Frietmuseum makes 'oddest food museum' list

BRUGES - Next to the 'Pick Salami and Paprika Museum' in Hungary and the Jell-O Gallery in the USA, the Belgian Frietmuseum in Bruges has been added to the list of 'Oddest Food Museums' in the “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2013” guide.

The museum which is the only one in the world telling the history of the French fry, or as we like to call it, Belgian fry, opened up in 2008 and is located in the historical “Saaihalle”.

And if there is one country that deserves a museum dedicated to fries it has to be Belgium. Next to chocolate and beer it is the nation’s most well-known product. The building itself dates back to the 14th century.

Frietmuseum in Bruges

It is conveniently located in the center of the medieval city, just 200 metres from the main market square. The Frietmuseum is not only about the fries, but gives relevant information on the origin and history of potatoes as well as the sauces and meat preparations typically served with the country’s number one fast food product.

And yes they like mayo on their fries in Belgium. It has about four hundred objects related to the subject of which the oldest date back to pre-Columbian times.

You will find the museum in the Vlamingstraat, it is open to groups and individuals every day from 10 am until 5 pm and only closes on the 24th, 25th, 26th of December as well as New Years-day.

Frietmuseum

The 2nd and 3rd week of January is there annual holiday period so the museum is also closed then. The Belgian Frietmuseum comes highly recommended and is a must see for anyone interested in gastronomy, fries or potatoes in general.

A visit takes between 45 minutes and an hour and costs between €4 and €6 depending if you’re a child, an adult, visiting as a group or individual.