Bruges documents of the Hanseatic League
Since May 2023, some of Bruges' archival documents have adorned the UNESCO 'Memory of the World' register. These are 26 records containing information about the Hanseatic League, a mediaeval alliance of German merchants.
The Hanseatic League had a substantial base in four cities, namely in London, Novgorod, Bergen and Bruges. The Hanseatic League stimulated mutual trade and profit by means of privileges and agreements.
The Bruges documents from 1458 to 1502 period highlight the way Bruges sought solutions to local trade crises with the Hanseatic League. Incidentally, Bruges itself was not a Hanseatic city, but it was an important fulcrum. This underscores the importance of Bruges as a hub for international trade in the Middle Ages.
