cologne-bruges

Updated: February 10, 2026

In Brabant also the communes enjoyed the protection of the duke, but they developed later, owing to the agricultural character of the region. The importance of Louvain and Brussels dates from the twelfth century, when the Cologne-Bruges road brought commercial activity into the country and when the weaving industry began to spread in the duchy.

Emile Cammaerts - Belgium: From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day