Bruges is also a football town represented by two teams at the top level (Jupiler League): Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge K.S.V.

Bruges is home to the College of Europe, a prestigious institution of postgraduate studies in European Economics, Law and Politics.

The sculpture Madonna and Child in The Church of Our Lady is believed to be the only one Michelangelo’s sculptures to have left Italy within his lifetime.

Transportation

Although a few streets are restricted, no part of Brugge is truly carfree—as any local bicyclist (and there are tens of thousands) will attest. Only cabs and buses may cross the main market place, and although driving in Bruges is beastly difficult owing to numerous one way streets, cars are everywhere. The cars are required by law to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists, but like everywhere else, some drivers are aggressive towards cyclists. Plans have long been under way to ban cars altogether from the center of Brugge or to restrict traffic much more than it currently is, but these plans have come to nothing. Recently (2005) signs have been changed for the convenience of bicyclists, allowing two-way bike traffic on more streets. But car traffic has not decreased. Recent bicycle fatalities have increased pressure to close bridges and further calm inner Brugge, but laws have not yet passed. Also, due to heavily populated suburbs, bus traffic is high on the narrow streets. This makes cycling even trickier.

Tourists are encouraged to reach Brugge by train (one of its more remarkable products is railway vehicles and trams) or to use carparks. However, as most of these carparks are within the ‘egg’ (the historical center, enclosed by the main circle of canals) this is only a partial solution, or no solution at all for those living or cycling or walking nears the carparks.