The Cultuurcentrum Brugge is the premier event promoter in the city, it runs over seven different event venues which provide all types of entertainment, from rock and jazz shows to lectures and workshops, Cultuurcentrum is the place to check if you seek diversion. The center is also an active benefactor to the city's youth due to its promotion and organization of events for schools throughout West-Flanders.
Located right near the 't Zand square, the concert building was placed here just in time for the celebration of Bruges as the European Capital of Culture in 2002. Today, the Concertgebouw hosts a large number of shows due to its acoustics (regarded as some of the best in the world), and every spectacle is highly intimate with 1290 seats spread over three levels, there is no such thing as a bad seat.
Located in the posh Stübbenkwartier, the 'Werf' is an all-purpose entertainment locale that has been providing jazz concerts, theater and other programs since 1986. The club even has its own jazz label, printing and pushing its own tunes from local artists with a quite a prolific output of vinyl. The annex next door also provides the city's young with childrens' theater and this is where the very popular Jonge Snaken Festival is held every year.
One of the hidden secrets in Bruges, this little bar focuses on the quality of music the way some pubs in town focus on the beer selection. Everyone who is in the know flock to the Soulbar where the bands range from straight-ahead jazz to electronic and latino rhythms. So if you want authenticity just outside of the center in Sint-Andries, grab a taxi, go on in, order a Chimay draught and relax.
Cactus Muziekcentrum is one of the major promoters for concerts in the city, its main hall is the Magdalenazaal which is located in Sint-Andries (southwest of Bruges' city center), but they also promote other events around town. Cactus is also known for its highly popular Cactusfestival, which has been elected as best European Small Festival 2009. Other notable events are the Klinkers and Music in Mind festivals; the former is a music fest for 15 days held at different venues around the city, (the most spectacular shows are at the Minnewater) and the latter is a fête that celebrates progressive dance and rock music.
Designed by the architect Gaston Eysselinck, this historic structure was built in the early 1950s and served as a post office in Ostend. It was in 1981 that it was declared a protected monument, even dubbed a masterpiece in Flemish architecture. With a splendid sculpture by Jozef Cantré at its entrance, the post office was revived and converted into a buzzing cultural center in 2013. Today the Cultuurcentrum De Grote Post, with its large concert halls, dance studios, an amphitheater and cafe, is leading a cultural revolution. Expect performances by some of the best talents in the country, be it theater, music or dance, at this majestic venue that has stood the test of time.