Travel to Belgium

When you arrive in Bruges you might get the feeling of stepping back in time. Willow lined canals, cobbled streets and old whitewashed almshouses all evoke a sense of times gone by and this perfectly preserved city is the ideal place to lose yourself in. The experience you have in Bruges will differ depending on the time of year you decide to visit. The climate in Belgium means summers are mild with an average temperature of around 16ºC. Winters are cold due to the icy winds that blast down from the Baltic.

Bruges summers are the most pleasant time if you fancy a little sunshine to accompany you on your travels and make the perfect time for outdoor activities. In winter time you can sometimes skate on the canals and have the city almost to yourself as summer is peak tourist season. Once you arrive in Bruges the best way to get around and explore is to walk and as many of the major attractions are located within the circle of boulevards that mark the line of the old city walls it is easy to make sure you do not miss out on anything.

The city centre is very compact and flat so it is easy to navigate. The flat terrain also makes cycling popular and many of the roads have cycle lanes. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride from Markt Square for a traditional way to see the city streets. A canal cruise is a relaxing and enjoyable way to get your bearings when you first arrive and you could easily mistake the city for Venice with its maze of waterways and romantic bridges. Part of Bruges age old beauty is its bridges, of which there are around fifty. The Peerdenbrug is the most ancient whereas in stark contrast lies the contemporary Conzettbridge, named after Swiss architect Jürg Conzett.

Other sights you will not want to miss out on include Michelangelo's Madonna and Child in the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwkere), a 13th century church with a 122 metre tower which was built over three centuries in various different styles. Many recitals and one-off productions also take place in the city’s centuries-old churches and Koninklijke Stadsschouwburg is a good one to visit during our time in Bruges. Music lovers would also enjoy a trip to the sleek and modern Concertgebouw which offers an array of opera, dance, classical concerts and theatre.

When it comes to museums, the Groeninge is a firm favourite due to its collection of Flemish art dating back to the 15th century. There are several different ways to travel to Bruges and you can even catch a high speed train from Britain which will whisk you there in just under two hours leaving you with more time to enjoy your time in one of Belgian’s finest cities.

Antwerp is one of the most important economic centres of Belgium. It is the fifth largest harbour in the world and probably the most productive one. This is no wonder, as the Belgians are the most productive workers of the world per working hour. And the Antwerp harbour workers also score high with yearly productivity.

Apart from the economic importance Antwerp has always been and still is one of the most important cultural and artistic cities of the country and of Europe. Old masters like Peter Paul Rubens an P. Van Dyke lived and worked there. The city’s cathedral is among the most famous and beautiful of the world. The cathedral and a number of places of the city play a very important role in the famous story “The Dog of Flanders” which is extremely popular in Japan.

When you visit this city, be sure to visit the famous Antwerp cathedral one of the important masterpiece of European Gothic.. Its construction began in 1352 as a church. But only in 1559 it became known as the Antwerp cathedral of Our Lady. It is among the finest and exquisite gothic constructions of Europe. Famous architects worked on it: Jean Appelmans, Herman de Waghemakere, Domien de Waghemakere, Antoon Keldermans II and Rombout Keldermans. What you can see now as a beautiful architectural masterpiece is indeed the work of centuries. The central nave is flanked by three aisles. Each aisle has 48 pillars. The total length of the Antwerp cathedral is 117 m. Its interior height is 40 m.

Spanish emperor Charles V also had his influence on some parts of this magnificent construction. The Antwerp cathedral suffered a lot from water damage, wars and plundering, but it has always kept its unique grandeur. When you visit the place, you’ll be able to see three paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, Antwerp’s most famous painter. They are: the Descent from the Cross , the Elevation of the Cross and the Resurrection. 

Antwerp has a lot of museums, art schools, cultural centres and academies. It is , like Paris, London and Milan, one of the most important fashion cities of Europe. In the old beautiful city centre you can find great restaurants, excellent hotels in every price range and typical Belgian bars and cafés with the world famous Belgian beers.

Bruges is one of those great little cities that tourists love. It seems to have been frozen in time... and in fact it was. Back about five or six hundred years ago, it was a busy river port town, then the harbor silted up and traders moved on. This little walled city didn't change for centuries, and that's why it's thriving today... because it is so well preserved.

Tourists do crowd this medieval city of gothic design, but somehow you don't mind. We've never felt there was anything wrong with calling yourself a tourist and going to the most popular destinations... everyone wants to see them for a good reason. Brugge is in the Flanders part of Belgium. Did I confuse you with that spelling change? Just so you know what you're looking for... remember that French/Flemish language sharing arrangement in Belgium.... It's Bruges in French as well as English, and it's Brugge in Flemish (or Dutch).

This historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city center. Structures and squares and canals are preserved. Head first for the Market Square. This is the heart of town and you can get your bearings from here. The city center is closed to cars, so if you drive in, find a parking lot on the periphery. It's an easy city to explore on foot. As an alternative, since this is a tourist town, you'll find horse-drawn carriages to take you around the cobblestone streets.

