Quiet Flemish town between Bruges and Ostend, centred on Constant Permeke's former home and studio.
Jabbeke is a small town between Bruges and Ostend, and the main reason to stop here is the Permeke Museum. Constant Permeke was one of Belgium's greatest expressionist painters and sculptors, and his former home and studio — a sturdy brick farmhouse called De Vier Winden — is preserved much as he left it, surrounded by his monumental sculptures in a quiet garden.
The museum is a peaceful contrast to the crowds in nearby Bruges, and it gives a real sense of the man and his work. Beyond the museum, Jabbeke is a quiet Flemish village with not much else to detain you, but the Permeke alone justifies the short detour.
Guide
Getting There
Jabbeke is 10 km west of Bruges and 15 km east of Ostend, just off the E40 motorway. By car from Bruges it is about fifteen minutes, by car from Ghent about 45 minutes.
There is a railway station at Jabbeke on the Bruges–Ostend line, though trains are infrequent. The more practical option is to take a frequent train to Bruges and then either hire a bicycle (the cycle route from Bruges to the museum through the polders is pleasant) or take a taxi. Bus connections from Bruges city centre also reach Jabbeke but are slow. Most visitors come by car or bicycle.
