Diamond Museum in Brugge, Belgium

The History of Diamonds From 15th Century Onwards on Display

Jun 2, 2008 Mari Nicholson

There are only four other Diamond Museums in the world, this new one is the best. With photographs, artifacts and the "real thing", this is the definitive Museum.

There are only five diamond museums in the world, the newest of which has just opened in Brugge, capital of West Flanders, Belgium.

Although Antwerp may be the diamond centre of Belgium and the place most associated with the craft and trade in diamonds, Brugge is where the art of diamond polishing was invented in the 15th century by a local goldsmith, Lodewijk van Berguem. Now this new museum, dedicated to all things to do with diamonds, offers a view into this world.

Among the many fascinating objects in the museum are wonderful old photographs, antique equipment, drawings, and, of course, diamonds. The visitors' first view when leaving the museum's lobby is the imaginary workshop of the inventor of diamond polishing , Lodewijk van Berguem, the interior of which is draped in a deep red fabric. There is a replica of the crown of Margaret of York, which was handmade in Brugge and cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

There is original mining equipment and even a mine shaft. Then before the exit, one comes across a display of thousands of real diamonds. Here the visitor finds modern diamonds, small and large, as well as samples of 20 of the worlds most valuable diamonds in replica, coloured diamonds, diamond pearls, and fancy cut diamonds.

Each day there is a diamond polishing demonstration, narrated in four languages, using tools from earlier centuries. These demonstrations are carried out in the workshop in the restored basement dating from the Middle Ages.

A walk through the museum is a voyage through time and places that had connection with diamonds, ranging from 15th century Brugge to 16th century Antwerp (where the diamond industry relocated), on to Amsterdam in the 17th and 18th centuries, diamond mining in S. Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, and back to today's diamond activity in Belgium.

There is always a crowd around the geological section of the museum, showing rare samples of mother rock "kimberlite", from Siberia, South Africa and Australia. Here visitors learn how diamonds originate from a volcanic magma, formed in the earth's mantle, 100 to 200 km below the earth's surface, before being transported through volcanic pipes to the earth's surface.

Interesting photographs of mining in South Africa decorate the walls, as well as showcases and panels on diamond work. A large wall is devoted to Flemish Jewellery during the Middle Ages - a combination of details of paintings of Flemish Masters Van Eyck and Memling, displaying precious stones and real jewellery from the Middle Ages.

Brugge itself is the glittering diamond in Belgium's crown, a town of such beguiling beauty that one forgives it the multitude of cobble-stoned streets which tend to make walking tours (and walking is the only way to see Brugge) a little bit difficult. The presence of so many delightful coffee houses and chocolatiers, however, means that it is almost obligatory to stop and sample every few hundred yards, and the Belgium habit of serving chocolates with coffee is a great consolation, even if not very good for the waistline!

Diamond Museum, Katelijnestraat 43, B-8000 Brugge

The copyright of the article Diamond Museum in Brugge, Belgium in Art Galleries/Museums is owned by Mari Nicholson. Permission to republish Diamond Museum in Brugge, Belgium in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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