29/08/2026
This Bruges street has been one-way for almost 400 years.
In April 1627, the city authorities introduced one-way traffic on the busy Sint-Jakobsstraat, allowing movement only from north to south.
And remarkably, almost four centuries later, the direction of traffic on this street is still the same.
Today, there is another reason I like this view. Looking along Sint-Jakobsstraat, the Belfry appears between the historic façades, framed by rooftops and stepped gables. It is one of those perspectives where Bruges’ most recognisable tower becomes part of the everyday streetscape rather than a monument seen from the Markt.
For this ink & watercolour interpretation, I kept the architectural lines loose and let the blues, warm reds and ochres move more freely through the street.
Next time you walk along Sint-Jakobsstraat, you might remember that people have been following the same direction here since 1627.
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