The S‑wan guide is here especially for you, ready to accompany you on your walk through Bruges. As proud ambassadors of Bruges, our guides gladly share their love for the city and the region, each in their own unique way. That’s why every walk in Bruges is different, tailored to the curiosity of the group.
Perfect for adventurers, daydreamers, history enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to discover Bruges in an original way.For those who aren’t looking for an ordinary experience, but for a lively and enjoyable activity in Bruges full of quirky insights and a touch of magic.
When you choose a S‑wan guide, you choose quality, a personal approach, and small‑scale groups.Forget straight lines and predictable routes — you’ll get a city walk delivered with flair and imagination. You dive into the Bruges where individuality reigns, where every corner brings a surprising new story.
I will gladly guide you through our beautiful city of Bruges. To known and lesser-known places. With unusual stories and pithy anecdotes.
Without my hat, you will never see me in the crowd. I want to share with visitors my admiration and wonder at those great people of Bruges such as Jan van Eyck, Lodewijk van Gruuthuse, Anselm Adornes and Simon Stevin. But for me, Bruges is also that city with two faces: medieval and modern, conservative and progressive, traditional and forward-looking, religious and secular. That aspect is also close to my heart. In other words, I have been bitten by past and present Bruges!
Bruges, a godsend for a city guide. From Bruges of the distant past to contemporary Bruges, as a guide you are never done talking about it and the search for additional information never stops. With great enthusiasm, I try to share my knowledge by taking you on an exploration in and around Bruges. So off together for an engaging walk brought with a subtle touch of humour and very much like a lot of interaction from you.
Passionate about the rich history and vibrant culture of our beautiful city, I love taking our guests out to explore. Every step reveals new surprises and insights, allowing visitors to experience Bruges in an enjoyable and engaging way. It’s all about the sensory experience: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling. With great pleasure, I introduce you to the charm and the stories of Bruges through all these senses.
Why is a man’s handkerchief bigger than a woman’s handkerchief? (Liesbet Stevens).
Or in other words why does his-story have so much more impact than re-story ?
Better to lose yourself in the passion than to lose the passion, that’s my Bruges!
Better to lose yourself in the passion than to lose the passion, that’s my Bruges!
I am an enthusiastic guide who oh so loves to show you the most beautiful spots of Bruges. I really love the Magdalene church because you can swing and enjoy the silence so much.
The birthplace of Guido Gezelle as well as Gezelle Museum
Here, on Rolweg, near the St Janshuys mill, I like to come and unwind. I imagine the miller who once passed on his love of storytelling to Gezelle there in the shadow of the mill. ‘Strong is the tale of words’ here, in ‘quiet’ Bruges, where it is always pleasant to be. I still and marvel over and over again how this ‘Lost Corner’ -far from the madding crowd- is a special ‘place’ that is more than worth coming to discover (again).
My favourite spot in the city involves a rooftop view seen from the courtyard of Old St John’s Hospital. Various styles of architecture can be recognised, history dripping from it: Romanesque tower, medieval hospital, facade in Scheldt Gothic and stately brick tower of the Church of Our Lady. But equally, places where lots of people always gathered, in church and in the hospital. How small I myself am at all this. But he who seeks, finds (me).
Fool of Bruges Heritage. Special fetish for street furniture from an unexpected past: Burgundy pavement balusters, forgotten precious ironwork, and mysterious geodesic marks.
I am a traveller; wandering, searching and always on the move. After my master’s, I nested in Spain for several years. I became a child of the sun, with a fiery beating, glowing heart. To this day, the South churns in my blood. Bruges the Venice of the North? No, as a cosmopolitan, formerly Spanish city rather a slice of South by the North Sea.
Unesco has understood Bruges: A well-preserved medieval urban fabric, green lungs, bathed in light with in its veins a dark ancient spirit. Mysterious and at the same time so open. A story full of passion; my passion as a “guide with a twist”. Spanish tracks and an active commitment to repurposing, restoring and safeguarding (religious) heritage form my enthusiastic guide DNA. This is my 21st-century encounter with the city.
Bruges revived/t, Bruges experienced.
Fond of the unique history of Bruges and in particular the Burgundian 15th century.
My favourite spot in Bruges is the Jan van Eyck Square where, with a bit of imagination, you can feel the sultry port life of the late Middle Ages come so alive again.
