Belgium Anyone?

[sulis]

I'm so excited. I may be going to Belgium this fall. I have never been to continental Europe. It will probably only be for a week to 10 days, but I want to see and do as much as I can. Have any TE ladies traveled to Belgium before? I would love to hear your suggestions on must see and do things.

I already found out that most of their train stations rent bikes so that will be my main mode of transportation. :p

[Grog]

Hi Sulis,

I was in Brussels just three weeks ago, and saw a lot of people commuting on bikes, although I would certainly not call the city itself road-bike friendly. The Brussels drivers are much much more patient and calm than their Paris counterparts, but make sure you're visible, this is not Amsterdam.

My friend Hugues Van Rymenan also bikes a lot around his hometown of Namur (http://www.fugitif.net for wonderful pictures to inspire you - click on "La Photo du Jour" or just click around, it's in French but easy to follow).

A few years ago I was in Brugge and noticed that it would be nice to have some time to rent a bike and have a small ride along the canal.

I wouldn't expect to be able to rend road bikes, but who knows. In any case, I think bigger tires will be helpful because it's likely you'll ride along canals on gravel roads. Of course, it's flat. :)

Bring rain gear, like a rain coat and rain pants, and your own helmet if you can and think it's VERY important (or buy one there), because it's not certain you'll be able to rent one.

And explore the beers!!!

Have fun!

[VenusdeVelo]

Hi Sulis,
I live in NL (US expat) and have travelled quite a bit in Western Europe. Belgium is great for some roadriding, but if you mtn bike, the Ardennes in Belgium is spectactular. You'd need to catch a train or drive there though. Antwerp is not a bad city, very eclectic, but not as "charming" as some other European cities. You can also easily visit Netherlands from Belgium, and places like Brugges which are very picturesque. Even a train to Germany is quite easy and quick. And Paris by train from Belgium is about a couple of hours.

Do you want to visit lots of cities, bike, leisure biking or ?

Feel free to PM or email me (my screen name at yahoo.com) if you want more detailed input.

Renee

[sulis]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I'm not quite sure what to expect. I have never had the opportunity to travel to continental Europe. And belgium sounded so quaint so we decided to meet there. I may try to rent a road bike one day to go for a nice long ride, but mostly I was thinking the bikes to get around in the cities. But who knows, my friend and I are both hardy walkers (and she isn't a cyclist beyond riding around in the city)

We will most likely stay in Brussels and take trains to different areas for day trips. I want to go to Flanders. But to be honest, I don't know much about Belgium so I don't know what there is to see there. However, that is my favorite part about planning a trip to some place I have never been -- the research and discovery. :D

Absolutely beautiful pictures. Thanks for the link. They make me want to go right now! :p

[Grog]

But who knows, my friend and I are both hardy walkers (and she isn't a cyclist beyond riding around in the city)

I've never cycled in European cities, but I have WALKED my soles off. (Literally sometimes.) I just walk everywhere. So convenient, and gives you a viewpoint that even cycling is too fast for. For the smaller cities around it should be a great addition though: some cities are very very small so you walk around quickly, but the outskirts are beautiful and well worth cycling around. Unless you know precisely what you are doing or going with a local club, probably road biking wouldn't be as pleasant anyway...

If you have 10 days, I would consider an overnight trip to Amsterdam or Paris.

enjoy the excitement!

[jobob]

I went to Brussels a few times for work about 10-12 years ago but I don't have much more practical advice to add.

I didn't have very much opportunity for sightseeing but I did get a chance to wander around the Grand Platz and the surrounding narrow, cobbled streets and check out the great little shops. I remember lots of lace shops, and chocolatiers (yuumm). And my coworkers had an uncanny ability to find great old pubs, but that's not very difficult to do there. Do check out the beers if you're so inclined, they are not at all like the beer we have in the states. I always marvelled at the fact that every beer was served in it's very own, distinctive glass.

