Marcel Burger - Third time's the charm

Houses on the stream.

Restaurant De Goedendag.

All white-painted houses in the centre of Lissewege, September 2025.

Officially part of Brugge (Bruges), but Lisseweg writes its own story. Also known as The White Village, it is a highly picturesque village to visit once nearby. Lissewege is likely one of the most beautiful villages of Vlaanderen (Flanders), and possibly of Belgium as a whole.

The village was its own municipality until 1971. Its skyline is dominated by the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation. And everything else is much lower. Even the landscape it is situated in, as it is a so-called polder—land gained from water (by pumping the water out, let it dry and then start using it).

Centuries ago, Lissewege was a stop-over for those walking to Santiago de Compostella, from the low countries. Before the digging of the channel that would connect Brugge with the Zeebrugge and the sea, Lissewege was bigger. But what is left, is a charming spot, very much worth a visit.

A red tractor passes the bridge over the local stream.

The way to the centre of the village.

Detail of Restaurant De Goedendag ("The Good Day")

The church dominates the skyline.

Inside the church, which is also a exposition space.

Restaurant De Goedendag (The Good Day) and Tea Room Zoete Kunst (Sweet Art), September 2025.

Ter Doest Abbey

Just outside the village of Lissewege, stands the sole remaining building of an abbey founded in the 1100s. The big barn itself dates back to the 1200s or 1300s, and is reportedly the oldest and biggest of its kind left in Europe from that period. A stone's throw away from the abbey, some newer buildings complete the estate, that now includes a restaurant. During my visit in September 2025, there was a cool open-air art exhibition at the abbey grounds.