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Bruges digital nomad guide

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Nomad score 6.4/10

51.2086, 3.2268 Europe/Brussels #989

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Researched Updated Oct 21, 2026 Last changed Oct 31, 2026 About guide entries

Essentials

City
Bruges (Dutch: Brugge), capital of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. 1 36
Population
120,458 inhabitants on 1 January 2026 (Statbel, via StatbelViz). 1
Internet Speed
Ookla September 2026 country medians are 264 Mbps fixed and 220 Mbps mobile. No Bruges-only table was opened. The same page also shows a lower pair (142 Mbps fixed and 144 Mbps mobile) that is not the September headline. 2
Currency & Banking
Euro. On 19 October 2026 the ECB rate was 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD, about 0.8909 EUR per US dollar. 3
Tap Water
Safe to drink across Belgium. Wikivoyage says the same for Brussels and most of the country, and says fountains and wells are not for drinking. Restaurants often sell bottled water instead. 4 5
Power
230 V, 50 Hz, Type C and Type E sockets (CEE 7/5, with a protruding earth pin). 4
SIM Card
Identify a prepaid SIM before first use. Proximus Pay&Go+ is a €5 card with €10 credit and 3 GB (web promo through 1 November 2026). Mobile Vikings, on the Proximus network, is €15 a month for 40 GB with unlimited calls and texts, and sells an eSIM. 7 8 9
Accommodation
The historic centre is walkable from Brugge station. Snuffel Hostel at Ezelstraat 42 lists an 8-bed dorm from €23 a night, linen and a shared kitchen included; continental breakfast is €6. 6 14 40
Budget Accommodation
Snuffel Hostel, Ezelstraat 42: dorm beds from €23 (8-bed), €24 (6-bed) or €25 (4-bed). The page was updated 17 September 2026 and says group breakfast is included for group bookings; the individual continental breakfast is €6. 14 40
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
The historic centre around the Markt and the Burg, inside the UNESCO zone and walkable from the station if you are not pulling a suitcase over cobbles. 6 17
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
Sint-Michiels, by the station and Moonshot on Koningin Astridlaan, is quieter than the Markt. Wanted Spaces on Beenhouwersstraat 123 is the desk inside the old centre. 12 13

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
Wanted Spaces, Beenhouwersstraat 123: €25 for one day, or €15 a day on the bundle of up to 31 days. Moonshot, Koningin Astridlaan 89 in Sint-Michiels, lists Flex Light at €115 a month excluding VAT for 5 days, beside the E40. 12 13

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
Standplaats taxis use Tariff B at €3 to start plus €3 per km when the cab does not return to the stand, and a €3 night supplement from 22:00 to 06:00. The main stand is on Stationsplein. UberX in Brugge shows an average of about €18 for a 12-minute ride and may be driven by a taxi. 23 24
Bike/Scooter Rental
Blue-bike Ticket is from €1 per 30 minutes, capped at €6 for 12 hours on a city bike and €12 on an e-bike. The operator lists e-bikes in Bruges. Member is €12 a year for half-price rides. 22
Best Beach Nearby
Ostend is under 15 minutes by train from Brugge station. Zeebrugge, the city port and beach, is part of the municipality; De Haan is a further coastal-tram ride from Ostend. 6
Top Regional Airline
The nearby passenger airport is Ostend-Bruges (OST), used mainly for seasonal holiday flights and cargo. The everyday air gateway is Brussels Airport, then a train to Brugge of about an hour and a half with one change. 6
Top International Airline
Long-haul flights use Brussels Airport, not a runway in Bruges. Wikivoyage puts the onward train at about an hour and a half with one change. 6
Highway Access
The E40, the Brussels to coast motorway, passes Bruges. A central hotel note on Wikivoyage cites E40 exit 8. 6
Main Train/Transit Hub
Station Brugge on Stationsplein. Daytime trains toward Brussels run about every half hour and take about an hour to Brussels-Midi. Luggage lockers are listed as 06:00 to 22:00. 6 37
Public Transport Passes
De Lijn buses cover the city. A day ticket is €9 from age 12 (€4.50 ages 6-11) and lasts 24 hours. The adult Omnipas (ages 25-64) is €62 for a month, €186 for three months or €499 for a year, plus a €10 MOBIB card. 10 11
Regional Travel
SNCB trains from Brugge station: about 30 minutes to Ghent, about an hour to Brussels, about an hour to Antwerp, and under 15 minutes to Ostend. 6

