, tree-lined paths and benches, open at any hour. It's a place to pause between the station and the center.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 minutes to an hour, depending on how long you stay in the park.
Best time
Early in the morning, when the water is still and there are few people, or late afternoon in spring and summer.
How to get there
About a 10-minute walk from Brugge station, heading north, and next to the Begijnhof.
Tip
If you arrive by train you can enter the centre via the Minnewater and the Begijnhof, instead of following the streets used by cars.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Minnewater
Why is the Minnewater called the Lake of Love?
The name in Flemish is commonly translated that way, and the city links the lake to romantic legends. Originally, it was a water reservoir.
Why are there so many swans in Bruges?
Local tradition says the city must keep swans in the canals since the late 15th century, in memory of Pieter Lanchals, whose coat of arms featured a swan.