What’s on 14-20 Aug 2025
⭐ This Week's Top Picks
Brugse Belofte (Procession of the Blind). Don’t miss this annual event on 15 August, a religious procession honouring the promise the soldiers or their wives made to offer a weighted candle to our Lady of the Pottery if they came home safely after the battle at the Pevelenberg in 1304, where the warriors of Bruges faced the army of the King of France.
Cactus Café Rooftop Street Food. Try the Saturday night eats and beats on offer during the summer at this premier music venue in the city. Marlow is a culinary project in Bruges that focuses on international cuisine, with a focus on fresh, local, and organic produce.
Summer bars and cafés. Relax and have a drink at summer bars and cafes in the city, including Kafé Keramiek and Bar Visart.
🎨 🎻 🧺 Art, Music & Markets
Brugse Belofte 2025 (Procession of the Blind). Since 1304, a promise candle weighing 16.33 kg has been offered annually to Our Lady of the Pottery. This promise was made during the battle of Pevelenberg on 18 August 1304. The chapel of Blindekens was founded as a result.
Some 350 pilgrims still pass through the streets of Bruges every year on 15 August to fulfil this centuries-old promise. Some 250 pilgrims wear medieval costumes in this procession. Horsemen, playgoers and chariots support the religious procession. This is done in the presence of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Blankets. At the centre, 12 “virgin blankets” carry the pledge candle. For the Procession route and more information, see the event website: https://www.kerknet.be/organisatie/brugse-belofte
Fiesta Latino. “Fiesta Latino is dancing, connecting and above all enjoying.”
“What is Fiesta Latino and why should you not miss this event?
Fiesta Latino is the dance party of Salsa de Brujas where Latin vibes, fun and connection are central. Expect a sizzling evening full of salsa, bachata and kizomba, brought to you by passionate DJs. Everyone is welcome, with or without experience.
Is Fiesta Latino also suitable for beginners?
Yes! Fiesta Latino is accessible to everyone – even if you have never danced salsa before. There are initiation workshops at the beginning of the evening. This way you learn the first steps and you immediately feel at ease on the dance floor. See our poster for when they take place.👇
Why choose to come to Fiesta Latino?
Salsa de Brujas is not just about dance, it is also about connection, fun and community. Our events are warm, inviting and with attention for everyone. Fiesta Latino is the place to let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the music, meet new people and enjoy yourself to the fullest.”
Every Saturday until 30 Aug. Vismarkt. Info and registration: https://www.salsadebrujas.be/
Carillon summer concerts. “During the summer months, enjoy the sounds of the carillon within the fairytale setting of the inner courtyard of the city halls. An oasis of calm in the lively city centre. Besides the weekly carillon performances on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am, there are evening concerts on Monday and Wednesday in summer. Behind the carillon keyboard, in addition to our own city carillonneur and deputy city carillonneurs, are guest carillonneurs from home and abroad. Dive into the programme of summer carillon concerts.” Until 15 Sep. Belfort binnenplein, Markt.
https://www.museabrugge.be/kalender/activiteiten-en-evenementen/beiaard_zomerconcerten_2025
Exhibition: Ballet meets fashion. “Exhibition of paintings on the theme of ballet and dance. Works of Patrick Louwyck and Ira Dynova.” Until 31 Aug (open Mon-Sat).
Softline, Sint-Jakobsstraat 4. https://www.visitbruges.be/en/whats-on/events-calendar/ballet-meets-fashion
Klinkende Kroegen (‘clinking/clanking pubs/bars’). “Klinkende Kroegen is a unique series of summer performances at/in pubs in the centre of Bruges. The performances take place from 19.00 to 23.30 every Wednesday in July and August. Find out where and when to go here.”👇 https://www.visitbruges.be/en/whats-on/events-calendar/klinkende-kroegen-2025
Weekly markets. The Saturday market (16 Aug) will be on ‘t Zand, and the Wednesday market (20 Aug) will be on the Grote Markt/Burg.