Am a “washed-up” in Bruges since early 1997. Meanwhile, I feel like a fish out of water there. During my tours – alone or with a group of interested people – I always get a pleasant holiday feeling. It is therefore a city where you can often put on a different pair of glasses to see things. I like to keep it cosy with a touch of humour, even if it can be on serious topics.
Bruges was and still is a fascinating city. I’d love to take you into the stories hidden behind Bruges’ facades and uncharted places.
My favourite site is the area around the OLV church with the city palace of Gruuthuse and the old St John’s Hospital. I also like the Sint-Annakwartier, an old working-class area of Bruges with surprising highlights, to wander around.
As a ‘new’ Bruges resident, I still find new, beautiful, cosy places in Bruges every day. I like to share these with our visitors from all over the world.
My favourites are modern art, lace and (temporary) exhibitions.
Bruges is more than the Middle Ages. My interests include social and industrial history, the world wars and the 20th century. That history is at least as fascinating as that of the Burgundians.
As a non-Bruggler, I experience the city from the perspective of a visitor. I never cease to marvel at the splendour of the buildings, feel the magic of the rides, pass through cosy squares with a smile, enjoy the peace in quiet spots… I like to share my ‘Bruges feeling’ with others. Besides, I am geeky and a film buff, so it happens that I approach things from that angle.
My favourite place in the city is the area around the central museum site: the St John’s Hospital, the Church of Our Lady Museum, Gruuthuse Museum and Groeninge Museum are connected by the picturesque Hof Arents, the romantic Bonifacius Bridge, mysterious reits, quaint streets, the breathtaking courtyard of Gruuthuse and surprising museum gardens of the Groeninge Museum. Lovely to stroll around there or sit on a bench watching the world go by while feeling surrounded by history.
I live on one of the boroughs but in the evening after my day job (administrative in education), a walk through the historic city centre is a “breath of fresh air”.
One of my favourite spots is the Beguinage, the combination of the beautiful white houses with the “Spiritual” silence is indescribable.
Hopefully we will meet and I may let you share in my “Bruges Experience”.
You experience so much more by exploring a city with a guide. Because a guide can bring you the stories behind the buildings and facades and make all kinds of unexpected connections. Now let Bruges be full of stories and many fascinating characters. Bringing those to you is my passion.
Why me guide? A passion for nature and history. Hoping to pass on some of this passion and interest to walkers, adults and children.
Not just the beauty of it all, the enduring wonder of and for the world around us.
One of my favourite spots in Bruges is the view at the Smedenpoort, from the pedestrian bridge. The modern architecture of the footbridges, the green oasis of the vests and the rich city history: much of what Bruges has to offer at a glance. With some imagination, I go back into the past and see medieval guards standing at the ochre yellow city gate asking for a password.
Brugge is bursting with stories. What are your interests? I go into it with great enthusiasm! ‘Care and education through the ages’ is my thing, but equally I jump on the bandwagon of a contemporary exhibition, go in search of women behind dukes, dive into our past with children, in short, as far as I am concerned, everyone is welcome!
As the oldest qualified guide of the group, I can say that I still take great pleasure and pride in presenting my city to interested visitors in my mother tongue: French.
Why I guide: the combination of love for my city, love for history and geography and a general urge to want to infect others with it ;).
– Favourite topic: the origins of Bruges and its earliest history starring marauding Vikings, a count with an iron arm, a river that no longer exists and much more.
– Favourite spots in Bruges: the square in front of Gruuthuse: the place where I always have to wait the longest before I can start my story because everyone loses themselves in taking photos.
I not only show you the city, but can take you through the Bruges countryside to discover the beautiful swin region.
I love Bruges—grand in its smallness, with its narrow little streets, carrying the features of a big city while still preserving the warmth and coziness of a small community.
My name is Fabienne, born and raised in Bruges, as we like to say here. I have a deep love for my city, especially for the hidden spots along the water. With passion and enthusiasm, I look forward to welcoming you. Not only for a wonderful experience in art and culture, but also to share my favourite local food spots and the hidden gems that make Bruges so special. Hospitality and personal service are values I hold dear. So lace up your walking shoes for a private tour, or come along with friends, colleagues, or family. Bruges always leaves you wanting more.
