Kantcentrum: The Lace Centre of Bruges

In 1717, Bishop Hendrik Jozef van Susteren tasked the Sisters Apostolinnen with establishing a lace school in Bruges. This initiative was part of efforts to improve the income of the poor during a period of famine, providing both day and evening education to local women.

By 1860, the lace school had expanded significantly, reaching a peak enrollment of 400 students who were trained in various techniques of handmade lace. Despite the dissolution of many religious institutions under Emperor Joseph II, the school remained operational due to its social purpose.

The school was forced to close during the First World War and resumed its educational activities in 1922. The strong public interest in the school during this period necessitated the construction of a new building to accommodate the growing number of students.

The Kantcentrum Brugge was founded in 1970 as a non-profit organization to continue the legacy and pedagogical tasks of the Sisters Apostolinnen, whose lace school had gradually scaled back its activities over the preceding decades due to mechanized production.

In 2014, the Kantcentrum moved into its current premises in the Balstraat, situated in the restored former lace school of the Sisters Apostolinnen. The new location houses a permanent exhibition of diverse lace types and hosts various temporary displays.