Travel to Belgium

Leuven is a small city in Belgium, and the capital of the Flemish Brabant province located just 16 miles east of Brussels.  Belgium is a popular European destination for many travellers as it shares borders with France, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. The popularity with student backpackers may also be because Leuven is considered a "student city" with most of the residents being students during the academic year. The University (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) offers an extensive range of courses, with a lot of them being in English and only at Masters level and higher. Being a student city it is perhaps no surprise that the Leuven has a very lively night scene, with a large number of bars and cafes all in close proximity. Leuven is also proud to say that it has the "longest bar" in Belgium, which is actually a long row of bars in the old market (The Oude Markt).

Leuven is also very famous for its architecture, with many places of note that really have to be seen to be believed. The Old Town Hall, built in the 14th Century is a stunning example. It has simply breathtaking detail to its Gothic design (apparently it has a Brabantian late-Gothic style) and is a very popular attraction with tourists. Other locations include St Peter's Church, Saint-Anthony's Chapel, the Linen-Hall and the University Library. A lot of the popular architecture in Leuven includes Churches and Chapels, so it is worth speaking to a tour guide that knows the area so you can create a varied itinerary as there is a lot to see.

When looking a Leuven Hotel, there is plenty to choose from depending on your budget. There are plenty of cheap locations based on the high percentage of students and student visitors, but this is very basic. If you're looking for more of a luxury weekend or a romantic break, there are lots of traditional styled hotels. Alternatively, you can select a very modern hotel with sleek interior designs and lots of facilities.  All these hotels have a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and most if not all the staff speak excellent English.

Leuven may seem like an unusual choice for a destination, but there is so much to see and do. Not only is there jaw dropping architectural masterpieces, but there are clusters of interesting bars, market places, museums and parks. If your planning on visiting, make sure you check to see if there any exhibitions or events on so you can experience the vibrant and lively city at its best.

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.

Ghent, Belgium is a friendly university town that is full of ancient buildings and history. If Bruges is a city filled with tourists looking for a time warp, Ghent is a city full of students and locals just living life... Like Bruges it started as a port, but unlike Bruges, it still is an important port. It's a city of flowers with a flourishing flower export trade.

It has museums and ancient architecture, but it's a modern city. True, the city center is a pedestrian area that is like a museum to early Flemish architecture... and a testament to the city's medieval might, but it's surrounded by a real life city. The tourist brochures say it has more historic sites than Antwerp and is more down-to-earth "real" than Bruges. While I love Bruges, I think I agree with them.

It's not high on a lot of tourists lists, but it deserves to be. Though I admit, the only reason we went to Ghent in the first place was because we had hosted a student from the university one summer in the U.S. As a tourist, it's the old city center you want to visit. You'll find a wealth of history to explore within the outline of the old city walls. You'll see impressive Gothic sites, such as dramatic St. Bavos's Cathedral and the Castle of the Counts. The city's medieval core is cradled within a loop of the River Leie, which surrounds the old town like a moat.

It's a big city... Belgium's fourth largest, but you'll only be dealing with the center. The historical center is divided into "areas". To find your way around on the tourists maps you need to become familiar with these areas.... don't worry, there's no quiz and it's not hard. The historical city center is in the area called Toren-site. To the north is Patershol, which contains a lot of the best restaurants. To the south is the Kunstenkwartier, where most of the universities' 50,000 students congregate. There are numerous waterways passing through the city center. The city started as a settlement on the Scheldt and Lys (Leie) Rivers. But you don't need to know all the rivers and canals.... just know that all this water makes the city pretty.

Castle of the Counts is an imposing fortress type castle in the heart of the city -- The Gravensteen area or "Gravensteen-site". This imposing castle was RE-built in 1180 (and then restored in the 19th century). It overlooks the city from it's battlements high up on the keep and you get a great panoramic view of the city from the tower. There is an authentic medieval district in the shadow of the Castle ... It is still partially surrounded by a medieval moat. The area called Toren-site is the historical heart of the city. This is where you'll find Saint Bavo Cathedral with the Ghent Altarpiece - The Mystic Lamb by Hubert and Jan Van Eyck. This famous multi-section altarpiece was completed in 1432, and is worth a look whether you're an art lover or not.

Walk over St. Michael's Bridge, also in the heart of town... in the Graslei-site. The Graslei is one of the most scenic places in Ghent's old city center. From the bridge, you'll have a wonderful view of the skyline of Ghent with the three impressive towers of St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry with its bell tower, and Saint Bavo Cathedral. If all of these areas make the city sound spread out... it's not; at least not the historical center. You won't get lost in Ghent... pedestrian signposts are everywhere. So stop and explore this historic Dutch city; you'll be glad you did.

Royal Museum of Fine Art, Antwerp

A beautiful and a huge compilation of paintings from the 14th century are found in the Royal Museum of Fine Art in Antwerp. Despite from the outstanding art collected works, the neoclassical planning of the museum is outstanding.

Waterloo

The fierce battle of Waterloo finished the Napoleonic Wars on June 18th in the year 1815. Napoleon I was overpowered by the Duke of Wellington. There is ample of battle belongings to visit together with the Lion of Waterloo victory monument , a huge man-made hill with a 28-ton lion on the apex. For the people who have the strength to climb  200 steps, the lion offers an imposing authoritative sight of the spot.

