New Melodies for the Bruges Belfry Carillon: Temporary Silence Announced for Spring 2026
The historic heart of Bruges will experience a brief period of musical quiet this spring. Starting on March 5, 2026, the automatic carillon at the famous Belfort (Belfry) will be temporarily shut down. This pause is required to carry out the traditional, manual installation of a brand-new set of melodies, which are scheduled to debut on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.
What to Expect During the Belfry's Silent Period
From March 5 until April 4, 2026, the automatic hourly tunes will not play. However, travelers exploring the city can still catch live performances. City carillonneur Wim Berteloot will perform live concerts on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 11:00 and 12:00. The only exception to these live performances is the "silent week" immediately preceding Easter, during which no carillon music will play at all.
The New Musical Lineup for the Belfry
Every two years since the early 19th century, the melodies programmed into the tower's drum are completely updated. The upcoming selection features a blend of classical compositions and local modern tributes:
- On the hour: Allegretto by Johan A.W. Wagenaar, representing the Romantic musical era.
- Quarter past the hour: The main theme from BRUSK forms in motions by Patrick Hamilton, a piece created specifically for the opening of the BRUSK art hall.
- On the half hour: The widely recognized tune Grandfather’s Clock by Henry Clay Work.
- Quarter to the hour: Andante from Symphony 94 (also known as the Surprise Symphony) by Joseph Haydn, selected to highlight the resonance of the carillon’s heaviest bass bell.
Preserving a Centuries-Old Craft in Bruges
Programming these new songs is a highly labor-intensive process that relies on historic mechanics. The automatic system runs on a massive copper drum fitted with adjustable pins. To change the music, technicians must manually reposition thousands of pins on the drum. During this biennial maintenance period, workers also thoroughly clean and inspect the pins, the drum itself, and the entire drum chamber to ensure the delicate mechanism remains preserved.
Planning a trip to see the historic towers and exhibitions of Flanders? Use Musemap (musemap.art) to find more city updates, browse a map of cultural landmarks in the area, or explore Bruges museums to make the most of your cultural journey.
