Bruges (French and English: Bruges; German: Brügge) is the capital and largest city in terms of population of the Belgian province of West Flanders and of the arrondissement of Bruges. The central city, located in the northwest of the country, is also the capital of the electoral canton of Bruges, itself has four judicial cantons and is the seat of the diocese of Bruges and of a court of assizes.

The historic center is included as a medieval city on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is egg-shaped and about 430 hectares in size. The entire municipality has an area of ​​more than 14,099 hectares, including about 1,075 hectares reclaimed from the sea, near Zeebrugge. The city has more than 118,000 inhabitants; about 20,000 of them live in the inner city. The inhabitants of Bruges are called Bruggelings.

Bruges' economic significance stems mainly from the seaport, Zeebrugge, but also from industry, the service sector and schools at all levels. The city is also a world famous tourist attraction