If you like mussels, that's a speciality of many of the restaurants. Molues, I think they were called. Served with pomme frites. Yuuum.

Hope you have a great time.

- Jo.

[laughlaugh18]

I've been to Brussels a few times (cousin who lives there). It's different from many other European cities because of its position as the seat of European government - it's very cosmopolitan. It's also a big city. There are centuries old buildings right next to post WWI buildings (lots of bombing in the war).

In Brussels, there's plenty of English. One of the unusual things about Belgium is that it's half French and half Flemish, and each thinks they're best. Depending on what part of town you're in, you may see street signs in either or both languages. And, you haven't lived until you've seen an American movie subtitled in both French and Flemish.

Be prepared to eat lots of fantastic chocolate - Neuhaus, Leonidas and Wittamer are 3 great ones (better than Godiva, IMHO). My absloute favorite is a small place called Manon, but it's off the beaten track. Make sure you try the fresh creams; they are absolutely the best thing ever!

It is easy to do day trips on the train to other areas. Absolutely do not miss Brugges, and take a big memory card for your camera. I wasn't into biking when I was there, but I recall seeing bike rental places - it's flat and bikes are the best way to get around. The charm of Brugges is walking/biking around the city. There's great shopping, a good art museum and some good small chocolate stores. I've also done Ghent (another quaint small town with a famous triptych by Jan Van Eyck) and Antwerp on day trips.

In Brussels, of course you'll want to do the Grand Place (Grote Markt in Flemish) area. The Grand Place is magnificent - make sure you get a good guide book so that you can identify which facades are for which guild. If you are amused by the mannkin pis (the statue of the peeing boy), check out the museum on the Grand Place that has all the costumes that have been sent for the mannikin pis from around the world - it's a hoot.

Also check out the Grand Sablon square area. There are alot of cool shops in the area. Eat at Le Pain Quotidien - it originated in Brussels. Wittamer is also on the square (yes, there definitely is a chocolate theme here). Mussels and frites is a Belgian specialty. And really good beer.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Definitely get a guide book. You'll have a great time.

Cathy

[withm]

Wow! What a lot of great info! I am going there in Sept with 2 biking friends on a Vermont Bike Tours trip. We will be traveling by barge from Brugges to Amsterdam, biking 20-30 miles each day, and looking forward to sampling lots of beer, cheese, chocolates, diamonds, etc. What more could a girl want? As I start to study the itinerary I'll be looking for even more "must see or do" events along the way. I wish we were leaving tomorrow but it's still 5 months away. I love mussels too.

Couple of quick questions - We will be near water all the time - do you think it would be possible to det a little kayaking in somewhere along the way?

Also, we have 1-2 days in Brugges at the beginning, and 3 days in Amsterdam. We want to see some museums, flower market, but will be too late for the Keukenhoff Gardens (did I spell it right?). But I'm starting to collect recommendations on other sights or restaruants or museums to see, so if anyone has more suggestions, sing out!

Thanks.
Martha

[DirtDiva]

If you want to do the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam, do it first thing in the morning or later in the evening. The queue is out of this world the rest of the time. The Van Gough museum was quite good, but also pretty busy.

[sulis]

Wow! What a lot of great info! I am going there in Sept with 2 biking friends on a Vermont Bike Tours trip.
Thanks.
Martha

When are you going to be there Martha? That is too funny that we are both planning trips there for September. Although mine will most likely be at the later part of the month.

Thanks ladies for all the fabulous ideas and suggestions. I knew I could count on TE to point me in the right direction. I'm with Martha...I wish I was going now! :p

[withm]

our dates are 9/27-10/11 ish. Don't know flights or anything yet. We fly Philly to Brussels, "transfer" to Brugges. 1, maybe 2 nights in a hotel in Brugges, then move to the boat for the next week or so, then 3 nights in Amsterdam sans bikes. Vangogh is high on my list. Anne Frank - well - I suppose we will have to go there but I may try to sell the gang on other pursuits - so much to see, only 3 days...