Folklore of the Low Countries, comprising Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg is culturally rich and dates far back. Folk tradition is relevant here at a very local scale: individual cities have their own unique stories and festivals.
The collection of folktales originating from this region is immense.
Often cited as it’s birthplace, oil painting has a rich cultural tradition in Flanders, being home to artists such as Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden.
In Flanders, woven lace holds significant cultural value, dating back to the 15th century and remaining strong today, with designers and craftspeople still dedicating themselves to the craft. Being at once an art and craft, lace-making has both formal and processual aspects.
Bruges, in particular, was once renowned as the lace-making capital of the world: Bruges lace is realised with a technique that allows having a wide variety of forms and decors.