Travel to Belgium

At Crowne Plaza Brugge, located right in the heart of Bruges, we offer the best in conference facilities in charming surroundings. Our 18 meeting rooms can be arranged to suit any style of meeting, accommodating up to 450 delegates. With options including everything from an intimate boardroom to an atmospheric banquet in a medieval cellar, and easy access to all Bruges has to offer, Crowne Plaza Brugge is an easy choice for your conference or meeting.

Conferences with distinction

Event organisers often struggle to make their event distinctive but functional. With the range of conferencing facilities available at Crowne Plaza Brugge, creating a memorable conference couldn't be easier.

We are lucky to be able to offer the best, and most unique, facilities in Bruges, with a combination of up-to-the-minute facilities encased in historic architecture. Our cellar, dating back to the 14th century, has been host to some particularly memorable events, or you can arrange to banquet midst the foundations of the ancient St Donaas Church.

Our modern meeting rooms can cater for all sizes of event, from our boardroom, which can host up to 60 delegates, through to our reception hall, which can host 500 delegates. We are also able to offer a number of different configurations to suit your meeting style, whether you require a classroom setting, theatre, cabaret setting or a banquet with individual tables. Simply talk to your personal Crowne Meetings Director about your needs.

Location isn't everything... but it helps

At Crowne Plaza Brugge, your delegates have plenty of options when they want to explore. Our hotel is located in one of Bruges' most scenic squares, medieval Burg Square. The Belfry of Bruges is within easy walking distance and viewable from the hotel, and many of Bruges' most magnificent attractions are nearby. For those interested in Gothic architecture, the darkly beautiful entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Blood is just across the square from the hotel entrance.

Our central location also provides plenty of options for getting around. Eurostar and national rail connections are within easy reach at the Brugge Train Station, which also provides connections to the Bruges International Airport.

For those times when your delegates want to stay close to the meeting room, our Linde Restaurant provides relaxing terrace dining right on Burg Square. Fine French dining can be found in our other in-house restaurant, Het Kappitel, while the best in Belgian beer can be found in our relaxing Bar.

All the best you expect from Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza Meetings has the distinction of providing highly professional meetings assistance in beautiful hotel surroundings. At Crowne Plaza Zurich, we offer a personal Meetings Director, who will be with you right from the moment of your first enquiry until after your last delegate leaves.

The comfort of your delegates is foremost, which is why we offer spa and fitness facilities, as well as wireless internet in all meeting rooms. Our business centre provides everything your guests will need while they're away from the office.

Located at the crossroads of the old continent, often referred to as "the essence of Europe", Belgium is a small yet densely populated country in Northern Europe that borders the North Sea, Germany, Luxembourg , France and the Netherlands. Famous for its chocolate and beer, Belgium attracts millions of tourists every year mainly due to an interesting combination of nature and history. Perhaps one of the best examples is the Ardennes region located in southern Belgium, in the south-eastern part of Wallonia region. The Ardennes is a vastly forested plateau host to abundant wildlife and beautiful landscapes; the Ardennes form the so-called "green lung" of Belgium – a perfect place to visit for those who love the flora and fauna as well as for those interested in folklore and old traditions.

Due to its strategic location, the region has been at the centre of numerous historical events: starting with the Roman legions, the invasion of the Germanic tribes, the region was occupied in turns by the Spanish, Austrians and the French. One of the most famous historical events linked to the region is the Battle of the Bulge that took place in the Ardennes during the Second World War. At the end of 1944, the Allied Armies of USA, Britain and Canada were on the brink of attacking Germany. Hitler thought that the alliance in the western front could be weakened by splitting the British and American line in half. Therefore he ordered a massive counter-offensive whose goal was to take back the French territory, to divide, encircle and destroy the enemy armies.

The official historical name of the battle is the Ardennes Offensive; the Germans called it the Operation "Watch on the Rhine" after their hymn "Die Wacht am Rhein" while the French named it "la Bataille des Ardennes". Considered to be a part of the Ardennes-Alsace campaign, the battle that took place between 16 December 1944 and 25 January 1945 is known to the general public as the Battle of the Bulge due to the fact that the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line. The offensive was supported by three German armies and was fought against what were mainly American forces. Hitler wanted to capture the major port of Antwerp thus eliminating an important source of supplies for the Allies, and after that to surround and destroy the enemy armies. The counter-offensive was planned as a secret operation and, although the US intelligence predicted a massive German attack, the Allies were caught by surprise.

The strategy of the Germans consisted of a massive armored attack. The winter in Ardennes with extremely low temperatures, low clouds and heavy fog favored the Germans because it minimized the advantage of the Allies. At the beginning the attackers had a great success and managed to punch a bulge in the enemy front line. However, this lasted only a few days.

