While we admire the craftsmanship of this lost art, the pickings were not what my wife was looking…read morefor. Mostly flat linens, hankies, doilies, etc, my wife had been shopping for baby hats, ornaments or wearables. Everything here is hand made and from what I understand a family business handed down over the years. I would suggest a look around since often, in town, the lace could be foreign or machine made. The prices are much better than in the touristy areas as this is on the outskirts of Bruges center and is near the Kantcentrum (don't go to this museum). A word of warning;this place is tiny and overstuffed with wires and product everywhere. Tripping is a distinct possibility. The owner is very friendly and helpful Watch your time as it varies as to opening and as to closing for lunch. I am convince that all businesses in Bruges open and close on whims, weather and desire and are not bound by regular hours.

The clothing is stylish & beautiful and the customer service was excellent. I'm sorry I didn't have…read moremore room in my suitcase for these beautiful clothes. They don't ship to the US so purchase your goods here!

I really enjoy local maker gift shops and LOQUAL was no different…read more Vibe wise they leaned heavily towards smaller knick knacks and decor, although I did love their small white homes that had lights in them. They also carried baby bows, hair scrunchies, and jewelry that seemed to be for children, such as beaded friendship bracelets. I could see this LOQUAL being a great resource for stocking stuffers and a hit with the age 7-14 crowd so all in all I would say it was probably one of the better tourist shops in Bruges.

A slice of real life, for when you're tired of Brugge's fairy-tale tourist sites…read more The Dutch chain HEMA is ubiquitous--good for your basic needs in cosmetics, housewares, and cheap clothes. However, the secret of this Belgian HEMA is that it offers the famous 1 euro breakfast on the upper floor. People of all stripes start lining up before the store even opens: chic young things, middle-aged matrons, families with many kids, and a couple of impoverished-looking old men. Everyone patiently waited for the cafeteria-style breakfast: an egg/bacon sandwich on a baguette, croissant, jam, juice, and coffee. Even in this reduced-expectations setting, the niceties are not forgotten. You still get a speculoos cookie on your saucer, gratis. And the interior is clean and modern, IKEA-style, where that you can overlook the busy street below while you eat. Everything was, surprisingly, fresh and delicious. For a euro! The idea that you might want anything other than this amazing bargain is foreign to the staff. So an impatient cashier simply removed the chocolate croissant from my husband's plate and replaced it with a plain one. Stupid tourists! HEMA: for insight into the local mindset, a filling breakfast, and an all-too-rare bargain in Brugge.

We discovered Hema yesterday after spending 15 Euros each for breakfast at our hotel. This morning…read moreI got the (now) 2 Euro breakfast: An egg sandwich, croissant, and cup of latte. My wife bought a couple of rashers of bacon, yogurt with fruit, and a latte. I also bought a cup of yogurt with fruit and muesli. The entire bill came to 6.75 Euros! We might have paid more. But the person behind the counter advised us to switch a couple of things and buy the 2 Euro breakfast. This place is known far and wide among Europeans for good, inexpensive food. It's cafeteria style. Clean, good service, and a table near the window gives an excellent view of Steenstraat below with beautiful 15th - 18th century buildings across the street. If we had planned to return to Bruges, we might have kept it a secret!