Bruges-born scientist Simon Stevin (1548-1620) moved to the present-day Netherlands around 1577 and eventually became counsellor to Prince Maurits. By looking at things from a fresh perspective, Stevin constantly enriched new fields of study, such as hydraulic engineering, navigation, accountancy, physics, military science, architecture, urban development, political sciences and mathematics. He always formulated his ideas in Dutch, in response to concrete questions from the army commanders, engineers and political leaders of his day. For the first time, an exhibition in the City Archive will bring together all his works and manuscripts. Among them ten works from the heritage collection of the Bruges Public Library. On the basis of two films you will learn more about his life and about how his insights and discoveries still affect our lives today. The exhibition also explains the realization of his statue on the Simon Stevinplein, the square in Bruges named after him. During the duration of the exhibition, literature about Stevin will be put in the spotlight in the main library.

Visiting the exhibition is free. In order to comply with the COVID guidelines, the number of visitors who can visit the exhibition simultaneously is limited. Your visit is only guaranteed if you book in advance. This can be done via this link from 3 weeks before your planned visit.

A guided visit combining the exhibition with a walk is possible in small groups limited to max. 9 persons (excluding the guide and children up to 12 years old). We recommend you to book your entrance first and then your guide. Reservations can be made directly with Koninklijke Gidsenbond, Hello Bruges or S-wan. To ensure safe conduct, specific guidelines apply to tourist tours. You can consult them here.

The exhibition is an organisation of City Archive Bruges, Public Library Bruges, Musea Brugge, Visit Bruges and Ghent University.

More visitor tips on https://www.visitbruges.be/imaginebruges

Interested in early modern mathematics? Also visit the online exhibition Vive l'arithmétique! Early mathematical prints in the spotlight!

From 09.30 to 17.00h
City Archive Bruges (Stadsarchief Brugge)
Free

Campaign image: Leiden University Libraries