Minnewater (Lake of Love)

The name Minnewater translates loosely as "Lake of Love," and the legend behind it is exactly the kind of tragic romance a medieval city needs. A young woman named Minna loved a man named Stromberg, but her father had arranged a different marriage. Minna fled into the forests near the lake and died of heartbreak and exposure before Stromberg could reach her. Consumed by grief, he diverted the waters to bury her beneath the lake, ensuring their love would remain eternal. It is a story that has very little basis in historical fact and an enormous basis in tourism appeal.

The reality of the Minnewater is more prosaic but equally fascinating. In the 12th century, a great storm created a natural channel connecting Bruges to the North Sea, and the Minnewater served as the inner harbour — a meeting point for boats transporting the fabrics, spices, and luxury goods that made Bruges one of the richest cities in medieval Europe. At its peak, the lake was the terminus of a commercial waterway that connected the city to the world. When the Zwin channel silted up and trade moved to Antwerp, the harbour became a quiet lake.

The swans that glide across the water are there by obligation, not choice. In 1488, the citizens of Bruges executed their town administrator Pieter Lanchals, whose family coat of arms featured a white swan. The Habsburg ruler Maximilian I punished the city by ordering its citizens to keep swans on its lakes and canals for eternity. Over five hundred years later, Bruges still maintains the swans — whether out of obedience, tradition, or shrewd tourism marketing is anyone's guess.

A stone bridge from 1740 crosses the lake, and the surrounding parkland is one of the loveliest spots in the city for an evening walk. The sluice gate at the southern end once controlled the water level of the entire canal system.