Bruges (Brugge) - Overview:
Bruges is situated in the north west of Belgium and has a population of approximately 120,000 people. It is the capital of the West Flanders region and an important centre for commerce, industry and tourism.

The wider municipality of Bruges is comprised of the city of Bruges proper and the towns of Assebroek, Dudzele, Koolkerke, Lissewege, Sint-Andries, Sint-Kruis, Sint-Michiels and Zeebrugge.

Economy:
West Flanders has a prosperous and diverse economy and the city of Bruges is responsible for much of the economic activity within the province. Financial and other services account for a large proportion of the regions wealth, while the majority of employment is in manufacturing. Some of the region's prominent manufacturing industries include textiles, wood and furniture, machinery and food processing.

Local Infrastructure:
Bruges benefits from an excellent transport infrastructure. It is at the centre of an extensive rail network and can be reached directly from several major European cities including Frankfurt, London, Paris and Zurich. The Belgian cities of Antwerp and Brussels are just one hours journey away by train, while Ghent and Ostend can be reached in around 10 to 20 minutes. The city is also connected by canal to Ostend, Ghent and the port of Zeebrugge, which is one of the most modern and best equipped container ports in Europe with facilities for handling a variety of cargo. Zeebrugge's outer port specialises in roll-on/roll-off and container transport, while the inner harbour has terminals for dry bulk and conventional cargo.

The local Ostend-Bruges airport is one of the fastest growing cargo airports in Europe and specialises in the transportation of perishables, livestock and outsize cargo. Brussels international airport, which is one of the largest airports in Europe, is also less than a one and a half hour train journey away from Bruges.

Local Workforce:
Per capita spending on education in Flanders is well above the EU average, which ensures companies operating in its provinces have access to a highly skilled and educated workforce. Figures published by the Regional Development Agency in 2001, indicate that the province of West Flanders has a potential workforce of approximately 664,000 people and an unemployment level below the national average, at 7.1 per cent. National unemployment levels stood at 11.1 per cent for the same period.

Standard of Living:
Bruges is an interesting and picturesque place in which to live, with plenty on offer in the way of entertainment. The historic city centre has been designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO and contains a wealth well-preserved medieval architecture. In 2002 the city shared the title of European Capital of Culture, with Salamanca in Spain.

Business Costs:
Companies operating in Bruges and the surrounding area can benefit from a wide range of financial support coming from a number of European, national, regional and provincial initiatives.