Damme, and the canal between Bruges and Sluis (Holland).

Bruges and the Sea

For centuries, the Lange Rei canal ensured the city’s wealth. It ran to Damme, where it was connected to a large lock, called ‘Speie’, which in turn was connected to the Zwin, a deep sea channel and tidal inlet. While Damme developed into an outport, Bruges grew into Northwestern Europe’s greatest business centre of the Middle Ages.

Damme, Church of Our Lady, the oldest part, between the tower and the present-day church, dates back to 1225. – © Jan Darthet / VisitDamme

Damme, the Schellemolen was built in 1867 on the walls of an old wooden mill. There had been a mill for ages at the same place. Traces go back as far as 1267. – © Jan Darthet / VisitDamme

During this period, Bruges' arts flourished, culture thrived, and prosperity seemed to be set for all eternity. However, the tide turned when Mary of Burgundy suddenly passed away in 1482. The relations between Bruges and the Burgundians turned sour and the Burgundian court left the city. The foreign merchants and their wealth followed in its wake. The Zwin continued to silt up and Bruges lost her privileged commercial position. As a result, and compounded by a series of political intrigues, the city fell into a deep winter sleep.

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