You can always find the Market Square because it is crowned by the Belfry tower. This Bell tower has been here for seven hundred years. If you're lucky, you might catch a carillon concert... The carillonist plays a manual keyboard to ring the 47 bells. Cruise the picturesque canals, and you'll discover hidden gardens and quaint bridges. This romantic city looks even more romantic from a boat on the canals. There are museums where you can see early Flemish paintings... you may find they were painted right in this city. Visit the churches, tour the 14th century City Hall.

If you are a chocoholic, you'll love Bruges. There are 49 chocolate boutiques according to the official Brugge website... AND a chocolate museum! You'll be tempted by stores all over town. They are so serious about their chocolate that some of the family run chocolate makers shut down if the weather gets too hot... don't want to ruin the chocolate!

Bruges' crocheted lace was famous in the 16th century, and you can still see ladies making it. Shops are full of lace edged hankies, lace collars, lace mats... anything lace you can imagine. There is always time for a Belgian beer... take a brewery tour in and sample a beer at the end for a small fee. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and it's given in three languages. So when you're in Belgium, find this little town that time forgot, but tourists have found. Even though you won't feel like you discovered it for yourself, the Old World charm in Bruges will win your heart.

With bordering countries like the Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg, it's not surprising that Belgium is a country with a rich and inspiring history as well as being a melting pot of languages, traditions and culture. Belgium is perhaps best know for three iconic things – cuisine, Nato and fine art. These attractions make Belgium an interesting place to visit at any time of year with something for all the family to enjoy.

Foodies the world over hold Belgium in his regard. Home to many a Michelin Star restaurants, Belgium is also the birthplace of french fries, the waffle and, of course, has strong links with chocolate. Zeebrugge – one of the countries Gothic cities – even boasts a chocolate museum where visitors can try their hand at making some of regions famous pralines and truffles.

Regarded for its cuisine, Belgium also plays an important role in the political, financial and economic well-being of Europe and the wider world with the European Union and NATO both based in Brussels. An early participant in Europe's industrial revolution means Belgium has a strong business basis and also plays host to financial giants such as Fortis insurance amongst others.

If chocolate or politics isn't your thing, Belgium also boasts the lure of fine art for those with a creative eye or a penchant for galleries and museums. The Flemish Renaissance and Baroque painting means Belgium is not only a milestone in the evolution of modern painting but also home to some wonderful works by painters such as Hans Eworth and Bernard van Orley. Take a wander around Belgium's many cities and you may also be interested by the flourishes of Art Nouveau with Belgian architects instigators of the movement.

Are you a fan of cuisine, culture, art or politics? Belgium offers these interests every day of the year so don't think twice and book your trip today!

The summer of 2005, my friend and I decided to apply for a summer program as part of our graduate degree and travel from United States to Europe and specifically to Bruges in Belgium, so as to attend an intensive seminar at The College of Europe on Politics, Policies, Lobbying and the European Union. Although I have never visited Belgium before, I was really excited to discover, while browsing the internet, that I was about to visit one gorgeous and historical city of the "Old Continent," while enhancing my academic knowledge and meeting new people.

Before leaving the US we printed any information we could find regarding the city's tourist locations, interesting cafes and historic buildings. Although Bruges is a very small town, it offers a lot of possibilities to those interested in exploring its excitements. But even if it surpassed our expectations, visiting only one European town or country seemed a waste for such a trip. Thus, we decided in advance to research the opportunities a young graduate student has while traveling around in Europe and the most convenient, cheap and interesting way to go from city to city and country to country was via train. The Eurorail trains are the simpler way people have to visit a variety of European destinations, as boarding a train actually offers to the adventure-seekers the possibility of having an extraordinary trip and admiring the countryside in the meantime.

In fact, upon the completion of the summer program, we packed our bags and traveled from Brussels to Amsterdam. The Netherlands' capital was a combination of beauty and adventure. The city streets, the people walking or bicycling around, the nice weather and its countless river docks create a unique combination of images, which are food for hungry eyes-like ours. Since we had less than 48 hours available to see as much as possible, we decided to pay a visit at the Van Gogh Museum, walk the Red District by night, and of course take the tram to travel through the city and gaze its unbelievable beat.

Next stop was Paris, France. Lucky as we were to find an available and affordable room as soon as we got off the train station, the next thing was to find a map of the city and its incredible metro system and travel around to check everything! Notre Dame, bridges, the Eiffel Tower, the Bastille, Champs-Elysees, small cafes and long walks across the Seine River or through the area of Montmartre, made our stay in Paris unforgettable. In fact, one of the best pictures we got from this trip was in front of the Arc de Triomphe and we took it by ourselves-both faces appear on the frame. Monte Carlo was our next and most expensive destination, but its beaches and sun gave our trip a legendary feel.

Next, we visited Italy. Florence and Venice, two of the most important trade cities in Europe offered us some life-time opportunities. Historical monuments, paved streets, canals, museums, restaurants and Italian cafes convinced us that Italy is actually much more than an interesting destination. In fact, I fall-in-love with almost every single building we crossed and by the time we had to catch our plain back, I though we have made a huge mistake; our eight day trip should have lasted a lifetime.