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
AZ Sint-Jan, campus Sint-Jan, Ruddershove 10, 8000 Brugge (050 45 21 11). A second campus, SFX, is at Spaanse Loskaai 1. The hospital says it treats everyone regardless of background. 15 38
Gyms & Fitness Centers
Basic-Fit is mapped at Frank Van Ackerpromenade 4 in Sint-Michiels. Its membership price page did not load, so no monthly fee is stated here. 48

Food and Drink

Best Local Dish to Try
Flemish beef stew (stoofvlees), eaten off the Grote Markt. Wikivoyage calls the square restaurants overpriced and names Grand Cafe Passage at Dweersstraat 26 for the stew; that listing was last marked updated in August 2022. 6
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Bistrobar Boreas, Walstraat 11, lists a vegan portobello among mains at €26 to €39. Wikivoyage marked that listing updated in September 2026. Hours there are Tuesday to Friday 12:00-14:30 and 18:00-20:30, and Saturday 12:00-20:30. 6
Best Dessert Spots
The Chocolate Line, Simon Stevinplein 19, the shop of chocolatier Dominique Persoone, is the dessert stop named on Wikivoyage. It describes the shop as pricey next to other chocolate stores in town. 6
Affordable Shopping Spots
Wednesday food and flower market on the Markt, 08:00 to 14:00, and the Saturday food and general market on 't Zand, 08:00 to 13:30. The fish market on the Vismarkt runs Wednesday to Saturday, 08:00 to 13:30. 19
Bar/Nightlife Area
't Brugs Beertje on Kemelstraat and De Garre, the alley off Breidelstraat between the Markt and the Burg, are the beer bars Wikivoyage names. Cafe Vlissinghe at Blekersstraat 2 is described as dating from 1515 and closed Monday and Tuesday. 6
Local Brewery
Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Walplein 26, has brewed in the centre since 1856. The range includes Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik. 16 39
Street Food Stalls
Fries shops rather than the Grote Markt terraces. The Potato Bar at Sint-Amandsstraat 31 is still mapped; Wikivoyage quotes fries at €3 to €4.50 from September 2021 and marks its website link dead. 6 47
Popular International Cuisine
The Olive Street Food, Wollestraat 12, is a Greek takeaway a minute from the Belfry. Wikivoyage (May 2025) lists a medium wrap at €8.90 and a larger box at €14.90, Wednesday to Monday 12:00-20:30. 6

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
The Belfry on the Markt, run by Musea Brugge, and the Minnewater at the south edge of the old centre. The historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. 17 18 41
Museums & Art Venues
Groeningemuseum on the Dijver (Flemish Primitives) and Museum Sint-Janshospitaal, which holds Hans Memling paintings. BRUSK is the newer exhibition hall in the same museum quarter. 18 43
Historical Sites
The Beguinage, inside the south of the old centre, and the surviving gates of the 1297 ramparts. UNESCO describes the egg-shaped medieval street and canal pattern as still readable. 6 17 49
Religious Sites
Basilica of the Holy Blood on the Burg (Wikivoyage hours 09:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:30). The Church of Our Lady is the neighbouring Musea Brugge site, with a combined ticket option for the Gruuthuse museum. 6 18
Annual Events
The Procession of the Holy Blood is UNESCO intangible heritage. Visit Bruges lists a Christmas market from late November through early January on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein. 17 19
Cultural Districts
The UNESCO historic centre inside the ramparts, especially the Dijver museum quarter around the Groeningemuseum. 17 18
Theater Venues
Concertgebouw Brugge, 't Zand 34, a concert and dance hall open since 2002 (050 47 69 99). 20 45
Local Markets
Wednesday market on the Markt (food and flowers, 08:00-14:00) and Saturday market on 't Zand (08:00-13:30). The Dijver antiques and bric-a-brac market runs weekends and holidays from 15 March to 15 November, 10:00-18:00, plus Fridays in June to September. 19
Music Scene
Concertgebouw Brugge at 't Zand 34 programmes concerts and dance and says it draws more than 150,000 visitors a year. 20
Art Galleries
BRUSK, the Musea Brugge exhibition hall in the museum quarter. The museum site says a BRUSK ticket includes the Groeningemuseum from 8 September to 29 October. 18
Historic Buildings
The Stadhuis (city hall) on the Burg, Burg 12, is a Musea Brugge site. A Stadhuis ticket includes the Brugse Vrije next door. 18 46
Local Heritage
The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site (inscribed 2000, about 410 hectares) as a medieval trading city and the birthplace of the Flemish Primitives, including Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. 17

