Bouncing around Belgium

We spent a week bopping around the Belgian cities of Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.

June 9, 2023

A mini tour of Belgium followed our trip to Amsterdam. My sister and I hit Brussels and Bruges, and then I continued on to Ghent and Antwerp before heading home.

Sights

Brussels

We only spent about 22 hours in Brussels, but immediately liked the bohemian vibe. We absolutely did not like dragging our luggage across the cobblestone streets to get to the Airbnb host’s office and then the Airbnb—only to find the elevator broken and having to haul 2 checked bags. One by one. Up the narrow spiral staircase. To the fifth floor.

Airbnb view

Even better bathroom view

Grand-Place de Bruxelles

The awe-inspiring city square alone was worth the 5-story luggage haul.

Chocolateries

The only thing more impressive than the chocolates in Belgium were the number of chocolateries—and the number of genital-shaped waffles. Obviously couldn’t go without one of those.

Brussels parks

We wandered around a couple parks that somehow still looked pretty in the rain.

City wandering

We found some cozy, kitschy bars and spent the morning at the daily flea market—whose antique offerings would have been much more tempting had our luggage not already been pushing our physical limits.

Folk music made beers much more enjoyable

Bruges

Bruges was agreeably our favorite city we visited. The picturesque Market Square with horse-driven carriages ensured Bruges lived up to its fairytale town reputation.

Chocolate chip cookie room

The view

Market Square

Belfry of Bruges

We made the mistake of climbing the 366 steps after our night out, but the breezy tower and views of the city’s red roofs were worth the mild suffering.

Canals

The canals made the scenery that much more quaint as they carved through the city.

City wandering

We loved wandering down the streets to admire the unique stepped gable roofs. We also hit every antique and Christmas shop we came across—and the one night club my sister managed to sniff out.

Ghent

Ghent was another turn-and-burn trip, spending at most 24 hours in the city, but it was enough time to wander the city and see the major sights—including a nice little bout tour along the canal, the belfry, and the medieval castle Gravensteen.

Airbnb view

Canal boat tour

I wouldn’t have gone out of my way for the canal boat tour, but it was a great way to relax after a day of traveling. And to learn some absolutely useless knowledge—like that Manneken Pis in Brussels was a dedication to the children whose urine tanned hides because adult urine had too much alcohol in it, and that a building with 2 swans facing away from each other symbolized a brothel in medieval times.

Gravensteen

Despite dodging children the entire time, the 1100s "Castle of the Counts" was still a fun way to kill a couple of hours.

Belfry of Ghent

I was hoping to climb the entire belfry like we did in Bruges, but their rules make you take the elevator up the belfry because walking up the stairs is too dangerous—but deem it safe enough to take the stairs down the belfry.

City wandering

Antwerp

I liked Antwerp for it's slower pace than the other Belgian cities I visited. I could have spent 1 day there instead of 2 and felt like I’d seen most of what the city had to offer, but it was nice to enjoy some leisure time.

Airbnb view

Antwerpen-Centraal

Antwerp certainly made sure you were impressed when you entered and left the city via train.

Cathedral of Our Lady

I would have gone to church a lot more if we had this a cathedral this incredible to worship. You could supposedly book a tour to walk up the clock tower, but the third party that managed the tours (because the cathedral ironically didn’t own the tower) was booked out months in advance.

City wandering

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