I’m a true ‘newcomer by the tide,’ as they say here. I traded my homeland for Bruges—a city to experience, to savour, to wander, to dream.
Bruges breathes history, yet is surprisingly contemporary. It’s the blend of past and present that makes it so captivating.
My favourite place is the Adornes Domain, a hidden 15th‑century gem in the “quiet” part of Bruges.
I fully agree with what Willy Lustenhouwer sings: “Bruges is always beautiful.” By this I don’t just mean at any moment of the day or in any season—every corner of the historic centre has its own charm. I first got to know the city when I studied here in secondary school, and ever since then I’ve truly lost my heart to it. If I haven’t been in the city centre for a while, the longing already starts to creep in. My favourite place is the Saint John’s Hospital: under this roof, so much has happened over so many centuries, and the artworks here were created especially for this place. That’s what makes it so special to me!
Bruges attracts thousands of visitors, and its classic landmarks are undeniably captivating. But to experience the true Bruges, including neighbourhoods like Sint-Anna, you need someone who can connect you with its authentic character. Let an S-wan guide lead the way!
In Bruges, beauty, history, and foreign languages come together, a dream for any Romance‑language scholar.
I love searching for the stories hidden behind the façades: who these people were, what they owned, what they did, what they might have eaten, thought, or felt… Bruges is an inexhaustible treasure chest—both in the open air and inside its museums.
I am an enthusiastic guide who oh so loves to show you the most beautiful spots of Bruges. I really love the Magdalene church because you can swing and enjoy the silence so much.
At the only church tower with a clock, many artists found their final resting place.
But also…
The parish of St Gillis is, together with St Anna, the poorest neighbourhood in Bruges—the neighbourhood where my mother was born and raised. She was the seventh child in a close-knit family. Born after the tragic accident that took her father’s life, her loving stepfather later gave her four more brothers.
St Gillis is the neighbourhood of Achiel Van Acker. My mother’s closest friends were his sisters. It was here that the seed was planted for the social movement that would later grow into a national force.
These stories and the image of my grandmother continue to enchant me.
As a guide, I’m devoted to two lifelong passions: Bruges, the city where I was born and which still reveals new wonders to me, and the rich Belgian beer culture. Both are deservedly recognised as UNESCO World Heritage.
In certain places in Bruges, it’s as though the Middle Ages still breathe through the streets. Want to know where those hidden gems lie? I’d love to guide you there.
As a zythologist or beer sommelier, I love sharing the stories behind our beers — their history, their flavours, their traditions — ideally while tasting a range of styles together.
In the photo, I’m volunteering at Café De Zwarte Kat, part of Bruges’ Folklore Museum, where local heritage and beer culture intertwine in a wonderfully authentic setting.
I’m Rita. For me, Bruges is where past and present meet in perfect harmony. I love leading visitors through its enchanting medieval lanes, and just as much, I enjoy revealing the city’s unexpected side — the contemporary architecture that adds a modern twist. Shall we explore together?
‘K en Brugge in m’n herte,
de schonste stad van ‘t land.
M’n Brugge is ‘n droombeeld uit duizend en één nacht.
Above all, I’m captivated by the rich history of the Zwin region and, especially, of Bruges. Every façade hides a story, not all of them medieval. Bruges continues to fascinate long after the Burgundians. I’m also passionate about technology and, even more so, about nature — and Bruges has plenty to offer on that front as well. Curious to explore? I’d love to take you along.
I was born and raised in Bruges, in a family that has always cherished this beautiful city and its layered history. Countless stories about Bruges and its inhabitants were spoon‑fed to me as a child. Today, as a guide, I pass on those stories — enriched with context and insight, yet told with the same enthusiasm and wonder as my forebears. I’m equally happy to share my love for the nature in and around Bruges, my other great passion.
In this photo, I’m standing on top of the Poortersloge tower, a place that is only exceptionally open to the public. It’s a truly special vantage point: from up here, the medieval street layout, the canals, and Bruges’ hidden corners reveal themselves in a way you can’t see from the ground. You can also spot the city’s other iconic towers, like the Belfry and St. Salvator’s Cathedral. As a Swan guide, I love showing how history lives and breathes in this city — because what fills the heart naturally finds its way into words.”er.
