Gent-Bruges-Antwerp-Brussels
#2
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 285
Bruges- We went early morning and wandered before the restaurants opened. We ate waffles at the Waffle House. Cozy and warm waffles. Then we explored all over by foot, then took a canal ride. Great way to see parts of the city. We did walk through a huge park and then had frites in the main square for lunch. By then a lot of crowds so we went exploring some more and ended our da at De Halve Maan brewery. Great beer and a hot chocolate. We did not eat there but the food looked delish.
Ghent- Our first night there we ate at De Superette. We had a great Mortadella pizza and a very unique salad. Very quirky place with tons of locals. Would definitely eat there again.
We walked all over the town. The parks were beautiful. The artwork and buildings throughout the city interesting. We did not gwt to see the castle the day we were there,,,,it was having some odor issues
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.
Ghent- Our first night there we ate at De Superette. We had a great Mortadella pizza and a very unique salad. Very quirky place with tons of locals. Would definitely eat there again.
We walked all over the town. The parks were beautiful. The artwork and buildings throughout the city interesting. We did not gwt to see the castle the day we were there,,,,it was having some odor issues
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,889
In Brussels you can take Art Nouveau tours of the city - the dominant form of architecture in the suburbs - although two of the standout structures will be the Horta Museum (house of the architect Victor Horta) and the Museum of Musical Instruments, housed in the former department store 'Old England'. You can also walk the Comic Strip route (not sure if this is the correct name), where many of the city's blank walls have been painted with scenes from comics (an important form of art in Belgium). And of course there are numerous medieval and baroque buildings (think Grand' Place) and the 19th century Galeries St Hubert, the first shopping arcade (filled with elegant shops, many of which sell chocolates).
You might like the Marolles, a former working-class neighbourhood which has been gentrified and which has many antique shops. It is near to the flea market (Place du Jeu de Balles), which is on every day but winds up at 2pm.
Lavandula
You might like the Marolles, a former working-class neighbourhood which has been gentrified and which has many antique shops. It is near to the flea market (Place du Jeu de Balles), which is on every day but winds up at 2pm.
Lavandula
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 5,562
Antwerp:
Art deco district in Berchem
Central Station
Modern architecture: MAS, palace of justice, the Zaha Hadid designed headquarters of the Port of Antwerp,
Hendrik Conscience Plein with the Carolus Borromeus church is beautiful.
For Belgian food? no specific recommendation, you eat fairly well everywhere. Maybe Chez Fred, in Kloosterstraat, for prawn croquettes and Belgian beef stew with fries.
Art deco district in Berchem
Central Station
Modern architecture: MAS, palace of justice, the Zaha Hadid designed headquarters of the Port of Antwerp,
Hendrik Conscience Plein with the Carolus Borromeus church is beautiful.
For Belgian food? no specific recommendation, you eat fairly well everywhere. Maybe Chez Fred, in Kloosterstraat, for prawn croquettes and Belgian beef stew with fries.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 119
@pagngo Thank you for the restaurant suggestions, I will check them out! What a strange reason for the castle to be closed!
@lavandula Thanks, I probably won't have time for an actual tour as my schedule is rather tight, I will have to wander on my own! I already have the Museum of Musical Instruments high on my list and will be sure to check out the Horta Museum and Marolles neighborhood.
@Tulips I might only have a half day in Antwerp so this is helpful, thank you!
Speaking of the Castle, has anyone been there and did you find it worthwhile?
@lavandula Thanks, I probably won't have time for an actual tour as my schedule is rather tight, I will have to wander on my own! I already have the Museum of Musical Instruments high on my list and will be sure to check out the Horta Museum and Marolles neighborhood.
@Tulips I might only have a half day in Antwerp so this is helpful, thank you!
Speaking of the Castle, has anyone been there and did you find it worthwhile?
