Bruges scrubs the Belfry's roof — the unglamorous upkeep behind a UNESCO landmark
Crews cleaned the roof of the medieval Belfort in Bruges this week in a maintenance job with a memorable justification — "without this work, the carillonneur can't flush the toilet" — days after a light show, 'Belfort Vertelt', drew some 75,000 visitors to the…
In 30 seconds
- Crews cleaned the roof of the Belfort in Bruges, with those involved stressing the maintenance is essential to the tower's basic functioning (VRT NWS).
- A worker's memorable justification — "without this work, the carillonneur can't flush the toilet" — highlighted the practical plumbing behind the landmark.
- The light-and-sound show 'Belfort Vertelt' drew roughly 75,000 visitors, with organisers calling the closing day "a top day" (VRT NWS).
- The Belfort is part of the UNESCO-listed belfries of Belgium and France and one of Bruges's most-visited monuments.
The Belfort (Belfry) of Bruges is a medieval bell tower on the Markt, the city's central market square in West Flanders. Rising more than 80 metres and topped by a carillon of dozens of bells played by the city's beiaardier (carillonneur), it is one of the belfries of Belgium and France jointly inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Built and extended from the 13th century onward and damaged by fire over its history, it is today both a major tourist attraction — visitors climb its stairs for panoramic views — and a working monument maintained by the City of Bruges (Stad Brugge) and its heritage services. This week's story combines two events reported by VRT NWS: a roof-cleaning maintenance operation, and the recent light-and-sound show 'Belfort Vertelt', which drew roughly 75,000 visitors.
Background
Bruges began its belfry in the 13th century and extended it in the following centuries, with the tower damaged by fire during its long history. Belfries across the medieval Low Countries were symbols of civic autonomy and municipal power; the Belfort's carillon and its role over the Markt reflect that heritage. The tower is part of the 'Belfries of Belgium and France' UNESCO World Heritage inscription.
What to do
The Belfort remains open and maintained for visitors; those planning to climb it or attend future Markt events can expect the landmark to stay central to Bruges's cultural programme.
Impact
Regional — Bruges and the wider West Flanders tourism sector benefit from a maintained, open Belfort and from crowd-drawing events on the Markt. The story touches the ongoing local debate about managing high visitor numbers in the protected historic core without displacing residents.
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- 5 Aug 2026
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.