De Pottery

De Pottery is a small ceramics shop and studio in the James Ensorgalerij, the glass-roofed shopping arcade between Vlaanderenstraat and Christinastraat. Potter Eveline Outtier started the business in Beernem, near Bruges, and in 2022 opened the shop on the ground floor here, with her studio upstairs. It is still a one-woman business.

The shop sells her own handmade ceramics alongside work by other Belgian makers, so expect mugs, bowls, plates and vases you will not find in a chain store; the selection changes regularly. The other half of the business is pottery painting: you choose a piece, paint it at a table in the studio, and she glazes and fires it. The finished piece is ready about ten working days later, for collection in Ostend or Beernem or by post for a fee, so plan ahead if you are only here for a weekend. There is also a take-home painting box, wheel-throwing workshops and gift vouchers.

Opening hours are short and can change, with Thursday to Saturday the dependable days; the shop asks you to check its Google listing before making a special trip. Book a painting table online and contact the shop by email rather than through social media. Good for a rainy afternoon with children or friends, or for a handmade souvenir.