Poortersloge, Medieval trading lodge at Jan van Eycksquare, Bruges, Belgium.
The Poortersloge is a Gothic building on Jan van Eyck Square in Bruges, opposite the Tolhuis. Its slender octagonal tower has paired arched windows with reddish-brown frames and a small open lantern with columns and a dark pointed cap. The steep gabled facade is covered in ornate grey stone tracery, with tall mullioned windows and carved figures in niches.
The building was constructed between 1395 and 1417 during a time when Bruges flourished as a major trading port in northern Europe. It served as a meeting place for wealthy merchants and city leaders, reflecting the economic power this social class held in the city.
The building has served as an exhibition space for contemporary art since late 2016, after the city of Bruges regained ownership in 2014. The State Archives had occupied it from 1912 until their move in 2012. The carved bear in a facade niche, the 'Beertje van de Loge', recalls the knightly jousting society of the White Bear, founded around 1380, which placed its mascot there.
The building is centrally located at Kraanrei and is easily reached on foot from the city center. If you want a guided tour or detailed information about current exhibitions, ask the staff on-site.
A stone bear sculpture adorns the facade, commemorating the Society of the White Bear that held meetings here. This rare sculpture remains as a trace of an era when guild associations shaped the city.
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