The Ypres War Memorials and the Flanders Battlefields

The town of Ypres is compared with the First World War. Speckled all through the neighboring countryside are quiet memorials to the deceased of the 1st World War. Must pay a visit to genuine dugout in Sanctuary Wood, the full-size modernization of scenes from the War in the Hooge Crater Museum and the trench of John McCrae where he had written the poem "In Flanders Fields", etc. The most touching sites comprises of the 170 British military cemeteries to be found around Ypres.

Tongeren

Tongeren is a very old city in Belgium. Initially a chief Roman throttlehold, the city was damaged twice. Firstly in the 4th century by Norsemen and later by the Salian Franks in 881. The Gallo Roman Museum in the middle of the city, which is constructed on the vestiges of a big lavishRoman villa, presents a startling insight into the settlement and its olden times and civilization.

The Town of Spa

The city of Spa has been famous from the Roman times for its swimming baths. It became so high-flying and the very word spa got associated with this place and was used for restoring and mollycoddling in the English language. Right from 16th century, the wealthy, majestic and well-known have visited Spas to be re-energized and recharged by the therapeutic powers of the areas waters and baths.

The Diamond Museum, Antwerp

Antwerp has been from the beginning been the major centre of diamond dealing out and the diamond business. The renowned ‘Antwerp cut' and the highly developed systematic investigation are renowned in this fascinating museum. There is a restructured nineteenth-century diamond and a jewel chamber in which we can see some precious pieces of jewellery. Every Saturday afternoon you can observe a diamond-cutter working over here.

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.

Unlike the title, Belgium is much more than just the chocolate-box of the world, but that is not something coming as too much of a surprise to tourists, particularly to those who have been there. The country is more than 175 years into its independent existence, and is hardly showing signs of ageing! True, there have been valiant attempts to alter its downtrodden image, but the change has taken shape in a most natural manner. There are quite heavy impressions of medieval architecture uncannily preserved here. Coming to the cities, Brussels and Antwerp lead the pack, followed by Bruges, which is pleasant despite, and also because of, the fact that there are scores of tourists perpetually present here at every single day of the year. Ghent, on the other hand, is a slightly scaled down version of the more dynamic cities of the country, so to speak. Once a city that rivalled Paris in its splendour, Ghent is today happier playing second fiddle to cities like Brussels.

Belgium is an undisputed leader when it comes to moral freedom. Gays and lesbians have been given equal rights compared to heterosexuals, while Euthanasia, a concept that is condemned and criticised in most parts of the world, was legalised in 2002. The topics of discussion over a couple of Duvels, the country's signature pale ale produced in the town of Breendonk, are aplenty, which is also one of the reasons why the country is having one of the most social environments in the world.

Brussels certainly has a split personality in every sense of the word. The competition rages on in many forms – Flemish v/s French, unique v/s boring and happening v/s historic. Eurocrats and red tape set aside, the point of conflict, so to speak, are not just limited to the predictable ones. However, it is this healthy disparity in the times of globalisation that sets the mood for a tourist's unforgettable sojourn in Brussels. The city is also known for its café culture, Art Nouveau architecture and fine dining options. Surreal art also comes to life here, in the northern suburb of Jette, to be specific. The variation in architecture ranges from the age-old Grand Place to the new-age Art Nouveau façades. In the midst of all this, the quality of life is superb – great shopping, numerous choices for eating, 'out of the world' chocolates, and an enviable pub culture.

Known as the unsung city of the Flanders, Ghent is situated between Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. A canal city that is as visually spectacular as it gets, it has more often than not been ignored by tourists, and that is why those who choose to tread the road not taken are rewarded handsomely. Sitting on the junction of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, the crowning glory of Ghent is the Het Gravensteen castle. Having an illustrious history, thanks to King Charles V, the city today is the capital of the Oost-Vlaanderen province, and also Flander's biggest university town.

To constantly stay in contact with family and friends while in Belgium, there is no better service provider than Matrix, as up to 80% savings are assured, with fantastic savings on every call and network coverage among the best in the world.

If you are lucky enough to be taking a trip to Belgium, there are multiple types of accommodation that is available. You can go with a four or five star hotel if you want the ultimate experience with charm and class. Many of these hotels are parts of a larger hotel chain, while others are boutique in nature. If you want to experience the best accommodations, than you will have to pay the price. You should expect to pay at least two hundred dollars a night for these rooms.

When planning a trip to Belgium you can also choose to save a little money and make yourself feel more at home by staying at a quaint bed and breakfast. These are the best value and experience as you get to sample the local food and meet new people in the area for anywhere from sixty dollars to one hundred and sixty dollars per night. Bed and breakfast accommodations often have a very relaxing, homey feel to them which is perfect for someone who is on vacation.

If you are going on vacations in Belgium and want to save as much money as possible for the amazing attractions and dining, than you should check out the many hostels that are available. These rooms will usually cost you around twenty to thirty five dollars per night, which is the perfect price for anyone on a budget.

One of the popular places to stay in Belgium is the Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre. This hotel is easily accessible from all major areas in the city. The rooms are decorated in warm tones with marble bathrooms, mini bars, cable TV, as well as wooden desks. All guests can enjoy the traditional delicious French cuisine and amazing panoramic views of the city while working out in the fitness room. This hotel starts at about ninety five dollars a night.