Grand Seminary Bruges

The Major Seminary of Bruges is the seminary for priest candidates of the diocese of Bruges. It is located on Potterierei in Bruges, where the community of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Dunes began the construction of a new abbey in 1628.

On November 21, 2017, Lode Aerts decided to move the priest training to Leuven starting September 1, 2018. The seminary in Bruges retains its importance for everyone appointed to pastoral work: as a training place for diocesan priests in training (seminary house) and training space for deacons and parish assistants (Institute for Theology and Pastoral). In addition to this main task, the seminary is also a training center for volunteers and those interested. The library has an extensive collection of manuscripts and books. Most of the manuscripts and early prints from the former Abbey of Ten Dunes ended up here. Another part went to the municipal library of Bruges. Since December 2018, the site has been named Major Seminary Ten Dunes.

In the building complex, there is also a department of the University of the United Nations and the College of Europe located alongside the Major Seminary.

Yvan Vandamme