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
Zwin Nature Park, on the coast toward Knokke, and the rampart ring around the old centre. The park is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00, and daily 10:00-17:00 in the Flemish autumn holidays of 31 October to 8 November 2026. 21 6
National Parks Nearby
No national park sits in or next to Bruges. Zwin Nature Park is a regional nature park and bird reserve, not a national park. 21
Cycling/Walking Paths
The centre is walked. A marked bike ride of about 5 km follows the canal to Damme, and the old rampart gates are used by cyclists. Blue-bike is the station share system. 6 22
Scenic Viewpoints
The Belfry tower on the Markt, and Rozenhoedkaai, the canal bend still mapped as the postcard view. 6 41 49
Birdwatching Locations
Zwin Nature Park calls itself an international bird airport. On 21 October 2026 it listed bird ringing from 10:00 to 12:00, with ringing programmed through 11 November. 21

Other Services and Amenities

Libraries & Study Spots
De Biekorf, the main public library, at Kuipersstraat 3 in the centre. 42

Business

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
On 14 October 2026 the median Immoweb asking price for apartments in the Brugge municipality was €3,980 per m². A 40 m² studio at that asking rate is about €159,200. Statbel does not publish a sold price per m²; the 2024 apartment median in inner Christus-Koning was €326,000. 25
Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
No sold price per m² for the outer boroughs. The 2024 registered apartment median was €206,250 in Zeebrugge-De Mole. The only opened per-m² figure is the municipality-wide asking median of €3,980, about €159,200 for 40 m², and that is not a suburb discount. 25
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Same Immoweb asking median of €3,980 per m² on 14 October 2026. A 60 m² apartment at that rate is about €238,800. The 2025 sold median for an apartment of any size in Brugge was €265,000. 25
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
No size-specific price per m². The 2024 registered apartment median in Sint-Baafs was €226,500, against €326,000 in inner Christus-Koning. A 60 m² flat at the citywide asking rate of €3,980 per m² would be about €238,800. 25
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Same municipality-wide Immoweb asking median of €3,980 per m² on 14 October 2026. An 80 m² apartment at that rate is about €318,400. These are asking prices of homes still for sale, not registered sales. 25
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
No size split per m². The 2024 registered apartment median in Sanderkwartier was €231,000, and in Zeebrugge-De Mole €206,250. An 80 m² flat at the citywide asking rate of €3,980 per m² would be about €318,400, which overstates those borough medians. 25
Corporate Tax
25% corporate income tax on company profits, whether retained or distributed. SMEs can pay 20% on the first €100,000 of profit when the conditions are met. 29
Dividend Withholding Tax
30% withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties, with treaty and EU parent-subsidiary exemptions. 30
Tax System
Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed on Belgian-source income. Residence is domicile or the centre of economic interests, or registration in a commune. 32 33
Highest Income Tax Bracket
50% federal tax on income above €51,070 for income year 2026 (assessment year 2027). Regional and municipal surcharges sit on top of the tax due. StatbelViz still lists Brugge municipal surcharge at 6.9% for assessment year 2024. 1 28
VAT
21% standard VAT. From 1 March 2026 the reduced rate on hotels and camping is 12%, up from 6%. 31
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
Yes. The ATAD CFC regime, entity approach from tax year 2024, taxes undistributed passive income of a foreign company the Belgian taxpayer controls by more than 50% when that company is taxed at less than half the Belgian corporate tax, unless a substance safe harbour applies. 34
Property Tax
Annual onroerende voorheffing on indexed cadastral income, with regional, provincial and municipal layers. For assessment year 2026 StatbelViz puts the Brugge municipal slice at 40% of cadastral income. 1 31
Property Transaction Tax
In Flanders the general registration duty is 12% when the purchase is not your only home. The only-home rate is 2% on notarial deeds from 1 January 2025, with tighter conditions for agreements from 1 January 2026. A stated intention to move that reduced rate back to 3% on 1 January 2027 is not yet the rate. 26 27 31
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
No nomad tax break: residents pay tax on worldwide income, up to 50% federal plus surcharges. A short business visit can fit the Schengen 90-in-180 day rule for listed activities; self-employed work beyond that needs a long-term permit, and the UK guide points self-employed people to a professional card. 32 35

