In 2008, a little indie film took the world by storm: “In Bruges” was violent, irreverent, and hilarious, and audiences went crazy for it. The movie had some serious star power, with Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, and Brendon Gleeson as leads, but its success was remarkable; the film was made on a piddling $15 million budget and raked in $45 million at the box office. Focus Features was only six years old at the time, and a sleeper hit like “In Bruges” was exactly what the young production company needed. The film also introduced legions of viewers to Martin McDonagh, the rockstar Irish playwright who had just directed this, his first feature film. Theatre fans knew his work from acclaimed stage plays like “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” and “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” but “In Bruges” hit new audiences like a speeding bullet.
Ironically, a movie that pokes fun at European tourism also inspired many people to visit Bruges, the fabled Belgian city of the title. Bruges has long been a popular destination, thanks to its fairytale architecture and robust dining scene, yet “In Bruges” paints an unflattering portrait of the city and its visitors. Many viewers were exposed to this well preserved enclave for the first time, and although it sounds counter-intuitive, the film’s dramatic scenery inspired them to visit. In a recent Reddit forum headlined “What Film made you want to Travel to that Country?”, users posted about “In Bruges” and the spell it cast. “[The film] In Bruges had that effect on the friend I was traveling with,” remarked u/datches89. “So when he put Bruges on the itinerary I had no idea what to expect. was blown away when we got there .. it really is like a [redacted] fairytale.”
Read more: Rick Steves’ Son Says To Leave These Common Clothing Items At Home On Your Trip To Europe
The unexpected tourism appeal of In Bruges
The stars of “In Bruges” pose for a photo with director Martin McDonagh – Phillip Massey/Getty Images
“In Bruges” isn’t exactly a promotional video. The story concerns two Irish hitmen who botch an assassination and have to go into hiding. They’re sent to Bruges, a city that one of the pair loves and the other despises. Although they’re expected to lie low, they manage to raise a ruckus wherever they go, picking fights with strangers and forging dubious friendships. The anything-goes hijinks of 2008 doesn’t translate well into the socially sensitive 2020s: The film takes aim at body dysmorphia, special needs, racism, homophobia, self-harm, Americans, Canadians, and seeing impairments, to name a random few. As writer and director, McDonagh is famous for his expletive-laden dialogue, and his portrait of Bruges’ genteel atmosphere is, at best, mocking. This is a far cry from the funky, one-of-a-kind Belgian city that Rick Steves’ tour guide says is too overlooked.
Yet McDonagh is also considered a wizard of unexpected reactions, and audiences routinely find themselves laughing through cruelty, turning on heroes, and rooting for low-lifes. As the protagonist bluntly puts it: “At least in death, y’know, I wouldn’t be in [redacted] Bruges.” Yet for some viewers, “In Bruges” had the same strange reverse effect: They became curious about the city and wanted to see it for themselves. “In bruges really made me want to travel to a bunch of european places. We don’t have any proper old cities in my country,” wrote one user on another Reddit thread. Others agree, and one mentions another grim McDonagh film, 2022’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” as inspiration to see Ireland.
In Bruges vs. the Real Bruges
Ornate facades line a busy street in Bruges, Belgium – Klaas Jan Schraa/Getty Images
The real Bruges is famously safe, and you’re unlikely to run into a single gun-toting mobster. Rick Steves says Belgium is an underrated country and one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, and at least one “In Bruges” character agrees with him. Tourists visit here for the colorful facades, its picture-perfect canals, and the market square in its center, which turns into an enchanting Christmas bazaar around the holidays. No matter what season you visit, you can experience spectacular festivals in Belgium, and you’re basically required to stay until you’ve tried the nation’s world-renowned beer, chocolate, and waffles.
Bruges does have its own international airport, though many will prefer to fly into Brussels Airport, which is located near Belgium’s capital and serves as its main hub. Brussels is also a pleasant city to visit; it’s only 90 minutes from Bruges by car and one hour on Belgium’s superlative train system. The city attracts all kinds of travelers, so hotels range in price from around $60 to hundreds of dollars per night. Note that Bruges is the French name for the city, which is best known to outsiders; the Flemish version is Brugge, pronounced “BROO-hah.” This is handy to know, although more than half of Belgians speak fluent English, as almost every character does in the movie.
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