Bruges, Belgium

The College's teaching and administrative centre and its halls of residence are situated in and around the historic centre of Bruges, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and appointed 'Cultural Capital of Europe' in 2002.

The city prospered through the cloth trade and by the 15th century was a major emporium for the Hanseatic League, with as many as 150 trading vessels calling at its harbour every day. Commercial decline set in during the mid 15th century, in part caused by the harbour's sea access silting up, and by the 16th century the city had become known as Bruges-la-Morte, a depressed state in which it largely persisted until the late 19th century. At the turn of the last century, Bruges was once again reconnected to the sea via the newly-built Boudewijn Canal and its fortunes began to revive.

Only lightly damaged in both World Wars, the city was well-placed to profit from the huge expansion of tourism in the affluent post war decades, and today welcomes large numbers of visitors from around the world, whilst still retaining its historic appearance and highly attractive character.