Bruges, even though mostly known for its calmness, history and excessive tourism, is no exception. From 29 June until 13 August, every single night you can dive into the historic town and see some of the world’s most renowned artists performing against the backdrop of Bruges’ most idyllic places. But the festival offers much more than just music. “This is a multidisciplinary festival,” says Patrick Keersebilck, organiser and programmer of Klinkers festival. “Aside from the concerts on the main plazas, there’s an open air cinema and a group of stand-up comedians cruising through the city.”

But music remains the central asset of the festival: with Belgian bands such as the sizzling reggae collective Pura Vida or the legendary Belgo-Congolese Zap Mama, the festival offers nothing but mere quality. That, plus a range of exquisite world music bands: Portuguese fado by Atlanthida, jazz, bossa nova and shiny Cape Verdian rhythms by Mayra Andrade, Spanish diva Amparo Sanchez singing Latin, jazz and blues intermingled with Afro-Cuban sounds.

Why so much world music? “That’s our path,” Keersebilck explains. “With that many summer festivals in the region, we have to offer something specific. So we offer music from all over the world, referring to the reputation of Bruges as a cosmopolitan city.” He laughs: “That is, of course, once upon a time, a very, very long time ago. Our other criterion is: the bands have to have an excellent reputation for live performance. They have to be able to entertain a large audience.”

While most of the concerts take place on the central Burgplein in front of city hall or in the courtyard of the stunning Gruuthuuse museum, the small and cosy Astrid park is the location for the youth festival Vama Veche, organized by the local youth organization Entrepot. Between the 2 and 7 August, it offers everything from music to spoken word performances and movie screenings.

Those who want to immerse themselves in a different sort of cultural patrimony will have to visit the city between 10 and 12 August. The side project Klinkende Kroegen (literally meaning Sounding Bars) presents evenings with deejays, folk bands, cabaret and jazz in the city’s most infamous bars. But all through the course of the festival, the city’s inhabitants eagerly await the legendary last night. On that night the city’s historic centre transforms into the largest dance floor in Europe, called Benenwerk (legs work). With a spectacular line up (Discobar Galaxie, Jazzanova, Foklof Orchestra and many others), and the kind permission of the weather gods, deejays and live bands will set the city on fire.