ealing_calling, we've been in Brugge last week and it's absolutely not top season now. We were surprised to see that we had plenty of restaurant choice on a sunny evening. Our waiter told us that by the end of this month, early Sep it will be much more crowded.

I think I will be able to make the fireworks on the 17th since my plane lands on the 15th. The fireworks used to be on a little lake behind that big resort like hotel. I can't remember the name.

usbeauty, that must have been La Réserve in Knokke. That must have been quite some time ago, because I've never known it being there and the first festival I remember seeing was in 1991 (that year me and my family didn't travel abroad because of the Gulf War and we went to Duinbergen for a month... imagine people being stopped now from travelling because of a 'little' thing like that...)

Yes, La Reserve, thank you stardust. It was quite some time ago. I think the first fireworks I went to was 1966, sponsored by St. Michel cigarettes.

Duinbergen for a month, not bad!

I am realizing that we have hijacked this thread horribly, and I am sorry for that.

usbeauty ... Tulips wrote it's at the sailing club. Hm, 1966 ... you must be getting old ...

stardust ... we didn't travel by plane that year, either. Spent our holidays in France - had a great time BTW!

Myriam, et al, it was most DEFINITELY high season this week-end!!!! The streets around the Markt and Burg were so crowded we could barely move. There were live music concerts and other things going on, every place in the center core was jammed and then some.
We stayed at the Sofitel just off the t'Zand and give the hotel major thumbs up. The building was originally a 17th century convent. Our room was large, beautifully furnished, and even better, had a really kicking air conditioning system. We slept like logs in incredibly comfy beds with big fluffy comforters and huge pillows. In addition, the room came with a complimentary welcome box of chocolates (good ones too), big bottles of sparkling and still water, bag of macaroons, plus a coupon for two free drinks at the bar, and late checkout (4 pm). Not bad for 110 euros, including tax. Overnight parking at t'Zand cost 6.10 euros. We were relieved to be away from the madhouse inner core, yet still within easy walking distance of the main sights. We will certainly stay there again and recommend the hotel highly.
We had dinner last night at Bhavani, an Indian restaurant. Decor very pretty, food ok, service mixed--the guy who works there is very nice, the woman hostess/waitress very arrogant. Not the best Indian we've ever had, but that's what we were in the mood for and Indian restaurants are thin on the ground in central Brugge.
Today was HOT. Still very crowded everywhere around the Markt and Burg, as well as other main areas, so we spent most of our time browsing the big flea market on the t'Zand and surrounding streets. My husband was keenly interested in an old Dutch police bike, complete with leather gun holders, but at 400 euros, not in the budget and not the most practical thing. Instead, we ended up buying a 19th century German ceramic tray. We had lunch at one of our favorite casual places, Bonheur, on 44 Smedenstraat, near the hotel. Although it was marginally cooler on the terrace, it's wasp season and they were harrassing everyone at the outdoor tables. We ate inside with no wasps trying to join the meal.
Overall a nice week-end, but I can't wait for high tourist season to end. And for the cooler weather to arrive.

Not long ago, my wife and I traveled for about three weeks in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands on our own.

At no time did we have any problems with language -- our problems centered on calories! What glorious food and such nice people -- everywhere.

We were on our own because our mission was to visit American military cemeteries, looking for the graves of old friends who died there in '44 and '45. In every instance, using the American Battle Monuments Commission web site, we found each and every grave. And thanks to the gracious help extended to us by local citizens, we had no problems finding the location of each cemetery. Some are off back roads, hidden from passing traffic. Thousands and thousands of white marble crosses and stars of David. You are left breathless.

Because for a long time it was the U.S. policy not to bury any American soldiers or airmen on German soil, the cemeteries are mainly in Belgium and Luxembourg. There is only one U.S. cemetery in the Netherlands, at Margraten, just east of Maastricht. Although there was a U.S. attendant at each cemetery, the groundskeeping is performed by local citizens. We saw local families placing flowers on graves they had adopted, particularly at Margraten.

As a Dutch friend said, "It's the least we can do after all you have done for us."

This thread has veered away from discussion of language, but I do want to share what a Belgian friend of mine says. I e-mailed her the thread, and she wrote back that the word "Flemish" may be seen as comparable to "American" while "Dutch" is comparable to "English." In her words, "we refer to Flemish painting, Fl people, Fl government etc., like we do to American
people, government etc. However, when it comes to designating the language we refer to it as Dutch. The same happens here. We say 'English language classes'
in school, 'English grammar' etc., although, theoretically we could call them "American language "classes', 'American grammar' etc. By the way, this friend is a translator, mainly of English into Dutch (Flemish...).

Except there was a time, for many years, that Belgian "Dutch" was called Flemish. I wondered in an earlier post when this change to "Dutch" occurred and why. That article on the BBC site did a nice job in discussing some of that. And you never hear what we speak in American called "American" except somewhat derogotorically.

Is French spoken in Antwerp, or mostly Flemish? We are only spending one day there, en route to Paris, but I'd like to know in advance what the standard is. I know some French, so I thought it would be helpful here. Although it sounds like we can get by in English, I don't want to just start speaking English to locals, it seems rude.

Flemish is the main language in Antwerp, although most of the population will also speak French and English.

In fact, quite some Flemish people (especially the younger ones) prefer speaking English to speaking French. One reason is that some people think that these 'stupid' foreigners don't know that Flemish is the most spoken language in Belgium and feel a bit insulted, the other one is that English is just a lot more used in the every day life of a youngster, therefore they are more comfortable with speaking it.

<<I don't want to just start speaking English to locals, it seems rude>>
I really don't understand why it would be 'rude' to speak English to the locals! Being an Antwerpian myself, my guess is that shopkeepers/restaurant people/etc. will better understand English than French, especially French spoken by a non-French.
You really don't have to worry about speaking English in Antwerp.
Enjoy your day!

I live near Antwerp, and agree that it is better to speak English than French in Antwerp. If your native tongue is French, you'll be forgiven for speaking French in Antwerp, but if not, then please speak English.

I am a Belgian, Flemish person who lives 'down under' for a while. Even people who have been to Belgium often think that the Belgians speak Belgian or French only. When they hear us talk flemish they think it sounds Norwegian or German. When you listen to Norwegian you would understand that mistake though! No excuse for German

When you visit Belgium, english can be used everywhere in Flanders but in the south you'll have to say 'Pardon?' a couple of times. It is easier for a Fleming to speak English first of all because they watch original movies and soaps and Flemish (Dutch) is closer to English. When I look for an English word I just make a Dutch word sound English and if that doesnt work I take a French word. Works most of the time

And yeah sometimes I prefer to say I speak Flemish because in English, Dutch sounds too much like it has got something to do with Germany
Also the Dutch don't think we speak Dutch. They start to laugh when we speak. When they try to have a conversation with us though we have to remove the spit off our faces every 5 seconds.

Anyway, have fun in Belgium!