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CulturalRef. 996

Historic Centre of Brugge

Cultural World Heritage property in Belgium, inscribed in 2000 under criteria (ii), (iv), (vi).

Historic Centre of Brugge, Belgium
Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
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Kinderdijkwooden churches of MaramureșWooden churches of Southern Lesser Polandwooden churches of the Slovak CarpathiansWooden tserkvas of Carpathian region in Poland and UkraineWorks of Antoni GaudíWürzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence SquareZagoriŽatec and the Landscape of Saaz HopsZollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex51.209° N, 3.225° E
State Party
Belgium
Year of inscription
2000
Criteria
iiivvi
Area of property
410 ha
Location
Bruges
What it is
old town, cultural heritage ensemble
Reference
WHC 996 · Wikidata Q5762117

Why it is on the List

(ii)Shows a major exchange of ideas — in architecture, technology, art, town planning or landscape design — over time or across a cultural area.(iv)An outstanding example of a building type, ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant stage in human history.(vi)Directly linked to events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
nearby

Closest World Heritage sites

Straight-line distance between the recorded coordinates.

Belfries of Belgium and France, France67 kmBelfries of Belgium and FranceFrance · 1999CulturalTournai Cathedral, Belgium68 kmTournai CathedralBelgium · 2000CulturalMuseum Plantin-Moretus, Belgium82 kmMuseum Plantin-MoretusBelgium · 2005Culturalnorthern French coal mining region, France86 kmnorthern French coal mining regionFrance · 2012CulturalGrand-Place, Belgium89 kmGrand-PlaceBelgium · 1998CulturalBéguinages in Flanders, Belgium89 kmBéguinages in FlandersBelgium · 1998Cultural
Belgium

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2000

Also inscribed in 2000

All of 2000

Data: Wikidata (CC0) · danger list as published in 2026 · independent atlas, not affiliated with UNESCO or Petit Futé.