In modern Flemish "huis", difficult to pronounce for foreigners although close to the English "house", or German "Haus". In the local dialect it is still "hus".
Nowadays beer is flavored with hop.
Gruuthuuse mansion (now museum).
This house, built during the Burgundian period, belonged to a family who had the right to sell "gruut", a mixture of dried plants used to flavor beer . In old Flemish "house" was "huse" and therefore this was, and still is, called Gruuthuse and those living in it were the Lords of Gruuthuse.
Gruuthuse is not a bad set-up for the 15th century and the house illustrates the wealth of the Burgundian period. The occupation of the Lords of Gruuthuse also tells us that Flanders was already a beer region hundreds of years ago.
The Lords of Gruuthuse obtained the right to connect their house with the Church of our Lady, which is immediately to the right (but not on the picture). In this way they could follow the service in the church from a private gallery, without leaving their house. They were not only highly esteemed in religious circles, but also with the dukes (an inevitable combination in those days), whom they served as diplomats and army commanders.
Today Gruuthuse is a museum of old Flemish decorative art. It has a painting that could interest some of the participants, as it shows how purging was performed 200 years ago ("Lavement" by Jan Garemijn, 1778). If you visit this museum do not miss the gallery that connects the house with the Church of Our Lady. It offers a good view of the "Burgundian" choir of the Church (also a museum). From the loggia on the second floor is a superb view of the most pittoresque and photographed bridge of Bruges.
For more information see the outside link
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