diff --git i/internal/bull/browse.go w/internal/bull/browse.go
index ea260e3..e207bfa 100644
--- i/internal/bull/browse.go
+++ w/internal/bull/browse.go
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"path"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 )
 
 func (b *bullServer) browse(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
@@ -31,8 +34,8 @@ func (b *bullServer) browse(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 	readg.Wait()
 
 	dir := r.FormValue("dir")
+	prefix := dir + "/"
 	if dir != "" {
-		prefix := dir + "/"
 		filtered := make([]page, 0, len(pages))
 		for _, page := range pages {
 			if !strings.HasPrefix(page.FileName, prefix) {
@@ -77,6 +80,72 @@ func (b *bullServer) browse(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unknown ?sort parameter")
 	}
 
+	// collapse directory entries
+	seen := make(map[string]time.Time)
+	for _, pg := range pages {
+		pgdir := path.Dir(pg.PageName)
+		if pgdir == dir {
+			// do not hide any entries in the directory we are listing
+			continue
+		}
+		latest, ok := seen[pgdir]
+		if ok && latest.After(pg.ModTime) {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[pgdir] = pg.ModTime
+	}
+	skip := func(rel string) (string, time.Time, bool) {
+		// Skip this directory if we have seen it or any of its parents.
+		var chomped string
+		for {
+			idx := strings.IndexByte(rel, '/')
+			if idx == -1 {
+				return "", time.Time{}, false
+			}
+			head := rel[:idx]
+			component := chomped + head
+			if latest, ok := seen[component]; ok {
+				return component, latest, true
+			}
+			chomped += head + "/"
+			rel = rel[idx+1:]
+		}
+	}
+	lines := make([]string, 0, len(pages))
+	for _, pg := range pages {
+		rel := strings.TrimPrefix(pg.PageName, prefix)
+		if strings.Contains(rel, "/") {
+			dir, latest, skip := skip(pg.PageName)
+			if skip && !latest.IsZero() {
+				// This is the first time we encounter a page within this
+				// directory, so produce an entry for the directory.
+				q := url.Values{
+					"dir":       []string{dir},
+					"sort":      []string{r.FormValue("sort")},
+					"sortorder": []string{sortorder},
+				}
+				target := (&url.URL{
+					Path:     bullURLPrefix + "browse",
+					RawQuery: q.Encode(),
+				}).String()
+				line := fmt.Sprintf("| [%s/](%s) | %s |\n",
+					dir,
+					target,
+					latest.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05 Z07:00"))
+				lines = append(lines, line)
+				seen[dir] = time.Time{} // still present, but printed
+			}
+			if skip {
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		line := fmt.Sprintf("| [[%s]] | %s |\n",
+			pg.PageName,
+			pg.ModTime.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05 Z07:00"))
+		lines = append(lines, line)
+	}
+
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	if dir != "" {
 		fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "# page browser: %s\n", dir)
@@ -86,10 +155,8 @@ func (b *bullServer) browse(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "| file name [↑](/_bull/browse?sort=pagename) [↓](/_bull/browse?sort=pagename&sortorder=desc) | last modified [↑](/_bull/browse?sort=modtime) [↓](/_bull/browse?sort=modtime&sortorder=desc) |\n")
 	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "|-----------|---------------|\n")
 	// TODO: link to .. if dir != ""
-	for _, pg := range pages {
-		fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "| [[%s]] | %s |\n",
-			pg.PageName,
-			pg.ModTime.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05 Z07:00"))
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		buf.Write([]byte(line))
 	}
 	return b.renderBullMarkdown(w, r, "browse", buf)
 }