The first documented mention of a bridge at this location dates back to 1282 as the Grote Eeckhoutbrug. It served as a connection from the city center to the Bruges suburbs. In 1357, the Bruges master mason Jan Slabbaerd built a new bridge. However, the names of the builders Jan van Oudenaerde and Jan Petite are also associated with the bridge.[1] In 1421, the painters and porters who probably offered their services on the bridge[2] received permission to build a chapel on the bridge. The bridge itself was renovated in 1642. In the 17th century, the name of the builder Jan de Wachter is mentioned in relation to the bridge.[3]

In 1767, the chapel was replaced by the statue of Saint Nepomuk. Nepomuk is considered the bridge saint. It was created by the Bruges sculptor Pieter Pepers senior (1730–1785). The bridge has had its current name since then. On the night of October 6-7, 1795, unknown persons tipped the statue into the water. It was re-erected on May 1, 1811. At the same time, the base received an inscription.

In 1859, the bridge was rebuilt. The city architect Jean-Brunon Rudd is mentioned as the name.[4] It was flattened and widened, and a metal railing was added. The railing was removed in 1950 and replaced with a stone parapet. As early as 1930, a lantern was attached to the left and right of the statue. In 1980, the A. Goetinck company restored the statue of Saint Nepomuk in collaboration with the sculptor Pierre Goetinck.

The bridge has been listed as a monument since March 28, 2002, and has also been registered as an architectural heritage site since September 14, 2009.

Translated by Google •

December 26, 2024

John Nepomuk is a well-known bridge saint. In the past, bridges often had chapels or niches with a statue of the saint to whom the bridge was dedicated. Local residents provided candles, which were lit in the niche in the evening.

The statues or chapels often had a practical purpose. In many cases, they indicated the place where the safe channel ran under the bridge for the benefit of skippers.

Of course, the saint also had to protect the bridge from collapsing. But the popular belief that witches and all kinds of evil spirits would dwell under bridges was also a reason to place a statue of the bridge saint on or near the bridge.

John Nepomuk is the bridge saint par excellence in many Catholic countries. The story of John Nepomuk is probably very romanticized as follows.

He served as a priest at the court of King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, who was also King of the Romans from 1378 to 1400. John Nepomuk was the confessor of Wenceslas' wife, Queen Sophie. Once, a rotten chicken was served at the king's table. In a fit of rage, the king ordered the cook to be spit-roasted and burned alive.

John Nepomuk resisted this and was thrown into prison, while the cook was put to death.

The suspicious Wenceslas, who could not overcome the difficulties with the Bohemian nobility, suspected his wife of dishonorable relations and had her imprisoned. Her confessor Nepomuk sought her out and heard her confession.

After one of these visits, the king demanded that the confessor tell him what the queen had confided to him in confession. John Nepomuk refused. The secret of confession was sacred to him. He was tortured, but he stuck to his refusal, whereupon Wenceslas had him bound hand and foot and thrown over the bridge of the Vltava River at midnight. Numerous miracles are reported in connection with this murder, which was committed in the year 1393.

For example, the river is said to have dried up when the body of the martyr touched the water. Above the bridge, shining rays were seen. Other traditions tell that the body remained floating on the Vltava while five stars formed a halo around the head of the drowned man.

Source: nepomukboxmeer.nl/over-nepomuk/het-verhaal-van-johannes-van-nepomucenus

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Frederik

June 24, 2025

Beautiful bridge over the Dijver with a great view

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Location: Brugge, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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