What’s on 2-8 Jan 2025
We wish our readers a Happy New Year!
⭐ This Week's Top Picks
Ice Skating at Minnewater (“Lake of Love”). Enjoy ice skating at the park until 5 Jan as part of the city’s “Wintergloed” festival of attractions, activities and festive lights in the city centre.
Vrouwen van Papier (Women of Paper) Exhibition at the city centre library until 4 Jan.
Comedy. "Hans Cools - 'Cools & Zonen'" (Cools & Sons). Comedian Hans Cools is known for his stand-up routines and will be on stage at the Concertgebouw on 8 Jan.
🎨 🎻 🧺 Art, Music & Markets
Vrouwen van Papier (Women of Paper). This exhibition at the city library (Hoofdbibliotheek Biekorf, Kuiperstraat 3) explores the lives of 200 women through their letters to the Flemish poet Guido Gezelle. FREE. Until 4 Jan. https://brugge.bibliotheek.be/agenda/vrouwen-van-papier
James Ensor: 75 years after his death. The Groeningemuseum (Dijver 12) is hosting a collection presentation dedicated to James Ensor, 75 years after the artist's death. The Groeningemuseum is also home to "Ensor: Master on paper". This separate exhibition showcases Ensor's artistic talent through drawings and etchings, highlighting his grotesque and macabre imagery, including masks and skeletons. Museum ticket prices are up to €15, children under 13 go FREE. This Ensor exhibition will run at the Groeninge until 18 Feb. https://www.visitbruges.be/en/whats-on/events-calendar/ensor-master-paper
Christmas Oratorio - JS Bach Epiphany. This performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio by Vagantes Morborum will take place at the Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34). Standard ticket prices: €30-€45. 7 Jan, 20:00. https://www.concertgebouw.be/en/weihnachtsoratorium-js-bach
Weekly markets. The Saturday market (4 Jan) will be on ‘t Zand and the market on Wednesday (8 Jan) will be on the Grote Markt.
🎬 🎭 Stage, Screen, and Scene
Cinema. Cinema Lumière (Sint-Jakobsstraat 36) will be showing a variety of films over the next week. These include children's films such as Vaiana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King, and films for older audiences such as Conclave, The Room Next Door, and Paris, Texas. Ticket prices are up to €12, with a family film option before 16:30 costing €9. Visit the cinema’s website for films, timings and bookings: https://lumiere-brugge.be/
Kinepolis (Koning Albert l-laan 200) films over the coming week include Vaiana 2, Gladiator II, We Live In Time, and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. A standard ticket costs €14,10. Visit https://kinepolis.be/nl/nl/movies/overview/ for more information and bookings.
⚽ Game On: Sports & Recreation
Ice skating. There is an artificial ice skating rink at Minnewater park as part of the city’s “Wintergloed” festival of attractions, activities and festive lighting including activities and attractions spread throughout the city centre. Tickets cost €5-8. Until 5 Jan. https://www.visitbruges.be/en/winter-glow/artificial-ice-rink.
Football lovers visiting Bruges can watch the city’s two world famous clubs, Brugge KSV (“Club Brugge”) and Cercle Brugge KSV (“Cercle Brugge”) play during the season at the city’s Jan Breydel stadium (Koning Leopold III-laan 50). Club Brugge will meet OH Leuven in the Croky Cup. Ticket prices start at €10. 7 Jan, 20:45. https://www.clubbrugge.be/en/match/club-oh-leuven-07-01-2025
🍻🎶 Bruges After Dark: Nightlife
Crash-Metal-Night at the Rock Café, The Crash Brugge. Langestraat 78. Tickets from €10. Tel: 0477 52 51 77 3 Jan, 21:00.
Comedy. "Hans Cools - 'Cools & Zonen'" (Cools & Sons) will be on stage at the Concertgebouw (‘t Zand, 34). Comedian Hans Cools is known for his stand-up routines (more information at https://www.comedyshows.be/kalender/hans-cools/). Tickets: €20-22. 8 Jan, 20:00.
Rob Lamberti presents: A Celebration of George Michael at the Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34). Ticket prices: €42-52. 9 Jan, 20:00.
https://www.concertgebouw.be/en/rob-lamberti-presents-a-celebration-of-george-michael
🌈 Family Fun: Events & Adventures
Bruges Christmas Festival, Boudewijn Seapark. Family activities over the festive period at the Boudewijn Seapark (Alfons de Baeckestraat 12) feature a dolphin show, indoor ice skating, illuminated outdoor attractions, rides, sea lion training sessions, an indoor playground for kids, and a fire show. An all-in family ticket costs €25. Until 5 Jan. https://www.boudewijnseapark.be/en/plan-your-visit/prices-and-tickets/
The Nutcracker. The Flanders Symphony Orchestra will perform this classic ballet score at the Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34). Tickets €23-€46 with reductions available (see https://www.symfonieorkest.be/en/pQM3u7/rates---reductions.) 3 Jan, 15:00.
Concertgebouw New Year’s Concert. The Brussels Philharmonic and Colin Currie will perform at the Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34). Ticket prices: €40,50-€81,00. 5 Jan, 15:00. https://www.concertgebouw.be/en/new-year-s-concert-7
🌤️🌧️ Weather
The forecast for Bruges looks mainly cold and rainy, with sunnier weather into the middle of next week. Daytime temperatures: 5°C-12°C. Find latest weather information at the Royal Meteorological Institute website: https://www.meteo.be/en/belgium