Congressen

Bruges: Meeting in a world heritage city

Bruges is living proof that a historic city is perfectly able to go with the times. Bruges is even one of the most sustainable cities in Belgium. The green character and the other trumps of the city are appealing to the international MICE sector, judging by the amply filled Congress agenda for the coming year. The agenda includes VIB Conference (ER stress, Authopagy & Immune System in Bruges), International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI 2017), International Skeletal Dysplasia Society (ISDS 2017), EAU Robotic Urology Section (ERUS 2017), IEC Global Leadership Conference 2017 and many others. Sectors that are well represented in city and region include healthcare, metal & mechatronics and the maritime sector, that – with the world port of Zeebrugge – plays a crucial role in the energy supply of Western Europe. Besides natural gas, Zeebrugge is also a port for palletised goods such as fruit and paper pulp and a hub for the automotive industry.

Medical conferences

Bruges is the perfect destination for small to medium-sized medical conferences. Two venues are special in this respect. Concertgebouw Brugge is not a purpose-built convention centre, but is frequently used for medical conferences. The large concert hall (1,289 seats) is extremely well suited for streaming live operations to a big screen. Medical congress delegates also feel at home in convention centre Oud Sint-Jan. Eight centuries ago, the friars and nuns took care of pilgrims, travellers and the sick here. The medieval exterior is still exactly as it was then. The interior has been transformed into a modern conference centre, while maintaining the historic features. Each room has its own unique charm. The largest two halls have a capacity of 500 persons each, while the other seven rooms have a capacity of up to 150 places each. In fine weather, the large courtyard is used for receptions and dinners. A visit to the nearby hospital museum and a medical guided tour through Bruges is enjoyed by many medical congress delegates.

Special Venues

Bruges has a high concentration of exclusive special venues. Fans of industrial heritage can, for example, choose ‘La Brugeoise’ on the outskirts of the city, where congresses can be held beside the giant historical generators. In the heart of the city are the City Halls of the Belfry and the Provincial Court. These beautiful historical locations have a capacity for respectively 600 and 220 people and form the setting for countless conferences and gala dinners. In addition, there are also a number of academic institutions, which offer ideal budget-friendly convention locations. One of them is Vives Campus Brugge, where the state-of-the-art auditorium for 650 people offers the very latest technologies. Both the Howest sites and St Lodewijks College also often receive congresses. Bruges also has many special venues for smaller groups. ‘Huis Empire’ is a neoclassical mansion dating from 1822, which is rented out for exclusive meetings and receptions. The original boxwood garden with teahouse, where it is even possible to moor a small boat, further increases the ‘wow’ factor. The Huis der Notarissen (Notary House) is also ideal for smaller board meetings.

USPs at a glance

Belgium is well-known for its high quality culinary delights and that certainly applies to Bruges. The most delicious beers, the best chocolate, the Burgundian cuisine... With just 117,958 inhabitants, the city has no less than 9 Michelin stars; that’s saying something. But the many restaurants that have not received an award are also out of this world. Everything is close at hand in Bruges. It is a real ‘walkable city’ where you can do everything on foot and transfers are superfluous. Conference participants walk from the venue to dinner or participate in the social programme on foot. It is also a very safe city, which is important for many international meeting planners. Furthermore, Bruges is an internationally known destination for city breaks; each year the city receives 6.6 million visitors from all over the world. Many conference participants know the city or have heard of it. The multilingual inhabitants are proud of their city and are always willing to give directions or a tip. They are used to this welcoming and friendly mentality from way back.

Accessibility

Bruges is perfectly accessible by train from the surrounding countries. Brussels-South station is the Belgian hub for international rail passengers with several high-speed trains every day to and from Paris, Lille, London, Amsterdam and Cologne. There are two trains every hour from Brussels-South. The travel time is about one hour. From Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport) and Rotterdam (Airport Rotterdam–The Hague) you can also change trains in Antwerp. A direct train towards Bruges departs from there every hour. The journey takes about an hour and a half. There is also a direct train service from Brussels Airport. By car you can reach Bruges from Brussels in one hour, from Antwerp in an hour and 15 minutes.

Big in small

Bruges is a compact city and very suitable for middle-sized conferences. Bruges is small in size, but big in what it has to offer, in appearance, in atmosphere, in hospitality, and in the service of its convention bureau. Briefings are answered within 24 hours with a list of possibilities, a check of the availability and a quote. Customers are personally received and guided around the city, free of charge. And then there is the showpiece: international conference groups with a minimum of two overnight stays get a chance to have an official reception in the City Hall. The Congress participants are then received by the mayor or one of the aldermen in the spectacular Gothic room from 1421, where you can quite literally marvel at the exceptional paintings and decorations. Afterwards there is a free reception with the local beer ‘Brugse Zot’.

Deel dit bericht


Reacties

Er zijn nog geen reacties.


Plaats een reactie

Je moet ingelogd zijn om een reactie te plaatsen.


Schrijf je nu in voor onze nieuwsbrief