With a population of about 260,000 people, the city is small enough to hold onto that old-world charm it’s known for, and big enough to have a modern cosmopolitan feel.

Ghent is one of the oldest cities in the country, so you can expect to see medieval architecture and cobblestone streets mixed in with modern public squares, markets, world-class museums, and outstanding restaurants showcasing the food scene the city is famous for.

The friendly locals embrace the good life and make the most out of their free time. The best time to witness this zest for life is after dark, when the city is beautifully lit up and the beer – which the city is also known for – flows.

A number of festivals are held throughout the year in Ghent, including the Ghent Festival and the International Film Festival of Ghent.

Below are 15 of the best tours in Ghent.

1. Take a Private Walking Tour of Ghent

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Meet your guide at your hotel or pre-determined meeting spot and get a private walking tour of a Medieval area of Ghent in the historic heart of the city.

Walk along the old streets and see many of the main attractions, including St. Nicolas’ Church, Gravensteen Castle, St. Bravo’s Abbey, Dulle Griet, House of Alijn, and Town Hall.

Admire the beautiful architecture as you take in the sights and sounds of this vibrant section of the city. End the tour at the Old Fish Market.

2. Feel the Wind Through Your Hair with a Bike Tour of Ghent

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Meet your guide and be provided with a mountain bike, helmet, and complimentary water bottle so you can explore some of the more off-the-beaten areas of Ghent in comfort. During this three-hour tour, you’ll see parts of the city that aren’t usually seen by tourists.

Soar through the suburbs and more natural areas of the city but see some of the well-known landmarks as well. Along the way, you’ll see colorful street art and hear stories and facts from your informative guide.

3. Get a Taste of Belgium Beer

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Belgium is known for its beer, and the city of Ghent is the perfect place to experience a lively local bar scene and taste some of the great beers that are brewed in the country.

Meet up with your guide in the city center and spend the next three hours admiring the architecture of the city, seeing iconic landmarks, tasting local delicacies, and sampling a variety of craft beers. Along the way, learn about the history of local brewing techniques.

Before you even get to the first bar on the tour, you’ll stop at your guide’s preferred chocolate shop, where you’ll have the chance to sample some sweets and get some tips on how to pair chocolate with beer.

During the tour, you’ll taste beer at five local watering holes, each with a different atmosphere. You’ll also play a fun beer game with your fellow tour participants.

At the end of the tour, your guide will provide you with suggestions on the best bars to go to if you wish to continue sampling local beers on your own.

4. Enjoy a Relaxing Boat Trip Through Medieval Ghent

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During this 50-minute tour, you’ll get to see some of Ghent’s most beautiful landmarks from a unique perspective – a boat.

During your sail through the Medieval center, you’ll pass by St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Fish Market, St. Nicholas’ Church, Castle of the Counts, and the Belfry, before sailing through the ancient port of the city.

Along the way, your knowledgeable guide will narrate the fascinating history of Ghent and provide information about historic sites.

5. Visit Belfort of Ghent without the Line-ups

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This ticket allows you to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Belfort without having to wait in line to gain entry.

During your visit, you can climb to the top of this must-see attraction in Ghent. Once at the top, you’ll admire panoramic vistas from the 14th-century tower, which is also the tallest belfry in the city.

6. Take a Combination Bus/Walking Tour of Ghent

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During this 2.5-hour tour, you’ll explore Ghent by bus and on foot and see various architectural styles and historic sites.

The tour starts on the bus. As you make your way through the city streets, you’ll see the Millionaires’ Quarter, St. Peter’s Church, and Vooruit.

The walking tour focuses mainly on the historic center of the city, where you’ll see Woodrow Wilson Square, Fortress Gerard de Duivelsteen, the Belfry, Town Hall, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, The Friday Market, and St. Nicholas’ Church.

Listen carefully as your guide recounts stories of times past and provides a history of the buildings along the way.

7. Play the Escape Room Game

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Escape the city for some time while trying to escape from a room in a unique setting inside Bar Bielologie. You’ll have one hour to solve clues and puzzles that will help you escape the room before the time is up.

Kick back with some local beer in the cozy bar afterward.

