Bruges is the Belgian city located in the province of West Flanders. There are 12th century canals in the city thanks to which Bruges is called the Flemish Venice. There used to be a port situated in the city and for that reason it became the center of trade and banking as early as in the Middle Ages. It is also the house of the Flemish painting school. Jan van Eyck, the citizen of Bruges, was one of the significant representatives of that school. Among the most important historic building there are churches, the hospital from the 12th century and the city hall from the 14th century.
