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Started By
Message
Trip to Belgium .. anyone been .. any advice ** UPDATE
Posted on 8/14/18 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 8/14/18 at 12:28 pm
Been kicking around the idea of visiting Belgium .. where my ancestors came from.
Any and all advice, do's/don'ts etc. welcomed.
UPDATE
Trip is set. We will fly to Belgium and spend the week of 3/18 at a B&B close to the town of Diest (45 minutes east of Brussels) which puts me in an area between the two towns where my ancestors came from.
I have been working thru "Family Search" and other websites etc. to help locate "kin folks"..... looks promising.
I hope to at least make a trip to Bastogne since it looks to be only 1.5 hour drive from where we are staying.
We will take the train from Brussels to Amsterdam and then do a 7 day river cruise (Tulip Time) that winds thru Belguim/Netherlands and finishes back in Amsterdam.
Hopefully the weather plays along and isn't too cold.
Any and all advice, do's/don'ts etc. welcomed.
UPDATE
Trip is set. We will fly to Belgium and spend the week of 3/18 at a B&B close to the town of Diest (45 minutes east of Brussels) which puts me in an area between the two towns where my ancestors came from.
I have been working thru "Family Search" and other websites etc. to help locate "kin folks"..... looks promising.
I hope to at least make a trip to Bastogne since it looks to be only 1.5 hour drive from where we are staying.
We will take the train from Brussels to Amsterdam and then do a 7 day river cruise (Tulip Time) that winds thru Belguim/Netherlands and finishes back in Amsterdam.
Hopefully the weather plays along and isn't too cold.
This post was edited on 1/4/19 at 2:44 pm
12
Posted on 8/14/18 at 2:51 pm to ForLSU56
tducen or whatever loves Belgium and will be here shortly. Stay put.
Posted on 8/14/18 at 3:42 pm to ForLSU56
i flew into Belgium last fall and took the train out to Bruges. What I saw of Brussels on the train was pretty trashy, but that was a very limited view, admittedly.
Bruges was incredible and the weather was amazingly crisp in early October. I don't really have any advice other than to figure out the trains before you get there so you can get through that process seamlessly.
Bruges was incredible and the weather was amazingly crisp in early October. I don't really have any advice other than to figure out the trains before you get there so you can get through that process seamlessly.
Posted on 8/14/18 at 6:14 pm to ForLSU56
it's been years since i've been, and we only stayed for a few days. but chocolate, fries, waffles, and beer in brussels were tops. delirium bar and a la mort subite were memorable breweries. also check out the grote markt and mannekin pis (he is smaller than he looks).
and of course head to bruges for a day trip, it's an easy train ride.
and of course head to bruges for a day trip, it's an easy train ride.
Posted on 8/14/18 at 6:52 pm to ForLSU56
"Bruges, it's like a f'ing fairytale or something"
Posted on 8/14/18 at 7:59 pm to Statestreet
Brugges is a tourist trap imo. Ghent and Antwerp are cool cities and i woukd like to visit Dinant where tducen went a couple years ago.
This post was edited on 8/14/18 at 8:04 pm
Posted on 8/14/18 at 8:02 pm to ForLSU56
go for it. bruges is worth a day trip and antwerp is pretty neat. brussels? parts of brussels resemble east london ——middle east . the country side is relaxing. but, if i were going to that part if the world I would start in northern france and go eastward to amsterdam and up toward denmark.
Posted on 8/15/18 at 4:08 am to AlceeFortier
I studied abroad in Belgium for a month but it’s been almost 9 years. Antwerp was fantastic and Bruges is really nice but touristy. Brussels was much more diplomatic feeling because of the EU presence...reminded me of DC in that regard. Ghent and Leuven would be two others to research.
I am forever grateful for Belgium teaching me about beer. I need to take a trip back just to drink because it opened my eyes to a world other than Natty and Keystone
I am forever grateful for Belgium teaching me about beer. I need to take a trip back just to drink because it opened my eyes to a world other than Natty and Keystone
This post was edited on 8/15/18 at 4:09 am
Posted on 8/15/18 at 6:36 am to ForLSU56
Brussels is great if you like beer, Bruges is worth a day trip. Just make sure you don’t miss that last train for the day.
Wife just got back for the second time and said Ghent was beautiful.
Wife just got back for the second time and said Ghent was beautiful.
