Bruges candidate for International Hanseatic Days 2038 (or earlier)

“Depending on the size of the city and the country in which they took place, the Hanseatic Days generated from 200,000 to 700,000 visitors. Although it may still be a long way off, the city council’s ambition is also great to have this international event take place in our city,” said Mayor Dirk De fauw and Alderman of Culture Nico Blontrock.

City of Bruges was not a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, but the city was of exceptional importance to the Hanseatic League as one of the great ‘Kontoren’ (ie foreign trade offices or trade missions).

‘The Hanseatic League of the New Age’

The city union ‘De Hanze van de Nieuwe Tijd’ was founded in 1980 in Zwolle (Netherlands) and is based on the Medieval Hanseatic League, a city union that defended the trade interests of a few hundred cities in the Northern half of Europe. All cities that can demonstrate on the basis of archive material that they had trade relations with the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages can join the city union. Bruges has been affiliated since 1994 at the suggestion of former city archivist André Van de Walle.

4-day city festival

Mayor Dirk De fauw: “Following the example of the Medieval ‘Hanzedag’ – a kind of annual fair that lasted longer than the name suggests – Hanseatic Days are now organized annually, each time in a different affiliated city.

The Hanseatic Days are a ‘city festival’ that lasts four days. During the Hanseatic Days, the various affiliated towns present themselves, mainly for tourists, on the Hanzemarkt. But the festival also has a cultural and economic angle. A one-day conference or study day is organized on a specific economic topic, cultural groups (choirs, bands, dance groups, etc..) perform during the Hanseatic Days on various stages throughout the city. Working groups come together on Fair Trade, sustainability, tourism …

During the Hanseatic Days, the Hanseatic Committee (in which Bruges represents Belgium) and the Delegated Assembly (in which all cities have a vote) also come together.”

Even in 2002

Independent city festival Bruges has already organized the Hanseatic Days once, namely in 2002. However, they were then included in the broader program of ‘Bruges Cultural Capital of Europe 2002’, so that the program received little attention, especially for the people of Bruges themselves.

The Hanzemarkt, for example, was organized in the Hallen and was therefore not really visible in the cityscape.

Alderman of Culture Nico Blontrock: “This time the new Hanseatic Days in Bruges will be organized as an independent city festival. Until 2037, the Hanseatic Days have already been assigned to a city, which is why 2038 is proposed for Bruges as the year to bring the organization to Bruges. If a city were to drop out and abandon the organization sooner, it could be considered to realize the organization earlier. Anyway: we are getting ready to make it a beautiful and solid event.”