In 1488 the people of Bruges had executed one of the town administrators belonging to the court of Maximilian of Austria, husband and successor of duchess Mary of Burgundy. The town administrator was called 'Pieter Lanchals', a name which means ' long neck'. The Lanchals family coat of arms featured a white swan. Legend has it thatMaximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep swans on their lakes and canals till eternity.
Legend about the swans of Bruges.