Posted on 8/15/18 at 12:51 pm to ForLSU56
Hallerbos Blue Forrest in spring time
LINK
Tour the castle in Ghent, there’s a museum inside
The Bell tower in Bruges is cool. Bruges is touristy, but I did enjoy walking around
If your interested in WW2 stuff, Bastogne is a must. Tour Bastogne barricks, the museum in Bastogne, check out foxholes dug by easy company in the Bois Jauques east of Foy.
Endulge in Belgium chocolate and beer. There beer is the best in Europe IMO. There is a Trappist brewery in Antwerp you can tour
LINK
Tour the castle in Ghent, there’s a museum inside
The Bell tower in Bruges is cool. Bruges is touristy, but I did enjoy walking around
If your interested in WW2 stuff, Bastogne is a must. Tour Bastogne barricks, the museum in Bastogne, check out foxholes dug by easy company in the Bois Jauques east of Foy.
Endulge in Belgium chocolate and beer. There beer is the best in Europe IMO. There is a Trappist brewery in Antwerp you can tour
This post was edited on 8/15/18 at 8:22 pm
Posted on 8/15/18 at 1:47 pm to choupic
Beer, Beer and more beer. I think I would also spend some time on WWI and WWII stuff.
Posted on 8/15/18 at 6:27 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Yes, I do, I'm planning a return trip back soon. Would love to buy property and retire in Belgium
Posted on 8/15/18 at 8:19 pm to ForLSU56
Chocolatiers give free samples... beer is plenty and the food is as good as what you find in France. Love it
Posted on 8/15/18 at 9:53 pm to tduecen
quote:
Yes, I do, I'm planning a return trip back soon. Would love to buy property and retire in Belgium
You were supposed to offer him advice!
Posted on 8/16/18 at 4:42 am to Teddy Ruxpin
Will do, will type it up with a few pictures this evening
Posted on 8/16/18 at 7:05 pm to ForLSU56
Ok so I love Belgium as Teddy said, I spent 21 days with my main place of stay being in Brussels.
Essentially I spent
2 days in Antwerp
2 days in Ghent
2 day in Bruges
1 day in Dinant
1 day in Liege
1 day in Rochefort
1 day in Namur
1 day essentially just driving the country side
The rest of the time I was in Brussels which I found plenty of stuff to do.
Now first of all if you plan on drinking this is the place for you, with Delirium, Cantillon, Maredsous, Westvleteren, Rodenbach, etc they have something to drink and beer is cheaper than water or coke at most places we visited.
The second thing I loved about Belgium was the history, I learned a lot about their place during WWI and WWII. I mean I completely dove into it and visited concentration camps nearby, I visited former armories, former underground tunnels, etc. This was absolutely fascinating to me because you don't really learn much about it unless it is something you are interested in. I was able to speak with people who lived during WWII about their time and what they experienced which I found unique because so often we only hear from American Soldiers or people who were placed in concentration camps.
The third thing I enjoyed was visiting the churches and seeing how absolutely gorgeous many of them were. I mean many were several hundred years old and very unique on some of the tours we were able to take. I must have visited 20+ churches and even stopped in on a Sunday to witness it in person. The artifacts that many had in display cases dated several hundred years old.
The fourth thing I enjoyed was the countryside, it was beautiful. From restaurants overlooking the cliff to the waterways within cities to the mountains that we saw in southern Belgium. We spent a day in the field and driving around just to look at stuff around the country which was pretty amazing. They have hiking, kayaking, climbing, etc and the country is small enough to drive through in a day. We also spent a lot of times in the parks.
I also enjoyed the food although most of what I ate was at little cafes on the sidewalk and stuff. I did not go to one of the fancier sit-down places because I wanted to drink. I didn't have a bad meal but I had a surprise meal when I ordered meatballs and it was more of a meat tartare. Almost gagged that one out that is for sure.
I did do the chocolate tour where we went and watched them make chocolate and then they allowed us to try and make some and we were able to take it home with us. Sadly my Manneken Pis didn't look like anything but a little blob.
If it was considered a sight-seeing thing then I saw it, but I didn't just go and take the picture and leave I usually spent the day and explored. So some of the castles I was in for several hours, same with the churches and parks. Everyone is different and many people say you can see everything in a couple of days which is true, you can if you just want to drive by get the picture to say you've been. I found there more to do than what was recommended and enjoyed my time immensely obviously.
