Bruges unveiled a new facility, the Erfgoedfabriek (Heritage Factory), on Wednesday, aimed at storing and preserving heritage items. The Heritage Factory will provide storage space for 50,000

objects from museums in Bruges, as well as archaeological finds and costumes.

The official inauguration of the Heritage Factory was conducted by Minister President Jan Jambon (N-VA) on Wednesday. Musea Brugge manages a vast collection of over 75,000 objects, but only a small portion is currently on display.

Existing depots in Bruges are scattered throughout the city and are not specifically designed for the preservation of art and archaeological objects. Dirk De fauw (CD&V), the mayor of Bruges, explained, "More than 50,000 museum objects, 10,000 boxes of archaeological finds from Bruges and Ommeland, and over 4,000 costumes will be relocated to the new depot. Each of these objects has unique requirements, dimensions, sensitivities, and materials, which will be accommodated in the Heritage Factory with tailored and optimal storage facilities."

The opening of the Heritage Factory aims to ensure that future generations can continue to appreciate Bruges' rich cultural heritage and contribute to the professional advancement of Musea Brugge, according to Jambon.

The total cost of establishing the Heritage Factory amounts to 13.9 million euros, with 2 million euros contributed by the province of West Flanders. By 2030, all collection items are expected to be permanently stored in the new facility, safeguarding their preservation for years to come. Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, Wikimedia commons.