In this post, you’ll find all the best events and things to see and do in Bruges this August. We have a Top 10 list of things to do that is updated for 2024.
TOP 10 EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST IN BRUGES
Below are our favorite 10 events and activities to do this month.
Don’t forget to take a look at our Bruges walking tours post.
1) Moods! Festival
This festival takes over Bruges for two weeks out of the summer, from July 31 to August 13. You’ll be able to find both free and paid, ticketed concerts in multiple venues indoors and outdoors.
Many of the concerts will be free on the outdoor Burg square stage. Others will take place throughout the historical centre.
At the very end of the festival, the final event is a massive, free dance party!
- Dates: TBD for 2024
- Find more information here.
2) See the Historium Museum
A beautiful gothic building on the edge of the Market Square houses one of the most interesting history museums one can find.
There are seven different rooms to the museum that each take you back in time. The Bruges Quays room shows visitors how the country’s maritime history contributed to the creation of the city and the popularity of Market Square.
You’ll also see Jan van Eyck’s art studio, a toll house, and some back alleys. You can even see the creation of Huis ter Beurze, the world’s first stock exchange from which London, Amsterdam, and other major cities borrowed the concept.
- A Historium Explorer Ticket will get you into the museum with an audio guide.
- A Historium Time Traveller Ticket includes an the virtual reality experience and an optional drink.
3) Take a Remembrance Tour of Flanders Fields
Those who love history, especially seeing sites and memorials from the world wars, should make time to take the Great War in Flanders Fields tour. It leaves from Bruges at 10:30 am on Sundays and Thursdays.
The tour will take you directly to the battlefield of the first gas attacks and the world’s largest Commonwealth cemetery.
It will also give you some time at the Vimy Memorial and trench site in France.
The tour and roundtrip travel takes 11 hours in total.
Find more information and tickets here.
4) Take a Bike Tour Through the Countryside
August and the summertime in Bruges means there will be plenty of daylight for exploring! That leaves a good amount of time to go on a bike ride - why not take the 20-minute path to the village of Damme?
Of course, you can rent your own bike and strike out on your own whenever you feel like it. But for fewer logistical worries, the easiest way to go is with a guide.
Your guide will handle all of the navigation and have plenty of stories and historical facts to share as you ride.
Once you’re in Damme, the tour allows time for some rest and a drink at a cafe before turning back.
The tour runs on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
5) Take a Small Group Tour to Gent
Bruges isn’t the only smaller, charming city in Belgium. Ghent is another lovely haven of 13th-century architecture, Belgian culture, and beautiful churches and castles.
This small-group tour handles all the transportation between the two cities and includes a walking tour in Ghent as well as a short cruise through the canals.
You can take this tour on Sundays and Fridays.
6) Enjoy the Fish Market
Vismarkt hosts community events throughout the summer months of July and August. On Fridays in August, open-air concerts are scheduled from 16:00 (4:00 pm) - 22:00 (10:00 pm). It's the perfect entertainment to go along with your meal!
If you enjoy dancing, you should check out the market on Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays from 18:00 (6:00 pm) - 22:00 (10:00 pm).
Anyone can jump onto the dance floor.
- Thursdays: Folk Dancing
- Saturdays: Salsa Dancing
- Sundays: Tango Dancing
The Vismarkt is always free to enter. You’ll want to bring cash to purchase a delicious, fresh seafood dinner and drinks, however.
7) Cool Off on the Coast
Bruges is close to the coast, and the beach is easy to get to in Knokke-Heist.
August can get quite hot in the city centre, so you might want to escape to the sea breeze. Albertstrand’s sandy beach is also popular for the nearby casino as well as a large number of restaurants.
Beware of weekend beach crowds, so weekday mornings will be your best bet for finding some empty sand to claim along the beach. Just don't forget your sunscreen!
8) Klinkende Kroegen Pub Concerts
For the summer months of July and August, you'll find free Wednesday night concerts in various city-center pubs. These concert times are organized by the city council, but the bands themselves are booked by the venues.
So, depending on which pubs you go to, the music and atmosphere will be different.
August Concert Locations:
- August 5 at l'Estaminet, The Monk, and Rose Rose Cafe
- August 12 at Bras Cafe, SNuffel, Bar Low, and 't Kroegstje
- August 19 at 't Gezelleke, La Casita, Tapas bar Est, and Pergola Kaffee
- August 26 at De Poarte, 't Hof van Beroep, and Comptoir des Arts
The concerts take place between 18:00 (6:00 pm) and midnight.
9) Bruges Zandfeesten Antiques Market
The Zandfeesten market is the largest antiques market in the region. You'll find 5km of space covered in vendor booths.
Feel free to come and go at any point throughout the day for great people-watching and browsing opportunities.
To catch great deals, you'll need to arrive early since the event attracts thousands of shoppers and collectors. You'll find antiques, vintage trinkets, old toys and electronics, and plenty of pastries, snacks, and drinks.
Market Dates:
- June 2, 2024
- July 7, 2024
- August 4, 2024
- September 22, 2024
The market will be open every day from 6:00 am - 18:00 (6:00 pm).
You can find more information here.
10) Enjoy a Medieval Dinner Show
Surrounded by the beautiful Bruges architecture, it’s easy to wonder what life may have been like in centuries past. Why not go to a medieval dinner show to really become immersed in the past?
This photo is courtesy of Tripadvisor
This 4-course banquet is presented in an old Bruges church as medieval music plays and actors in costume re-create the 1468 wedding of Charles the Bold. Of course, this means there will be medieval entertainment in the form of jousting, sword fights, and dance.
The meal comes with wine and beer.
Find more information and tickets here.
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