Because of the fierce resistance they faced and the reinforcements received by the Allies, the Germans were not able to stick to the timetable as planned. The improving weather conditions allowed the Allies to use their air force by launching devastating attacks and by bombing the enemy supply lines. Because of this, the Germans soon found themselves unable to supply their armored force with fuel which was a turning point in the battle. When the shortage of fuel became critical, the Germans were forced in numerous occasions to abandon their equipment in order to avoid being surrounded or captured. Because of massive losses of forces and equipment, on the 7th of January 1945 Hitler decided to stop any offensive operations in the Ardennes and started the withdrawal of his forces.

The Battle of the Bulge remains an important battle in the history of the Second World War, especially for the Americans who paid the highest price in terms of forces involved and registered casualties. The Ardennes region still reflects the echoes of this event represented in numerous battlefield museums, memorials and historical monuments. Therefore the Belgium Ardennes remains one of the most visited places in Belgium, a mixture of nature, tourism and history visited by historians, veterans of the Second World War as well as by common travelers eager to discover one of the most beautiful regions in Europe.

Brussels is one European capital that's easy to miss on your grand tour of Europe. The whole little country of Belgium is easy to miss, but it's one that you really shouldn't. It has lots to offer. This grand old city is not only the capital of Belgium, it's the Capital of the European Union. Something you'll have to get used to in all of Belgium, is that there are two languages... everywhere. Dutch and French, so you'll often see signs in both languages. It's Brussels in English... "Brussel" in Dutch and "Bruxelles" in French. You'll get along fine in either language or English. Our friends in Belgium slip from one language to another with ease that puts us to shame.

Right in the center of the city is where you want to be. "La Grand Place" or "Grote Markt" is the main square right in the heart of the old town. This huge cobble stone square is surrounded by the city tower and 300 year old buildings... most of which were guild halls. There are really only a few old streets left around the square, but they're fun to wander. Shop for chocolates. Have Belgian Waffles with caramelized sugar on the square. (Luikse wafel or gaufre de Liege). Definitely have a beer. The Belgians are known for their beers... there are over a hundred breweries in this little country producing hundreds of different brands and many types of beer!

When you stop to eat, you'll have to have mussels (moules). You can have French fries (fritjes or frites) with them, or have fritjes as a snack. If you want to eat those fries as the Belgians do, have them with mayonnaise. The first time we visited friends in Belgium, they made it a point to serve us Brussels sprouts... but you don't have to eat those if you don't want to! If you order any of these as a snack, you can take them and sit on steps or benches around the square just as the locals do. Just a short walk from the Grand Place-Grote Markt is the Manneken Pis. EVERYONE wants to see this fountain with its funny little statue. And it is little.... smaller that you think it will be... especially since it's reputation precedes it all over the world. You know what we're talking about... the funny bronze statue of a little boy... well, Manneken Pis says it all doesn't it? Maybe he had one too many beers?

There is a museum full of little outfits that have been created for the little boy... if you're lucky (or unlucky depending on your viewpoint), you might even see him dressed in one, but they are usually kept in the museum. Signs will direct you to the corner where he stands. For a little culture, visit the Royal Museums of Fine Arts off one end of the main square. There are two museums linked together here, the Ancient Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. If you like early Flemish masters, the Ancient Art Museum is for you. You probably don't need to spend more than two or three days in Brussels to see it well before you move on to other areas of Belgium or Europe, but really, it's a great city that you shouldn't miss.

Strolling into an orange horizon along the River Scheldt, or just guzzling on refreshingly cold Belgian beer, Belgium is a medley that appeals to every traveller, alone or in a group, an art aficionado or a diamond merchant. It is believed that a smart traveller always befriends locals first. So here's what the country might look like to a local. The four C's that you are guaranteed here are an old world charm, ornate cathedrals, soaring castles and chocolates. Of course, you'll also find the charisma of the world's oldest diamond industry that dates back to the 15th Century. These and more provide enough reason to book a self catering holiday rental in picturesque Belgium, and soak up the fervour as the locals do.

If fashion is your culture, and culture is your fashion, then you might already know of the gems that are woven into the Belgian territories. While Belgian lace might top the list in popularity, The Museum of Tapestry and Textile Arts is not far behind. Interestingly, apart from witnessing some of the finest tapestry exhibits, this museum in Tournai also houses tapestry weavers, where you can see great hands and great brains at work at the Textile Art Research Centre. If exploring the realms of relics gives you an adrenaline rush, you will probably be on a constant high during your holiday in Belgium.

If this were not enough to satiate your thirst for variety, you could always witness the fashion finesse displayed by Antwerp's world renowned diamond cutters. It's no surprise that this city is home to the largest Diamond Museum in the world, where and image and sound' tour enhances your experience of this exquisite gem stone. Not far from this glittering experience are the Zoological Gardens. Home to almost 5,000 animals, it boasts of being the third largest zoological garden in Europe in terms of species.

