Minnewater
Minnewater features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Bruges. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type park
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Bruges Bruges guide
About Minnewater
The romantic "Lake of Love", a tranquil canal lake graced with swans, a 14th-century lock, and the Powder Tower, a quintessentially picturesque Bruges setting.
Minnewater, meaning "Love Lake" or "Water of Love" in Dutch, is one of the most romantic and tranquil spots in Bruges, a wide canal lake fringed by willow trees and shaded paths. The lake was historically used as a large inland harbour, and in the 14th century a lock and the Powder Tower (used for storing gunpowder) were built to control the water flow. Today the lake is home to a colony of white swans whose presence is connected, by legend, to a medieval oath sworn by the city. A stone bridge at the northern end of the lake is said to have special significance for couples, and the parkland around the lake is a beloved local green space. The nearby Begijnhof and the surrounding neighbourhood make this part of Bruges particularly peaceful.
Did you know? According to legend, Emperor Maximilian ordered Bruges to keep white swans on its waterways forever as punishment for executing a city councillor whose heraldic symbol was a swan.
How long is a visit to Minnewater?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for Minnewater. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Minnewater worth your time?
Minnewater is among the 22 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Bruges, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Bruges
Hear the story of Minnewater
Preview the Bruges tour free in the Gingerguide app.