Travel Tips: Belgium

The small little country nestled between the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg is famous for its capital Brussels, which hold the European HQ for Parliament.  Few think of it as a tourist destination, yet it is a charming country. There is the Flemish northern Dutch side, colloquially known as Flanders, and the southern regions which speak French, the Walloons side south of Brussels. On the coast, from Ostend you can take a six hour slow ferry to England but the places described in this blog are Antwerp, Brugge, and Gent. I really need to do a tour to see other cities, especially Dianant which looks beautiful. 

The moment you cross the border into Belgium, hilly forested nature welcomes you. Known as the Ardennes, many take a short weekend break to enjoy this lovely and well landscaped nature area. The Hare Krishna organisation set up a guru temple site here specifically for its serene picturesque settings. Commercially, besides the beauty of the Ardennes there are also large outdoor zoos with trains, and quaint villages in the area. Many just rent a house or estate for the weekend to enjoy the tranquility though.  

 Picture from Wikipedia

  

Just an hour train from Rotterdam, brings one to Antwerp which is a small city, good for shopping and a quick weekend get away. The station is absolutely lovely as are some of the expensive shopping malls, known for their indoor ambience and architecture.

 

Station clock 

 

Shopping centre interior   

 Main square of Antwerp

 Walking around the city centre

Near the western coastal border is the charming city of Brugges.  Pronounced bru:jze, it is famous for its Belgian waffles and summer time mussels which are cooked in white wine and leek. They are quite delicious so do try the local restaurants. Unfortunately, my visit there was a wet rainy day so  I have no good photos, yet it was still pretty and memorable despite the damp weather.

Brugges - Flanders Website

While most would want to visit Belgian's capital, I would suggest going to Gent if your time is short. It is the old Paris of Europe and certainly looks like a mini Paris with its river and stunning churches. Walk from square to square and along the river, trying out the many chic cafes and restaurants. Gent is really a lovely place! It's small so you can walk around everywhere and much is pedestrian, but if you need public transport it's all there, well organised and modern. 

 

Main street near the castle

As I stated in the beginning, Belgian countryside is well worth exploring. There are lovely country drives past estates and castles, with contoured hills, and well forested areas.

 A summer sunset

So although a small country, Belgium has much to offer and I still need to discover Luven, Liege and particularly, Dinant which is high on the list as it looks exquisite. On the river Maas, which also flows through Rotterdam, Dinant is built in quaint characteristic housing against a rock face forested mountain and  old church towering over the quaint houses.

 

Photo: Website European Best Destinations 

That's all folks, till next time! Happy travels.