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,843
Thanksgiving Week in Germany and Belgium
Trip report from our adventures
We adored Ghent, enjoyed Bruges as day trip from Ghent, and wished we'd had longer in Antwerp
Trip report from our adventures
We adored Ghent, enjoyed Bruges as day trip from Ghent, and wished we'd had longer in Antwerp
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,339
Gent makes a good base -easy day trips to Bruges one way and Antwerp the other.
Brussels has a lot of neat things but they take time to ferret out but one day there for many is enough. Fairly modern busy city with little old-world looks.
Brussels has a lot of neat things but they take time to ferret out but one day there for many is enough. Fairly modern busy city with little old-world looks.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,889
If time is at a premium in Brussels then you might be rewarded by visiting the tourist information in the town hall in the Grand' Place. They have self-guided tour maps so you can see the city in the best way, and possibly some of them are online, so do google the tourist bureaus for Brussels and Flanders. How much time do you have for your whole trip? and how much for each destination?
Lavandula
Lavandula
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,008
Originally Posted by PalenQ
Antwerp is a diamond center of Europe and some shops and 'factories' are close to the main train station - a Jewish area with many men wearng skull caps and traditional Orthodox Jewish garb.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 15,794
Two interesting museums that my husband and I enjoyed in Antwerp are the Museum Plantin-Moretus and the Museum Mayer van den Bergh. The first is a fascinating 33-room museum showing the home and printing plant of a family who ran a major publishing house for several centuries, beginning in 1576. The second contains a large and impressive collection of paintings, sculpture, stained glass, tapestries and manuscripts amassed by an art connoisseur in the 19th century.
In Brussels we really enjoyed the Horta museum mentioned by others. It is only open for a few hours on weekday afternoons, but for longer hours on weekends.
In Brussels we really enjoyed the Horta museum mentioned by others. It is only open for a few hours on weekday afternoons, but for longer hours on weekends.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,339
Interesting is subjective - I enjoyed strolling thru the Jewish/diamond district - not long. The most fascinating neighborhood to me was the Turkish area just north (?) of city centre - the red-light district in near there too-if it still exists - a mini one of Amsterdam's. I also enjoyed walking along the old warehouses of the old port area starting at the center. I went to Antwerp maybe 30 times on business but that was long ago but feel it is only better now.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 119
@palenQ great thanks, that sounds like a perfect plan to me for Antwerp.
@texasbookworm thanks for the trip report, I plan to read it this weekend!
@lavandula I will have several evenings in Brussels, so will likely walk to the grand place and go from there. I'm looking at one day for Gent/Bruges, maybe 1.5 and then 1/2 to full day in Antwerp. We shall see
@MyriamC will see where the historic district falls as well
@vttraveler thanks for the suggestions
@texasbookworm thanks for the trip report, I plan to read it this weekend!
@lavandula I will have several evenings in Brussels, so will likely walk to the grand place and go from there. I'm looking at one day for Gent/Bruges, maybe 1.5 and then 1/2 to full day in Antwerp. We shall see
@MyriamC will see where the historic district falls as well
@vttraveler thanks for the suggestions
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 20,742
For a 17th century mansion, the Reubens museum in Antwerp. You can't miss its train station if you travel by train. And there is this building along the main walking street:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1eDpkb
https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1eDpkb
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 20,742
The Van Buuren Museum just outside Brussels is worth a visit for its interior and gardens.
For Art nouveau in Ghent, visit the Decorative Art museum:
and its folk art museum in a former beguinjehof (sp?) is also worthwhile:
Last edited by Michael; Feb 22nd, 2019 at 10:44 AM.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,339
If in Antwerp more than a day the Middleheim Outdoor and Indoor Statue Park is superb- lots of famous artists - easy tram ride from Antwerp and easy t mix with the ArtDeco area around Berchem station. Middleheim:
https://www.google.com/search?q=midd...h=526&dpr=1.75
https://www.google.com/search?q=midd...h=526&dpr=1.75