About these guide entries

Method
Researched
Last updated
Oct 21, 2026
Last changed
Oct 31, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

  1. StatbelViz Brugge, Statbel population 1 January 2026Official
  2. Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Belgium, September 2026Measurement
  3. ECB euro reference rates, 19 October 2026Official
  4. Wikivoyage BelgiumSecondary
  5. Wikivoyage BrusselsSecondary
  6. Wikivoyage BrugesSecondary
  7. Proximus Pay&Go+ prepaidOfficial
  8. Mobile Vikings subscriptionsOfficial
  9. Selectra Mobile Vikings tariffs, updated 20 October 2026Secondary
  10. De Lijn Omnipas adult 25-64Official
  11. De Lijn day ticketOfficial
  12. Moonshot coworking, Sint-MichielsOfficial
  13. Wanted Spaces flex desks, Beenhouwersstraat 123Official
  14. Snuffel Hostel dorm pricesOfficial
  15. AZ Sint-Jan Brugge campusesOfficial
  16. Brouwerij De Halve MaanOfficial
  17. UNESCO Historic Centre of BruggeOfficial
  18. Musea BruggeOfficial
  19. Visit Bruges marketsOfficial
  20. Concertgebouw BruggeOfficial
  21. Zwin Nature ParkOfficial
  22. Blue-bike tariffsOfficial
  23. Stad Brugge standplaats taxi tariffsOfficial
  24. Uber in BruggeOfficial
  25. Immetrics Brugge sale and asking prices, updated 14 October 2026Index
  26. Flanders 2% registration duty for a sole homeOfficial
  27. Flanders 12% general registration dutyOfficial
  28. FPS Finance personal income tax bracketsOfficial
  29. PwC Belgium corporate income tax, reviewed 10 September 2026Professional
  30. PwC Belgium withholding taxes, reviewed 10 September 2026Professional
  31. PwC Belgium VAT, property tax and registration dutyProfessional
  32. PwC Belgium personal income tax, reviewed 10 September 2026Professional
  33. PwC Belgium individual residence, reviewed 10 September 2026Professional
  34. PwC Belgium CFC rules, reviewed 10 September 2026Professional
  35. UK government, travel to Belgium for workOfficial
  36. Wikipedia BrugesReference
  37. OSM Station BruggeReference
  38. OSM AZ Sint-Jan, Ruddershove 10Reference
  39. OSM De Halve Maan, Walplein 26Reference
  40. OSM Snuffel, Ezelstraat 42Reference
  41. OSM BelfortReference
  42. OSM De Biekorf, Kuipersstraat 3Reference
  43. OSM Groeningemuseum, Dijver 12Reference
  44. OSM Concertgebouw, 't Zand 34Reference
  45. OSM Stadhuis, Burg 12Reference
  46. OSM The Potato Bar, Sint-Amandsstraat 31Reference
  47. OSM Basic-Fit, Frank Van Ackerpromenade 4Reference
  48. OSM RozenhoedkaaiReference
  49. OSM BegijnhofReference