8. Participate in a Private Photo Session

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Whether you’re traveling alone or in a group, it can be hard to get good photos of you and your party while exploring Ghent. This private photo session is the perfect way to capture your visit and have something to look at for years to come.

Your professional photographer will suggest the best locations to take the photos and make recommendations on what you can do to ensure you get the best shots. In the end, you’ll have edited HD photos of your memorable trip.

9. Indulge in Local Chocolate

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It’s not hard to find places that sell local chocolate while wandering the streets of Ghent. However, it’s hard to know which places have the best chocolate. On this two-hour walking tour, you’ll have a chance to admire some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, such as Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, and sample eight different chocolate-based treats at some of the city’s best shops. Learn about the city, its famous sites, and its notorious chocolate-making history.

10. Take a Guided Tour of Mons Memorial Museum

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During any trip to Ghent, you’ll get a number of history lessons covering various time periods. The Mons Memorial Museum is a must-visit if you wish to get a lesson on one crucial but painful time in the history of Ghent and Belgium as a whole.

During this tour, you’ll make your way through the museum at your own pace while your guide, who is also a local historian specializing in war history, recounts the history of that time.

See artifacts and exhibits relating to the soldiers and the battles they fought during World War 1 and World War 2.

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The city is mostly known for its foodie scene, which includes Belgian chocolate and plenty of beer. A popular place to indulge in these things is in the Grand-Place Square, where quaint little cafes and pubs are tucked away in 17th-century buildings.

A number of historical buildings, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, line the old streets, and the city is home to an abundance of parks and almost 100 museums.

Throughout the year, many festivals take place in Brussels, including the Brussels Summer Festival, The Iris Festival, Couleur Cafe Festival, and The International Fantastic Film Festival on Brussels.

Below are 13 of the best tours in Brussels.

1. Take a Walk Through History in Brussels

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Walking tours offer visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the city and its people. This 2.5-hour walking tour of Brussels is the perfect way to see many of the iconic sites and learn more about the history and culture of the city.

Follow your knowledgeable guide as he or she leads you through the historic heart of Brussels while pointing out notable places and telling stories about life in the city.

You’ll make your way to the Atomium, a national symbol that was originally meant to only stand during Expo 58.

2. Taste the Food of Brussels

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When it comes to delicious food and drink, Brussels is known for more than just chocolate and beer. Join a foodie expert guide on this food-tasting journey through the streets of Brussels.

During this three-hour tour, you will sample ten local food items, including street foods, traditional favorites, and dishes representing the city’s mix of cultures.

Enjoy some Bloempanch sausage with a local beer in a downtown cafe; chow down on fries dipped in mayo the way Belgians eat them; try a waffle with a cup of coffee in a traditional cafe.

As you make your way from place to place, pay close attention as your local guide tells stories and provides tips about the local foodie scene.

3. Learn all About Art Nouveau

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Brussels is known for its unique architecture, which includes many buildings built in the Art Nouveau style.

During this three-hour tour, your local guide will tell you everything you need to know about this style of architecture as you make your way around various parts of the city that are home to famous examples of Art Nouveau.

Start your journey at the Grand-Place, where you will jump on a tram headed for the Bailli District. Here, in this pretty village, you will see some of the most important Art Nouveau buildings in the city.

Other notable buildings you’ll see include Old English House, Hotel Tassel, Hotel Ciamberlani, and The Beukman House.

The tour ends in front of the museum dedicated to the man who started the Art Nouveau movement, Victor Horta.

4. Take a Day Trip to Cologne and Monschau

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Escape Brussels for a day of sightseeing and exploring picturesque Monschau and historic Cologne in nearby Germany.

As you make your way towards the border in the comfort of a coach, you’ll see the stunning scenery of the Eifel mountain area and get a history lesson and hear stories from your knowledgeable guide.

Your first stop will be the small town of Monschau, where you’ll have some free time to wander the cobblestone streets and alleys.

Next, you will explore the lively city of Cologne. Explore the Roman walls and see medieval buildings. Admire a beautiful cathedral and relax on the shores of the Rhine. Use your free time to do some shopping in the world-class shops and try legendary Kolsch beer in a cozy pub.

