Bruges has always looked beyond its borders. Thanks to its privileged location near the sea, the city developed into a Hanseatic trade centre with a port during the middle ages. This resulted in a dynamic DNA and an innovative entrepreneurial attitude that can still be seen today. The port of Zeebrugge is also a prominent player in European roll-on/roll-off traffic – 2.9 million new vehicles pass through the port each year, making Zeebrugge one of the largest car-handling ports in the world. Nowadays, the port also handles container traffic, bulk goods including liquid gas, grain and fertilizers as well as conventional cargo, fisheries cargo and passenger cargo.
Colleges and universities also work together with local entrepreneurs. Brugge.inc is one example of an inc.ubator for tech start-ups and scale-ups. There is always something new brewing in Bruges.
Nowadays, the port, the care sector and tourism are the three main pillars of the Bruges economy. The port is the main centre for European distribution. Two renowned hospitals, ground-breaking research and 800 years of medical history combined ensure that the Bruges healthcare sector plays a pioneering role. Bruges is also world-renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The IT and mechatronics sectors are also widely acclaimed. This ensures that Bruges is the perfect meeting point for exciting conferences for associations as well as smaller meetings, seminaries and incentives.
PCO’s offer all the support needed, from scientific programmes to marketing advice, while the Bruges Events Bureaus will gladly share their expertise.
How about being welcomed into the prestigious Gothic Room of the Stadhuis (town hall) followed by a meeting in the Stadhuis salon? We will take care of everything, ensuring that your stay in Bruges will be unforgettable.
