The Gruuthusemuseum is a museum of applied arts in Bruges, located in the medieval Gruuthuse, the house of Louis de Gruuthuse. The collection ranges from the 15th to the 19th century.

The Gruuthuse

Presumably in the 13th century, a rich family from Bruges received the monopoly to levy taxes on gruit, and built a storage for it. The building was changed in the early fifteenth century by Jan IV van der Aa to a luxury house for his family, which subsequently changes its name to "Van Gruuthuse" ("From the Gruit house"). His son Louis de Gruuthuse adds a second wing to the house, and in 1472 a chapel. This connects the house to the adjacent Church of Our Lady, Bruges.

The Gruuthuse house and museum is situated behind the Our Lady's church. This impressive city mansion belonged to one of the richest families of the medieval city. It has now been transformed into a splendid museum.

The Gruuthusemuseum, which is housed in the 15th-century city palace of the lords of Gruuthuse possesses the most diverse collection of applied art or decorative art of Bruges from the 13th to the 19th century. In addition one finds a large collection of pictures, interesting Bruges tapestries and furniture, silverware, pewter, weapons, ceramics and musical instruments. The centerpiece is the infamous 18th century guillotine, done in the armory. The palace radiates a special atmosphere. Especially in the kitchen and in the original medieval oratory, built in 1472, one imagines still in the late Middle Ages. The most famous resident of this monumental building was Louis of Gruuthuse.

The name already explains why the Gruuthuse family was so important. The old Flemish word 'gruut' means : peeled barley or wheat. This was the main ingredient for beer-brewing in the Middle Ages. The lords of Bruges had the monopoly for the sale of this very important product. Because of their monopoly position they became very wealthy and powerful and they soon became known as the 'lords of Gruuthuse' (huse= house).

The most famous member of this family is Lodewijk van Gruuthuse (= Louis of Gruuthuse), diplomat and art lover. His equestrian statue can be seen above the lower front facade of the Gruuthuse palace. Under the statue is his personal motto 'Plus est en Vous' (= there is more in you. The motto is in French, the language of European medieval nobility). This part was built during the lifetime of Lodewijk, namely in 1465. In 1628 the former palace of Gruuthuse became a pawn shop. After a complete renovation (partially in neo-gothic style) in 1883 to 1898 the entire house became the archeological city museum 'Gruuthusemuseum' with a very large collection of works of art from different domains (lace, tapestries, paintings, furniture, etc...)

The exterior is partly original, partly a reconstruction; the interior is mostly a late 19th century Neogothical reconstruction of a medieval interior. The building was initially used by the city of Bruges to display the archaeological collection of the Société Archéologique, and expanded into a more general museum over the years, after the city had acquired the collections for themselves in 1955.

The prayer chapel gave the Lords of Gruuthuse direct access to the Church of Our Lady and now offers an excellent view of the tomb of Mary of Burgundy.

The Gruuthusemuseum has been closed since 1 July 2014 for thoroughgoing restoration. While, on the outside, the roofs, windows, and gutters are being tackled, we are working indoors on reorganising the museum.

https://visit-bruges.be/see/museums/imposing-and-totally-renovated-gruuthusemuseum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruuthusemuseum