- Address: Vlamingstraat 33, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
- Phone: +32 50 34 01 50
- Fax: +32 50 34 31 50
- E-mail: info@frietmuseum.be
- Website: www.frietmuseum.be
- Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Ticket price: Admission for adults - 7 €, for children from 6 to 11 years - 5 €, for students and pensioners over 65 years - 6 €
In Belgium, deep fried potatoes are called "frit" (friet), and it is one of the most favorite treats for locals. Potato museums are in the US and Canada, in Germany and Denmark, but this museum is the only one of its kind in the world.
From the history of creation
The Frietmuseum is located in the center of Bruges , in one of the oldest mansions of Saaihalle, which was built in 1399. It was created by Sodrik and Eddie Van Belle. In their opinion, it was the Belgians who became the pioneers of this famous dish, and not the French, as is commonly believed in Europe and America. There is a legend according to which during the First World War soldiers from the US Army tried potatoes fried in straws in Belgian Wallonia, where they speak French, that's why they thought that this dish was created by the French.
What interesting things can you see in the museum?
Three floors of the museum will help you learn about the history of potatoes from the beginning of its cultivation, the pre-Columbian period and the time of the Incas and before the advent of fries. You can see here about 400 of the oldest exhibits, including kitchen utensils, a variety of vases with potatoes.
On the ground floor, visitors will be told about the emergence of potatoes in Peru and Chile 15 thousand years ago and how they then discovered this wonderful dish - fried potato slices in oil. You can see postage stamps, articles, photos, films and even mock-ups of potato varieties. There are also many ceramic products, an exhibition of the first deep fryers and a large collection of paintings, among which we will highlight Van Gogh's "Consumers of Potatoes" and canvases dedicated to the Belgian bistro.
The second floor of the museum tells the story of the emergence of French fries in Europe. According to historical data, this dish was already known in 1700. The inhabitants of Belgium year-round engaged in fishing and hot fish, but in winter it was not enough and they came up with a cut of potatoes and fry it on fire. There is another version according to which french fries were first served on a table in Flanders (this region in the north of the country) as far back as the 16th century.
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In the museum you will learn recipes and ways of cooking this dish, as well as a variety of sauces to it. Visitors are shown a video about the secrets of obtaining delicious French fries. The most important detail is frying straws in beef fat. Belgians store the recipe for cooking fries as one of their great values. Frits are cut in length no more than 10 cm and placed twice in boiling oil. The first time it is done for the straw to be roasted inside, then after a 10-minute break the second time dip the potatoes into the oil in order to get a crusty crust. Serve roasted slices in paper bags along with mayonnaise or sauce. Another part of the exhibition is devoted to the collection of machines used for growing potatoes, harvesting, sorting and frying.
A small cafe in the museum is the most attractive place for visitors. You will go to a special cellar of the medieval period, where you can taste Belgian french fries of excellent quality, choosing sauces for it at your discretion and meat dishes.
How to get there?
To get to the Museum of French fries in Bruges is not difficult. You can walk, go by car or by public transport .
- If you decide to go on foot, then at the exit from the station building you need to go to the intersection and turn left, to the Oostmeers. Follow it to the square and then turn right, onto the Steenstraat and move to the Central Market. To the right of it, if you stand with your back to the market, and there will be a street Vlamingstraat.
- If you travel by car, then take the road on the routes E40 Brussels-Ostend or A17 Lille-Kortrijk-Bruges. Near the museum there is a parking area where you can park the car.
- And the last option is a city bus. At the Bruges railway station, you need to take the Brugge Centrum bus. He walks at intervals of 10 minutes. The stop for the exit is called the Central Market. In 300 meters from it there is a museum.
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