The ‘Concertgebouw’ was built to celebrate Bruges’ turn as cultural capital of Europe in 2002. It is an international centre for music and the performing arts, programmed in a thematic approach linking the arts to societal issues. Creativity is the overriding principle. This vision is adequately translated in concrete series and festivals where contemporary music takes pride of place, including commissioned works and creations. One of their initiatives is the appointment of a season’s composer, among whom have been Daan Janssens, Annelies van Parys and Wim Henderickx.

The Concertgebouw also has a strong backbone in the field of presenting early music, which is reflected in a collaboration with the MAfestival since 2002 and a rich season of concerts and thematic festivals with early music, such as Bach Academie Brugge, developed in collaboration with Philippe Herreweghe, and the biannual festival Gold, dedicated to the polyphony of Bruges and its wider region.

The top floor of the building houses the Sound Factory, an interactive space for sound art, concurrently offering a fabulous view of the city.

(photo © Jan Termont & Dirk Van der Borght)