LINK Here are some of the pictures I took and I have thousands more but I only shared a few. I can answer more questions about things to do depending on your interest because the GF liked to shop, we both drank, I love history and she wanted to do the sightseeing.
Essentially I spent
2 days in Antwerp
2 days in Ghent
2 day in Bruges
1 day in Dinant
1 day in Liege
1 day in Rochefort
1 day in Namur
1 day essentially just driving the country side
The rest of the time I was in Brussels which I found plenty of stuff to do.
Now first of all if you plan on drinking this is the place for you, with Delirium, Cantillon, Maredsous, Westvleteren, Rodenbach, etc they have something to drink and beer is cheaper than water or coke at most places we visited.
The second thing I loved about Belgium was the history, I learned a lot about their place during WWI and WWII. I mean I completely dove into it and visited concentration camps nearby, I visited former armories, former underground tunnels, etc. This was absolutely fascinating to me because you don't really learn much about it unless it is something you are interested in. I was able to speak with people who lived during WWII about their time and what they experienced which I found unique because so often we only hear from American Soldiers or people who were placed in concentration camps.
The third thing I enjoyed was visiting the churches and seeing how absolutely gorgeous many of them were. I mean many were several hundred years old and very unique on some of the tours we were able to take. I must have visited 20+ churches and even stopped in on a Sunday to witness it in person. The artifacts that many had in display cases dated several hundred years old.
The fourth thing I enjoyed was the countryside, it was beautiful. From restaurants overlooking the cliff to the waterways within cities to the mountains that we saw in southern Belgium. We spent a day in the field and driving around just to look at stuff around the country which was pretty amazing. They have hiking, kayaking, climbing, etc and the country is small enough to drive through in a day. We also spent a lot of times in the parks.
I also enjoyed the food although most of what I ate was at little cafes on the sidewalk and stuff. I did not go to one of the fancier sit-down places because I wanted to drink. I didn't have a bad meal but I had a surprise meal when I ordered meatballs and it was more of a meat tartare. Almost gagged that one out that is for sure.
I did do the chocolate tour where we went and watched them make chocolate and then they allowed us to try and make some and we were able to take it home with us. Sadly my Manneken Pis didn't look like anything but a little blob.
If it was considered a sight-seeing thing then I saw it, but I didn't just go and take the picture and leave I usually spent the day and explored. So some of the castles I was in for several hours, same with the churches and parks. Everyone is different and many people say you can see everything in a couple of days which is true, you can if you just want to drive by get the picture to say you've been. I found there more to do than what was recommended and enjoyed my time immensely obviously.
LINK Here are some of the pictures I took and I have thousands more but I only shared a few. I can answer more questions about things to do depending on your interest because the GF liked to shop, we both drank, I love history and she wanted to do the sightseeing.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:17 pm to tduecen
Spent 3 days there in March of this year. Loved Ghent -- stay at the Hotel 1898 The Post, like staying in a castle. Would probably not do Brussels again. I think the small towns are better.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:40 pm to tduecen
We are looking to do a trip heavily to Belgium in 2020. My wife is pregnant now, so it is the next time we can make it to Europe most likely. Looking at doing 4-5 nights in Paris, 7-8 in Belgium in a nice house with a decent yard or park close by, and then a couple nights out of amsterdam since neither of us has been there yet.
Any recommendations on a centrally located place to stay? Ghent seems like the obvious choice with short train or car ride to both Bruges and Brussels among everywhere else.
I've been to Belgium briefly and really looking forward to the beer, food, chocolate, and fairly low tourism.
Any recommendations on a centrally located place to stay? Ghent seems like the obvious choice with short train or car ride to both Bruges and Brussels among everywhere else.
I've been to Belgium briefly and really looking forward to the beer, food, chocolate, and fairly low tourism.
Posted on 8/17/18 at 4:38 am to baldona
Ghent was more of a laid back city with the canals for me. Antwerp offered a bit more, had the diamond district, and the park was really nice. For Ghent I spent most of my time touring the castle, on the boat touring the city, the church, Dulle Griet, and eating near the canal. Sadly I didn't explore on foot as much as I should have. I wanted to go to the market, Graffiti Street, and a few other castles/Abbey's.
This post was edited on 8/17/18 at 4:41 am
Posted on 8/17/18 at 8:23 am to lynxcat
quote:
opened my eyes to a world other than Natty and Keystone
who the frick drinks that horse piss? no yeungling? sam adams? abita amber? plemnty good beer here. europe has always had great beer.
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