In May of 2024, a group of ICMA members, many from ICMA’s Global Engagement Committee, joined members of the ICMA Executive Board, ICMA staff, and other local government professionals, to travel to Belgium for an immersive global exchange in the cities of Bruges and Hasselt. The entire exchange covered an array of topics such as mobility, water management, cultural preservation, veteran reintegration, AI in local government, and more. The hands-on and diverse experiences provided by the exchange gave participants a whole new perspective on these topics and how they can be integrated into their own communities.

The following piece covers the delegation’s study tour of Bruges, Belgium, where participants took an intimate look at the city’s mobility planning, water management, cultural preservation, and other efforts. Colin Beheydt, city manager of Bruges and ICMA International Regional Vice President, along with other Bruges city staff, hosted the ICMA delegation, giving an inside look into this picturesque city whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Center.

Vice President Beheydt spoke of having “the honor of welcoming the ICMA delegation in Bruges and sharing various stories with them. Our drainage story, our mobility story, the story of our convention center, the story of our museums, and more.” Beheydt went on to say that this “was not just one-way communication, it led to an interesting exchange of ideas.”

The delegation heard from Peter Clauwaert, head of the Department of Climate, Living Environment and Animal Welfare, and Eva Gheselle, hydrologist, about how Bruges has incorporated principles of a Blue-Green city, engaging in sustainable and smart water management with a focus on removing grey spaces and building connected parks and green spaces, as well as extending forests and natural areas. 

Amy Liu, PE, managing engineer, Austin Water, and ICMA Global Engagement Committee member recalled that “beyond its charming scenery and cultural heritage, Bruges offers a rich tapestry of urban planning, sustainability, and climate resilience. As a ‘Blue-Green city’ renowned for its canals and green spaces, Bruges’ extensive canal network not only adds to its visual appeal but also serves as a practical solution for flood control and stormwater management. The city's innovative approach to water management, including the use of sensors and data analytics, provides valuable insights for other cities seeking to improve their water resilience.” Liu was also able to make important connections between Bruges water resilience methods and her own city’s approach, stating, “my city council recently adopted historic water reuse regulations, which may encounter various challenges during implementation. I’m eager to [implement the lessons I learned] from Bruges’ experience and adopt similar strategies to further our city’s climate resilience goals.”

Bart Slabbinck, Bruges mobility project coordinator, shared Bruges’ unique story of more than 50 years of mobility planning, focusing on the keys to transforming Bruges from a car-oriented city to a sustainable mobility city with a focus on public transport, cycle networks, road space reallocation, and a city of places, encouraging more people in the city center, and identifying solutions that fit the city and the people who live there. The ultimate goal of Bruges’ urban policy is to have an integrated city, focused on sustainability, efficiency, equity, health, vitality, and happiness. Slabbinck reflected on how Bruges was and still is a pioneer in mobility planning and sees it as an integral part of city planning.  Slabbinck indicated that “Bruges realized in the 1970s that a car-oriented policy would suffocate the city, transforming the streets into traffic sewers…[City leaders] introduced a new paradigm in 1972 in which traffic should adapt to the city (and not vice versa).” The focus was not on “bullying” residents who drove cars but rather ensuring that policies and plans related to mobility had to “respect and strengthen our unique city’s DNA.”

Slabbinck not only presented to the ICMA delegation, but he also guided participants through the streets of Bruges to illustrate the key aspects of the Bruges urban plan. Slabbinck pointed out that the public transportation plan recently adopted a “transfer concept.” Electrical city bus lines are connected to all other intra-city and regional bus lines at the train station and the largest square in Bruges known as the ‘t Zand Square.” The city’s cycling plan facilitates cycling along (instead of through) Bruges’ historical center. In Bruges, tourism is directed to a selected part of the city and historic preservation is not about stifling change and innovation, but rather using historic heritage to showcase city projects like the Bruges R30 train station project.  Slabbinck concluded by touting Bruges as a place “where we celebrate the city and its city life. Where we talk about city streets being the true living room of our residents, as was wonderfully displayed when Club Bruges celebrated its championship, showcasing that city squares are made for partying not for parking.”

The Bruges study tour made an immediate impact on the ICMA delegation. Jamie Verbrugge, city manager of Bloomington, Minnesota, USA, and ICMA Global Engagement Committee member, recalled “learning from Bruges, I was struck by how well city leaders have balanced the past and the future. This is a community that recognizes its historical significance and celebrates that history to both affirm its unique culture and welcome visitors.  One cannot walk away from Bruges—the city square, the cobblestone streets, the 600-year-old city hall—without feeling as if it’s been a journey into the past.”  

Bruges’ delicate balance between preserving the past and planning for the future was evident throughout the study tour. Verbrugge continued, “this is a city that also recognizes its responsibility for the future. Bruges incorporates Blue and Green (signifying water and sustainability) into all its planning, ensuring that sustainable development principles are at the forefront of decisions about the next generations of residents and visitors. This vision of Bruges has been fifty years in the making, and it is a testament to the importance of consistent long-term strategic planning and action.”

Participants were inspired by the Bruges study tour to take lessons learned back to their respective communities. Reflecting on the impact of this study tour and how other local government professionals can learn from global exchanges such as these, Gary O’Connell, retired city manager, shared that “one of [his] adventures in [his] city management career has been to travel and see the experience and place in other countries from their perspective.” One constant that O’Connell noticed is “how things can be done quite differently, and even more so how differently local government can be organized. But we are all on the same path of serving our residents.” 

Learn more about Bruges’ mobility, water, and sustainability practices by visiting: 

Bruges Water and Sustainability 

50 Years of Mobility Planning in Bruges

You can also look to ICMA’s Global Technical Assistance page for resources and information to kickstart sustainability initiatives in your community.

For more information on the rest of ICMA’s Belgium exchange, visit:

Ukrainian Veterans Reintegration Workshop 

Bruges, Belgium and Kopychyntsi, Ukraine Partnership 

Exello.net Conference: Our World Is Changing Faster Than We Are 

9th ICMA Europe Summit: AI in Local Government