5. Explore Brussels with a Flexible Walking Tour

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This two-hour tour will take you to many of the top attractions in Brussels, but it doesn’t need to follow a strict itinerary. The tour is flexible, and your guide is open to suggestions that can include venturing off the main tourist path.

As you and your local private guide make your way through the historic city, you’ll see notable sites, including the guild houses on Grand Place, Mannekin Pis Statue, and Place Royale.

Along the way, your guide will tell you about the history of the city, and how it came to be the fascinating place it is today.

6. Take a Trip to Bruges by Train

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With this eight-hour tour, you’ll arrive in the medieval city of Bruges in style. Hop on a train in Brussels to make the journey to Bruges, where you’ll join a local guide on a comprehensive walking tour of the historic city.

During the tour, you’ll taste genuine Belgium chocolate and beer and admire art at the Groeningemuseum. You’ll also see famous attractions, including the Church of Our Lady, Market Square, De Halve Maan Brewery, and Benedictine Convent of the Begijnhof.

After the guided tour, you’ll have three hours to explore the city on your own. Grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant or take a canal cruise before hopping back on the train for the return trip to Brussels.

7. Learn about the Great War with a Flanders Fields Remembrance Tour

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Embark on a 13-hour historical journey highlighting infamous sites of the Great War. Start your journey in the comfort of a coach and make your first stop at a German Cemetery.

Next, visit the WW1 trenches and Essex Farm Cemetery, where John McCrae composed his celebrated poem “In Flanders Fields.”

Along the way, you will also stop at The Brooding Soldier, Passchendaele Battlefield, and Tyne Cot Cemetery, which is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. You’ll also cross the border into France, where you’ll tour the Vimy Memorial.

Before heading back to Brussels, you’ll witness the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate.

8. Beautiful Tulips and Historic Delft

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On this 12-hour tour into the nearby Netherlands, you’ll spend the day being immersed in scenery, history, and culture.

Join your local guide on a comfortable bus and make your way through the beautiful countryside filled with bulb fields and windmills.

Stop first in the picturesque town of Delft, where you’ll see canals and old buildings, including a church that’s home to the underground burial chamber of the Dutch Royal Family. You’ll have some free time to browse the craft shops and explore the town.

Next, you’ll make your way to the Keukenhof Estate, where you’ll learn all about tulips before being given the opportunity to explore the stunning gardens, which feature more than seven million flowers.

9. Explore the Caves of Han and a Wildlife Park

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If you would like to explore the natural side of Belgium, depart Brussels and make your way to the Caves of Han, where you’ll take a tram ride to the entrance of these underground caves. See stunning natural galleries and halls lit up by LED lighting.

Next, head to the Wildlife Park, where you’ll see bears, reindeer, raccoons, and many other wild animals.

10. Discover the Heart of Europe

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Take it all in with a comprehensive, eight-hour combination minivan and walking tour of Brussels. Meet your guide at your hotel and set out to see a combination of attractions both old and new.

Taste local beer and dine on traditional local fare. Pass by many architecturally-important buildings and historical sites, including Royal Palace of Laken, Atomium, Palace of Justice, Waucquez Warehouse, and the EU district.

After a lavish lunch, take a walking tour through the city center and see more historical attractions, including Grand Place, Kathelijneplein, and Place St. Cathérine.

11. Spend a Day Exploring Bruges and Ghent

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If you wish to explore two of Belgium’s most charming cities in one day, this ten-hour tour takes you on a journey to Bruges and Ghent.

Meet your guide in the center of Brussels and make the 100-kilometer trip to Bruges. See many of the historic attractions that make the heart of this city a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During your wanderings, you’ll get to see the Lake of Love, the former Red Light District, Church of Our Lady, Gruuthuse Palace, Markt Square, and Dijver Canal.

You’ll have some free time to explore on your own and have lunch before heading onto Ghent. Once again, you’ll explore the old city streets and see top attractions such as Castle of Gerald the Devil, Belfort, St. Nicholas’ Church, and the Castle of the Counts of Flanders.

