Tolhuis

The Tolhuis on Jan van Eyck Square in Bruges is a historic ensemble of several buildings, including the corner house "Het Heilig Graf" and the customs house itself. Originally built in the early 13th century as a spacious merchant's house, it served traders as both residence and warehouse in the rising port city. In the 14th century, the office of the Great Customs Authority moved in here, collecting import duties on internationally traded goods. Because the levy was calculated by weight, the building always included a weighing scale. The customs rights changed hands several times before the city acquired them in 1549 with the consent of Emperor Charles V.

After customs rights were abolished during the French period, the house served for a time as the residence of the customs officer and remained known as the public weigh house. In 1876, the city bought the building back and set up the municipal library inside it, while the facade was restored. In the 20th century, the ensemble was declared a protected monument. After a comprehensive renovation, the building now houses various institutions of the Province of West Flanders. On the ground floor you'll find the Provincial Information Center and the Europe Info Point, while the upper floor is home to the Ondernemerscentrum Brugge (Entrepreneurs' Center), with workspaces for startups and professional conference rooms.