This is just a peek into the grandeur and vivacity that awaits you in Belgium, a land that prides itself in producing a staggering 800 varieties of beer. Travelling in Belgium can be a story in itself. It is believed that the Belgian motorway system is the only man-made structure visible from the moon at night due to the lights all along the network. During your stay, the trams will prove to be an economical mode of transport.

It may help to keep in mind that Belgium has 3 official languages, namely French, Dutch and English.

Belgium is best explored from a private holiday home from a website such as holiday-rentals.co.uk. With plenty of space and privacy, you can relax with your own kitchen and living room while striking out to explore your surroundings feeling fresh every morning. If you are contemplating the best time to visit Belgium, do not waste time, for any time is good in Belgium. From exhibitions to beer festivals to carnivals to jazz concerts, every month is bustling with activity in this quaint little country.

It seems a little unfair that Belgium, a small country on the north-west European mainland, has been tagged as 'boring' by her neighbours. Ok - perhaps compared to nations nearby, it doesn't have such geological diversity; you won’t find great swathes of forest like in Germany, the hot sandy beaches of Spain or the towering Alpine mountains of France, but who cares about that? Everybody knows the most important thing in life is beer, and when it comes to brewing, Belgium is anything but boring.

Whilst other European countries continue to churn out bland, generic lagers, Belgium has excelled at producing a massive variety of high quality and interesting beers that have made the country synonymous with the amber nectar.

In terms of global popularity, the fairly ordinary, (thought perfectly drinkable) lager - Stella Artois - has dominated pubs around the world and especially in the UK. When first launched it was backed up by the ad campaign which proclaimed it to be "reassuringly expensive". This lead to it being seen as chic and exotic, but it has since dropped in stature somewhat.

In contrast to Stella Artois, the white beer Hoegaarden, is still held in high regard and is available on tap in many pubs and bars across the UK. It's cloudy nature and spicy taste (created by adding extracts of coriander and orange peel) is usually served in the huge trademark Hoegaardeen glass, and sometimes comes with a slice of lime - though some beer purists prefer it unadulterated. It's complex and fruity taste also appeals to the female market, who tend to be less keen on traditional ales and lager. The only downside of Hoegaarden is the cost; due to Hoegaarden being the first white beer widely available in the UK, it cornered the market early and thus tends to be the most expensive beer in the bar, with landlords enjoying a larger than normal markup, for no other reason than that people are willing to pay a premium for something delicious and different.

One of the most well known styles of Belgian beer are the Trappist Ales. Trappist is an order of monks that were (are) noted for their austerity and vow of silence - instead letting their beer do the talking. There are six Trappist breweries in the world and all are in Belgium. They produce brews that are highly regarded in gourmet beer drinking circles such as Orval, Chimay, Rochefort and Achel, which tend to be strong in flavour and in alcohol content.

If you're thinking about visiting Belgium to taste their beers first hand, the Bruges Beer Festival is a great place to start. There you'll find forty brewers offering over 100 different firms' beers, including 5 Trappist Breweries, and you'll be able to sample the best from Belgium's beer-y landscape. Hotels in Bruges get booked up quickly during the festival, so get in early if you want to sample Belgium's finest produce.

So, next time you hear someone say that Belgium is boring, tell them to put down their pint of Stella, and try an Orval, Hoegaarden or Achel, after all, there's more to Belgium than dull lager.

When you are planning a vacation to Belgium it is best to cover all bases before you get there. This includes planning out which sites and events you would like to experience while you are there. Belgium is the perfect destination for travel because it offers a little something for everyone including the most amazing sights, shopping, and of course the delicious Belgian chocolates that we all know and love. It is hard to find a woman who doesn’t love to shop, and in Belgium there are plenty of places to get your retail fix. Brussels, Belgium offers everything from the classy designer stores on avenue Louise to the different funky fashion boutiques that are on rue Antoine Dansaert.

Visiting Belgium always includes tasting the different authentic cuisines that are offered. Brussels is home to one of the best restaurants in all of Europe. You can also enjoy a host of other bistros, authentic restaurants, and cafes which have catering for all tastes. If you are into the night life or just a great beer, you have to visit some of the breweries in Belgium. This country is known for their Belgian beer and has been famous for its breweries since the middle ages when monasteries first began making beer. In total there are more than one hundred and twenty five breweries in this country.

Of course you can’t leave Belgium without tasting their world famous Belgian chocolate. When you hear Belgium that is likely the first thing that comes to your mind and it is hard to find someone who doesn’t enjoy chocolate. Just about every single café and shop offers some type of Belgian chocolates. After touring the country and tasting the different types of cuisine you will need a place to rest your head. The perfect place to stay while in Belgium is a quaint bed and breakfast which offers a room to sleep and breakfast in the morning when you awaken. They will not only save you time in the morning when you are looking for something to eat, they are also very well priced so you can save your money for the many attractions.