BIGGER PICTURE. Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550
“Bruges developed throughout the Middle Ages as a world city, a hub in global networks of trade, culture and politics. At its peak, Bruges seemed to be the epicentre of the world. But the city was never isolated. Bruges was constantly in contact with other regions and cultures through trade, travel, faith and ideas. And it was precisely these connections that gave it an important role in world history.”
The opening exhibition, BREEDBEELD, reveals how medieval Bruges was not an isolated city but a hub within a global network of trade, knowledge and culture. Across five thematic chapters, featuring exceptional artworks and objects from leading international collections, the exhibition explores the interaction between Flanders and the wider world. The result is a fresh perspective on the Middle Ages: rich, interconnected and strikingly global.
This ivory and silver diptych sundial from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation fits seamlessly into the broader narrative of BREEDBEELD. It is an object that brings the world together, both literally and figuratively. Timekeeping, astronomy, geography and navigation converge in a single, refined instrument.