dsm22

I am looking for packing adivice and tips on traveling on a concert tour through the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. It will be in June or July. From what I have seen so far rainy and chilly seem to be the key words for Belgium. We have a set itinerary so tips on what to see would not work but I would love any good adivce on other things. Thank you.

stardust

June and July in Belgium can be anything from 15° C and rainy to 30° and heatwave, but most likely it will be around 24° and sunny, so really not too bad. Netherlands and Luxemburg should be about the same. If you want any more specific advise on bars to hang out after your concert or where to eat or something, let me know. Which band are you playing in?, what style, perhaps I can come and see you .

dsm22

Thank you for your reply to my message. If the temperature will be anywhere between 70 - 80 degrees F if i
am converting it in my head properly, it will be nice. I am afraid that i am not in a band. I actually sing in a choral group and we do both secular and
religoius music. Not quite as exciting as you thought perhaps? Sorry. I
do have 1 free evening for us to check out a bar or pub in Brugge, one in Ghent and one in Brussles. My husband drinks beer, but i do not. I understand that people who like beer seem to really enjoy sampling thru this
region. I have checked out some other travel and tourist sites and people have seem to almost have written dissertations on the subject of beer in this area and the sampling there of. Made me laugh.

stardust

I have a wide taste in music and so can appreciate choral music as well and I might still come
Is it just beer you don't like, or you don't drink any alcohol at all. Because even though I'm Belgian, I don't really like beer either, but you might wonna try some of the fruit flavoured beers. The most known is the cherry beer, called Kriek. My favourite brands are Liefmans and Lindemans. Another typical thing is fruit flavoured genevers (gin). They have about 20% alcohol and taste very sweet. Delicious yet dangerous
And as for the other beers, there's about 400 of them in Belgium, so 3 evenings will for sure not be enough to taste them all. Your husband should try some trappist beers and a Duvel and a Leffe at least (preferably not all in the same evening ;-)). As for good pubs in Ghent I can recommend "Waterhuis aan de bierkant" (The Waterhouse at the Beerside) and the typical Genever bar "'t Dreupelkot", both at the little riverside terrace at the Groentenmarkt. "De Dulle Griet" on the Vrijdagsmarkt is another good option. Make somebody order a big Kwak beer there and see what happens

dsm22

I also have a wide taste in music. I will listen to anything as long as I think it is "good music". Although for me Rap and Country are not usually in my rotation. It's basically beer that I dislike. I had a bit of a misspent youth and drank quite a bit when i was younger, dispite the fact that I did not care for it then either. Now I can not even stand the smell. I would be willing to taste cherry beer. Now fruit flavored gin sounds quite yummy. I have actually made my own apperitifs and I made a Plum Gin and an Orange flavored vodka which was quite good if I do say so my self. I will pass along the trapist beer tip to my husband. I am not sure about ordering a big Kwak beer, now that really sounds dangerous. I have to laugh because I am coming up with some seriously funny images. You see I am actually one of the youngest individuals in this choral group and I am no spring chicken. (Do they have that expression in Belgium?? Let's just say I am not yet 40 but getting there.) Some of these woman are in their 70's and 80's are we sure we want them to drink that?? Could make for an interesting evening. Thank you for the recommendations.

So as far as language goes do you think that it would be wise for me to brush up on my French??? It has been a long time for me, it bothers me because at one point I was pretty fluent. Of course when you never use it you forget. I grabbed my old books and I was suprised that I did remember some easy things. It may come back easily. Are you a native of Belgium? I have to say that since I started to research this trip I have seen some beautiful pictures. I am excited to go. I enjoyed my trip last year (Went to England and Scotland) and now I am mad
for wasting so many years before going abroad. Europe is so full of history. I really want to see Italy next. Better get moving I am starting to prattle on. Thanks again.

stardust

Sounds to me like you're the perfect genever person. Perhaps you can even exchange recipies with Paul, the owner of "'t Dreupelkot" (small, round guy with a white beard)

As for the language thing: in the Netherlands and Flanders English is widely spoken. In fact, many Flemish people prefer speaking English to speaking French. In Brussels quite some people speak English as well, even the French-tongued, but if you're going to smaller cities in Wallonia and Luxemburg, brushing up your French might be handy.

subcon

if your husband is a beer aficionado he must not pass up a visit to brugs beertje in bruges. it's on kamelstradt which can be a little hard to find but ask anyone. they have an astounding variety in a wonderfull and welcoming atmoshere.

if you don't like the lambic beers (fruit flavored), there is a nice little genever bar directly across the street which i think is affiliated in some way.

if you only have one night in bruges, don't waste it on any other place than brugs beertje!!!

dsm22

Thank you stardust and subcon. I am quite sure that I will be set to go on this trip with everyone's help and all the interesting things I am reading on this site. I do wish though that I was able to travel without taking a tour. It would be amazing to just pack up and head to Europe for a couple of months and be able to see and do more. But it is unfortunate that there has to be the reality of work, lack of vacation time and lack of funds. At least I get to go and travel a bit. That is more than some people get to do. Please don't think I am complaining. The schedule that was proposed looks quite full and I will probably relish the opportunity to sneak off for a genever.