12. Discover Upper and Lower Brussels

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The city of Brussels is split into two sections – upper and lower. On this three-hour private tour, you’ll get to explore both.

Meet your guide at your hotel and make your way to the Grand Place in the Lower City. Admire historical landmarks and top attractions such as Manneken Pis, St. Catherine Square, and Saint-Hubert Royal Galleries while your guide provides you with some history of the area.

Next, you’ll climb uphill to the Upper City, where you’ll see more iconic attractions, including the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Place des Palais, and the Musical Instruments Museum.

13. Get a Taste of Brussels

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Brussels is known the world over for its great-tasting beer and delicious cuisine; you can experience both on this 3.5-hour tour.

Start your culinary experience in a tucked-away Belgian Tavern, where you’ll sample your first local beer. Move onto three more taverns that are off the beaten tourist path to sample three more local beers.

Next, head to a restaurant in the center of the city and pair four more local beers with various dishes, including mussels, chocolate pie, frites, and beef stew.

14. Take a Private Tour of Antwerp

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Get picked up at your hotel in a luxury vehicle and head to Antwerp for a five-hour private tour of this historic city.

Arrive first in the heart of the city where you’ll wander Marquet Square. Here, you’ll see very old houses and tour Our Lady’s Cathedral which is home to two of 17th-century artist P. P. Rubens’ paintings.

Next, you’ll visit a diamond workshop and learn about the manufacturing of diamonds and how Antwerp is one of the world’s leading producers.

Before heading back to Brussels, you’ll drive by the oldest section of the city’s harbour.

15. Go Shopping in Maasmechelen Village

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The shopper’s paradise of Massmechelen Village is only a 90-minute drive from the centre of Brussels and visitors to the city can easily spend a day shopping by simply hopping on the Shopping Express coach that departs the city.

Take in the lovely scenery during the drive and upon arrival, start browsing more than 100 boutique shops and outlet stores. With deals as steep as 60% off the retail price, you’ll find local and international luxury brands at a fraction of the price you’d normally pay.

Before heading back to Brussels, enjoy a bite to eat with the help of your included EUR 20 voucher for Ellis Gourmet Burger. Also included with this tour is a EUR 50 Maasmechelen Village Gift Card and a VIP card offering 10% extra savings at select shops.

The post 15 Best Brussels Tours appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

It’s also known for its cobblestone streets, a historic city center that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best-preserved medieval buildings in all of Europe.

Bruges has quickly become one of Europe’s top travel destinations. People come for the museums, the delicious food and beer, the stunning architecture, and the abundance of things to see and do in and around the city.

They also come to enjoy the many festivals that take place throughout the year, including Blues of Bruges, Choco-late Chocolate Festival, and Summer End Festival.

Below are 13 of the best tours in Bruges.

1. Tour a Chocolate Museum

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Humans have been craving the sweet taste of chocolate for thousands of years, and visitors to Bruges can learn all about its fascinating history with a tour of the Choco-Story Chocolate Museum.

Learn about how chocolate came to be a beloved treat for people all over the world, and the changes it went through over the centuries to become what it is today.

See more than 500 items associated with chocolate in the museum’s collection. Watch chocolate being made right before your eyes and enjoy delicious samples.

Be sure to take your time going through the museum as the ticket is good for the entire day.

2. Take a two-hour Guided Tour of Bruges

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The best way to really get to know a city is to walk around it. Visitors to Bruges can do just that with the help of a local guide, who will provide information about the history and culture of the city.

This two-hour walking tour starts just outside the central train station. As you make your way through the historic city center, you will see many attractions, including Lake of love, Walplein Square, Begijnhof, Church of Our Lady, Gruuthuse Palace, Dijver Canal, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

You’ll also get some free time to explore on your own and grab a bite to eat in one of the restaurants or cafes along the way. At the end of the tour, your guide will provide you with a map, some recommendations on things to see and do, and a discount card for restaurants, shops, and museums.

3. Explore Bruges on a Rickshaw

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There are many ways to explore Bruges, but likely the most comfortable way is via Rickshaw. During this one-to-two-hour tour, you will enjoy the sights and sounds of both well-known touristy areas and lesser-known neighborhoods.

