The Gruuthuse Museum is one of Bruges’ loveliest monuments. The building once served as a storage place for gruit – a herbal mixture used in beer-brewing – before the Gruuthuse family converted it in the early fifteenth century into a luxurious mansion, complete with oratory. This urban palace introduces you to the city’s many stories, through an extensive collection of decorative art objects: lace, precious metalwork, furniture, ceramics, and everyday household goods. The Gruuthuse Palace reopens this May 2019 after thorough and extensive renovation.