🎬 🎭 Stage, Screen, and Scene
Cinema. Cinema Lumière (Sint-Jakobsstraat 36) will be showing a variety of films over the next week. These include Sentimental Value, The Salt Path, The Smurfs, Eddington, and Sorry, Baby. 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/agenda-lumiere-brugge/
Kinepolis (Koning Albert l-laan 200) will offer films and showings over the coming week including Freakier Friday, Superman, The Smurfs, F1Ⓡ The Movie, The Naked Gun, and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
A standard ticket costs €14,10. Visit https://kinepolis.be/nl/nl/movies/overview/ for more information and bookings.
⚽ Game On: Sports & Recreation
Football fans 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). The new season is underway. Cercle will meet KVC Westerlo in the Jupiler Pro League. 17 Aug, 19:15. https://cerclebrugge.be/en/ticketing
Open water swimming. “The swimming area at the Coupure has been attracting residents and visitors for several years who want to take a refreshing dip or paddle for free. There is also a sports swimming area for distance swimming and a paddling pool for the little ones. Lifeguards keep an eye on things during opening hours. Provided you can swim and the water quality is good, you are allowed to enter the water.”
FREE. de Coupure (at the top of Predikherenrei), Bruges city centre.” 28 Jun-31 Aug, 12:30-18:00. www.brugge.be/zwemmenindecoupure
Latest update (14 Aug): Due to blue-green algae in the water, swimming is prohibited in the Coupure for the time being. The city will update on socials when it is possible to swim again.
🍻🎶 Bruges After Dark: Nightlife
Cactus Café Rooftop Street Food #5 Marlow - Worldwide and heavenly. “Each week we invite a different chef for a weekend residency – seven unique crews in total, each with their own style. Don't expect a classic menu, but street food and sharing dishes. No etiquette, affordable food: you order straight from the chef and eat whatever you're craving. With a matching DJ on Saturday. They'll provide tunes that perfectly match the food. Every weekend 19 Jul-31 Aug, on Sat and Sun 17:00-02:00. Food served between 18:00-22:00. No reservations needed. Veggie options available. Dishes cost €6/12/18.
Emma is the chef and driving force behind Marlow, a culinary project in Bruges that focuses on international cuisine. From a charming location at Royeghem Castle, she leads seasonal cooking workshops and offers catering options such as brunches, high teas, and buffets. Each recipe is a burst of flavor, inspired by travels to Thailand, Italy, India, and Greece, among other places, with a focus on fresh, local, and organic produce. Sustainability and avoiding food surpluses are essential to the Marlow philosophy.
18:00-23:00. Fallujah. Matching dj on Saturday! - global grooves
https://cactusmusic.be/NL/Concerten/Kalender/marlow
🌈 Family Fun: Events & Adventures
Kafé Keramiek. “In August 2025, Kafé Keramiek will open to everyone. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August, our Summer Kafé will be open. That's 5 delicious summer weekends!
We serve an artisanal selection of drinks in the finest cups and glasses. Appetisers on the prettiest plates. For our ceramics, we work with different types of clay and our own glaze recipes. We combine clay types with glazes and create unique handicrafts. Our drinks and snacks menu is unique and has a local and artisanal touch. We welcome anyone who can appreciate our craft and wants to meet Kafé Keramiek! We love connecting at this unique Bruges location on the Ghent-Bruges canal. See you soon in August?”
Fri. 12:00-22:00. Sat. 10:00- 20:00. Sun.10:00 - 20:00.
Baron Ruzettelaan 306, 8310 Assebroek
https://www.kafekeramiek.be/nieuws/zomer-kafe
Bar Visart. “For seven summers now, our container bar has been a fixture in Graaf Visartpark. Come by for a unique mix of peace, fun and summer cosiness in a green environment. The drinks are already fresh!” Open from 14:00 until 30 Aug. Graaf Visartpark. https://barvisart.com/
Concertgebouw tours. The concert hall offers tours of its architecture and (sound) art exhibition. https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/concertgebouw-circuit Tickets: €6-12, FREE for children under 6. Guided tours are available on some days, including on 14,16,17,20 Aug. Concertgebouw ('t Zand 34.) https://ticketshop.ticketmatic.com/concertgebouw/shop
🌤️🌧️ Weather
Expect a mixed weather picture over the next week. Daytime temperatures forecast are 20°C-24°C.
Find latest forecasts covering Bruges at: https://www.meteo.be/en/belgium