Start the tour in Market Square. As you go along, see many of the most notable landmarks and attractions before heading into territory you would otherwise not know about.

Listen carefully as your knowledgeable guide tells stories about the history and local lore.

4. Learn How to Make Belgian Chocolate

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If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make chocolate so you can enjoy the treat anytime you want, this Belgian chocolate-making workshop is for you.

Spend two-and-a-half hours learning the theory behind chocolate-making, learning about tips and tricks to make sure your batch comes our right every time, and making your own chocolate. You’ll make both Pralines and Mendiants, which are the two most popular Belgian chocolates.

When it’s all said and done, you’ll have about 30 fresh chocolates to enjoy with a glass of homemade hot chocolate.

5. See the Highlights and Hidden Gems of Bruges

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Spend three hours wandering the cobblestone streets, admiring canals and medieval buildings, and exploring lesser-known corners of Bruges with a knowledgeable, local guide who knows about the places that aren’t typically listed in the tourist books.

This comprehensive tour will take you away from the tourist crowds and into areas of the city popular with the locals. Along the way, see the oldest brewery in the city, admire the interior of a Gothic church, relax on the banks of the Lake of Love, and indulge with a chocolate tasting at a Belgian Chocolatier.

This tour is flexible, so if there’s something else you would like to see, make sure to mention it to your guide so he or she can try to add it to the tour.

6. Take a Trip Back to the Middle Ages at the Historium Museum

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If you find yourself wondering what it would be like to experience the city of Bruges the way it was in the Middle Ages, this ticket will allow you to do just that. As a bonus, you can skip the line-ups and enjoy a complimentary drink as well.

The Historium Museum is one of the most popular attractions in the city. Upon arrival, your host will provide you with an introduction, followed by a virtual reality trip to the year 1435. During your travels, you’ll fly over the city to see what it looked like during that lively time and sail into the port of Bruges.

An interactive exhibition is also on-site; this is where you can learn everything there is to know about Mediaeval times in this fascinating city.

Before you leave, enjoy your complimentary beverage in the Duvelorium Grand Beer Café, where you’ll also have the opportunity to sample a range of Belgian Beers.

7. Dinner and a Show with a Medieval Twist

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Travel back to the year 1468, where you’re a guest at the wedding banquet of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York. Over the course of five hours, spend the evening celebrating and indulging in food, drink, and entertainment.

Enter the former Jesuit Church in the historic city center and start the night off with a four-course dinner similar to one that would’ve been served at that time.

Enjoy delicious, carefully-prepared dishes, including pate, soup, bread, spare ribs, chicken, and an assortment of vegetables, followed by a dessert of apfelstrudel.

Following dinner, costumed entertainers put on a lively performance featuring jousting, dancing, falconry, sword fighting, and flame swallowing. Choose from an assortment of local wines and beers as you enjoy the show.

8. See all the Top Sites in One Tour

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Make your way to the Vivaldi Restaurant, where you’ll meet your local tour guide, who will take you on a three-hour journey through Bruges on foot.

See many of the most iconic sites in the city, including the Church of our Lady, where you’ll see Michelangelo’s Madonna. Belfry Tower, Burg Square, Church of the Holy Blood, and the Beguinage are also some of the landmarks you will see on this tour.

At the end of this three-hour tour, you’ll be given the option to take a remarkable canal tour.

9. Indulge with a Beer and Chocolate Tasting Tour

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This three-hour tour combines historical attractions with local delicacies. Get picked up at your hotel and join your knowledgeable guide, who will take you through the historic heart of the city.

The Fish Market, Dijver, Minnewater, The Burg, and Market Square are just some of the notable landmarks you’ll see along the way.

Sample tasty Belgium chocolate and learn about the history of this beloved treat at the Choco-Story Museum, followed by a three-course lunch at the De Halve Maan Brewery.

After lunch, tour the brewery and learn about modern brewing techniques.

10. Dive into World War History

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Whether you are a World War history buff or someone who wishes to learn more about the great war, this in-depth, nine-hour bus tour covers a number of iconic sites related to World War 1.