Change history

    • Grocery Delivery Albert Heijn or Delhaize home delivery not set
    • Gyms & Fitness Centers Basic-Fit Bruges (multiple locations, approx. €24.99/4 weeks) Basic-Fit is mapped at Frank Van Ackerpromenade 4 in Sint-Michiels. Its membership price…
    • Highest Income Tax Bracket 50% (on income over €46,440) 50% federal tax on income above €51,070 for income year 2026 (assessment year 2027)…
    • Highway Access E40 (Brussels-Ostend) and E403 (Bruges-Kortrijk) highways The E40, the Brussels to coast motorway, passes Bruges. A central hotel note on Wikivoyage…
    • Historic Buildings Stadhuis (City Hall) on Burg Square The Stadhuis (city hall) on the Burg, Burg 12, is a Musea Brugge site. A Stadhuis ticket…
    • Historical Sites Begijnhof (Beguinage) and Old St. John's Hospital The Beguinage, inside the south of the old centre, and the surviving gates of the 1297…
    42 more changes
    • Internet Speed Average 95 Mbps, fiber available via Telenet or Proximus Ookla September 2026 country medians are 264 Mbps fixed and 220 Mbps mobile. No…
    • Language Classes CVO Miras (Dutch as a Second Language/NT2) not set
    • Laundry Services Wasbar (Zilverpand) - eat while you wash not set
    • Libraries & Study Spots Openbare Bibliotheek Brugge (Biekorf) De Biekorf, the main public library, at Kuipersstraat 3 in the centre.
    • Local Brewery De Halve Maan Brewery (Home of Brugse Zot) Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Walplein 26, has brewed in the centre since 1856. The range…
    • Local Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Status of the historic city center The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site (inscribed 2000, about 410 hectares)…
    • Local Markets Wednesday Food Market (Markt) and Flea Market (Dijver) Wednesday market on the Markt (food and flowers, 08:00-14:00) and Saturday market on 't…
    • Main Train/Transit Hub Brugge Station (Stationsplein) Station Brugge on Stationsplein. Daytime trains toward Brussels run about every half hour…
    • Museums & Art Venues Groeningemuseum (Flemish Primitives) and Historium Bruges Groeningemuseum on the Dijver (Flemish Primitives) and Museum Sint-Janshospitaal, which…
    • Music Scene De Republiek (indie/alternative) and Cactus Muziekcentrum Concertgebouw Brugge at 't Zand 34 programmes concerts and dance and says it draws more…
    • Must-See Landmarks Belfry of Bruges and The Lake of Love (Minnewater) The Belfry on the Markt, run by Musea Brugge, and the Minnewater at the south edge of the…
    • National Parks Nearby Zwin Nature Park (approx. 30 mins away near the coast) No national park sits in or next to Bruges. Zwin Nature Park is a regional nature park and…
    • Nearby Nature Escapes Tillegembos or Bulskampveld Woods (15 mins drive) Zwin Nature Park, on the coast toward Knokke, and the rampart ring around the old centre…
    • Networking Events VOKA West-Vlaanderen events and local LinkedIn 'Bruges Business' groups not set
    • Parcel Delivery Service Bpost, PostNL, and DHL Service Points (various shops) not set
    • Popular International Cuisine Sans Pareil (French-Belgian) or Carlito's (Italian/Pizza) The Olive Street Food, Wollestraat 12, is a Greek takeaway a minute from the Belfry…
    • Population Approximately 118,500 120,458 inhabitants on 1 January 2026 (Statbel, via StatbelViz).
    • Power 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets 230 V, 50 Hz, Type C and Type E sockets (CEE 7/5, with a protruding earth pin).
    • Property Tax Yes, based on 'Onroerende Voorheffing' (cadastral income) Annual onroerende voorheffing on indexed cadastral income, with regional, provincial and…
