Jeruzalemkerk

Overview

The Jeruzalemkerk (Jerusalem Chapel) is a 15th-century private chapel modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Built by the Adornes merchant family after their pilgrimages to the Holy Land, it retains its original tower, crypt, and stained glass.

Highlights

• Replica Holy Sepulchre: A stone copy of Christ's tomb in the crypt, complete with recumbent effigy.
• Anselm Adornes tomb: The sarcophagus of the chapel's builder, a Bruges merchant and diplomat.
• Stained glass: Original 15th-century windows depicting the Adornes family's heraldry.

History

The Adornes family, of Genoese origin, built the chapel between 1428 and 1465 after pilgrimages to Jerusalem. The octagonal tower mirrors the Dome of the Rock, a common medieval conflation with the Holy Sepulchre.

Visitor Tips

• Combined ticket: Includes the adjacent Kantcentrum (Lace Centre).
• Quiet gem: One of Bruges' least-crowded attractions despite its uniqueness.
• Duration: 15–25 minutes.