The "Stoofstraat" is known both to the Bruges public and far beyond as the smallest official street in Bruges. (the "Garre van Conné" at the Burg is not an official street)
The historical connection with the “extra benefits” you could get there has given it a “reputation”.
Every city has a stew street. The street name in Bruges refers to “De badstoof”, the street that led to the public bathstoof on Walplein.
There has most likely never been a bathhouse in the Stoofstraat itself due to the distance to the nearest canals. Necessary to have easy access to water.
On Walplein there is a canal behind the houses from which one could draw water.
The bathhouse “Ter Walle”, which was certainly there historically, was located on Walplein, probably in the house “1645” or the current brewery “De Halve Maan”.
Historians are not unanimous about the location, but it is certain that there was a bath stove. Would you like to know more about what happened there? Then read our page "The labor story of the Stoofstraat. A "less stimulating" reality
The bathhouses were closed and banned epidemically during the plague. Doctors thought that the openness of the skin pores under the influence of the warm water facilitated plague infection.
There was prostitution in our street until the late 18th century, but today that story has long been told.
Today, the Stoofstraat is an artists' street populated by 3 confident women who practice their art/craft there.
The “Makeressen”, Veerle, Katrien and An, the 3 independently enterprising women in the Stoofstraat, now passionately sell their craftsmanship there.
Be welcome in our workshops!