    • Property Transaction Tax 12% Registration Duty in Flanders (reduced to 3% for primary residence) In Flanders the general registration duty is 12% when the purchase is not your only home…
    • Public Transport Passes De Lijn 10-ride card (€17) or Lijnkaart for buses De Lijn buses cover the city. A day ticket is €9 from age 12 (€4.50 ages 6-11) and lasts…
    • Regional Travel NMBS Trains to Ghent (25 mins), Antwerp (1h 15m), and Brussels (1h) SNCB trains from Brugge station: about 30 minutes to Ghent, about an hour to Brussels…
    • Religious Sites Basilica of the Holy Blood and Church of Our Lady Basilica of the Holy Blood on the Burg (Wikivoyage hours 09:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:30). The…
    • SIM Card Proximus (best coverage), Orange, and Telenet; €15–€20 for 10-20GB Identify a prepaid SIM before first use. Proximus Pay&Go+ is a €5 card with €10 credit and…
    • Scenic Viewpoints Rozenhoedkaai (most photographed spot) and the Belfry Tower The Belfry tower on the Markt, and Rozenhoedkaai, the canal bend still mapped as the…
    • Short Term Rentals Airbnb and VRBO; expect €1,200–€1,800/month for central apartments not set
    • Social Events for Expats Expats in Bruges Facebook Group meetups and language cafes at De Republiek not set
    • Street Art The Legend of the Bruges Swan murals around the Langerei area not set
    • Street Food Stalls Frietkoten (Fries stands) on The Markt square Fries shops rather than the Grote Markt terraces. The Potato Bar at Sint-Amandsstraat 31…
    • Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000) On 14 October 2026 the median Immoweb asking price for apartments in the Brugge…
    • Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €128,000) No sold price per m² for the outer boroughs. The 2024 registered apartment median was…
    • Table Tennis Spots TTC Brugge (Sport Vlaanderen center) not set
    • Tap Water Drinkable and meets high safety standards Safe to drink across Belgium. Wikivoyage says the same for Brussels and most of the…
    • Tax System Worldwide income basis for residents Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed on Belgian-source income…
    • Tech Repair Services Lab9 (Apple Authorized) or local repair shops in Steenstraat not set
    • Theater Venues Concertgebouw Brugge (Concert Hall) Concertgebouw Brugge, 't Zand 34, a concert and dance hall open since 2002 (050 47 69 99).
    • Top International Airline Ryanair (operating out of nearby Ostend-Bruges or Charleroi airports) Long-haul flights use Brussels Airport, not a runway in Bruges. Wikivoyage puts the onward…
    • Top Regional Airline Brussels Airlines (operating out of BRU airport) The nearby passenger airport is Ostend-Bruges (OST), used mainly for seasonal holiday…
    • VAT 21% (Standard Rate) 21% standard VAT. From 1 March 2026 the reduced rate on hotels and camping is 12%, up from…
    • Vegan/Vegetarian Options Blackbird (Prinsenhof) or Lotus (Wapenmakersstraat) Bistrobar Boreas, Walstraat 11, lists a vegan portobello among mains at €26 to €39…
    • Wine Bars Cuvee Wine Bar (Philipstockstraat) not set
    • Yoga & Wellness Centers Yoga Studio 'Yog-Sothoth' or Radiant Light Yoga not set

    Content removed, pending a page that could be opened: Banking for Expats; Cashless Friendly; Short Term Rentals; Best Cafe for Work; Networking Events; Social Events for Expats; Yoga & Wellness Centers; Laundry Services; Best Food Delivery App; E-commerce/Online Store; Grocery Delivery; Wine Bars; Street Art; Cooking Classes; Bonfire-Friendly Spots; Parcel Delivery Service; Tech Repair Services; Table Tennis Spots; Language Classes; Community Centers; Gaming Lounges; Casino & Gaming Halls

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