Take in the beautiful scenery as you roll through the countryside in the comfort of your air-conditioned coach as it makes its way to Ypres. See the 55,000 names on the Grand Menin Gate Memorial.

Visit restored trenches, bunkers, a well-preserved battlefield, and war graves. Before heading back to Bruges, you’ll stop to take in the impressive sight of the infamous poppy fields of Flanders.

11. Make Your Own Belgian Waffles

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Make your way to the Ezelstraat Quarter, where you’ll take part in a 90-minute workshop in the art of Belgian waffle making.

Follow along as your instructor provides a quick history lesson and guides you through the process of preparing, baking, and decorating your very own waffle creations.

Top your waffles with cream, fruit, honey, or chocolate, and enjoy a complimentary beverage while you eat as many of the waffles as you can.

Leave with a copy of the recipe so you can make these delicious treats at home.

12. Explore Bruges at Night

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There’s something magical about Bruges after the sun goes down. You can experience the lively atmosphere of this Medieval city after dark with this two-hour walking tour.

Meet your local guide at Markt 5 and make your way along the cobblestone streets, passing by canals and historic buildings as you go. Skip the touristy areas and stop at Cafe Rose Red to learn more about the bike culture in the city.

Make your way to Jan Van Eyck Square and hear tales about the well-known Dutch painter. Admire the beautiful St. James’s Church, which was built in 1240. Take a break at Eiermarkt, where you can enjoy a complimentary beverage

13. Take an Architectural Tour of Bruges

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Bruges is known for its well-preserved medieval buildings and unique architecture. This two-hour walking tour is a great way to see the best of the best.

Listen as your expert guide recounts legends about life in medieval times. Take in the beauty of Minnewater Lake and explore the former Red Light District. Admire a Gothic Cathedral which has the tallest tower in Bruges.

Witness a combination of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture at Burg Square. Wander around the Grand Place of Bruges, where you will see Belfry Tower and Provencial Hall.

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The location on the River Scheldt combined with prominent Renaissance architecture is what makes the city pleasing to the eye. A long history going back as far as the Middle Ages, a colourful culture, and a vibrant entertainment scene are what make it such a great place to visit.

Quaint cafes on cobblestone streets, world-class restaurants, museums, and outstanding shopping opportunities are just some of the things you will come across in Antwerp.

Several festivals take place in the city, so depending on the time of year that you arrive, you can join in on the celebrations taking place during the Zomer van Antwerpen Summer Festival and Laundry Day Dance Festival.

Below are 11 of the best tours in Antwerp.

1. Embark on a Food Tour of Old Town

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Combining must-see landmarks with opportunities to indulge in local cuisine is the ultimate way to experience Antwerp.

This three-hour walking tour starts at Groenplaats Square in the Historic Old Town District. Some of the sites you will see along the way include Antwerp’s oldest alleyway, the 20th-century buildings of the business district, Cathedral of our Lady, Town Hall, and Grote Markt.

You will make six stops during this tour to sample both modern and time-honored Belgian cuisine and typical dishes from some of the other cultures that are prominent in the city.

A well-known chocolatier and a traditional bakery are just some of the stops included, and you’ll sample a wide variety of food, including local produce, Belgian Waffles, fries with homemade sauce, and baked goods.

Listen closely as your guide tells stories about the people, the city, and how some of the dishes came to be.

2. Enjoy an Afternoon of Beer Tastings

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Antwerp is widely known for being one of the beer capitals of the world, and visitors to the city have the chance to embark on this guided, 4-hour beer tasting tour.

Along the way, you’ll visit locally-inspired bars, where you will have the chance to sample six Belgian beers and some Geneva Gin. Favorite local snacks, including frites, chocolate, and Belgian cheese, are served with the tastings.

Your knowledgeable guide is an expert when it comes to local beer and food, so by the time the tour is over, you’ll be an expert too.

As an added treat, you’ll also see renowned city landmarks during your wanderings, including Our Lady Cathedral, Market Square, and Steen Castle.

3. A Bicycle Tour of Antwerp

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Antwerp is known as a bike-friendly city, and what better way to see and experience it than as the locals do. There’s no need to bring your own bike for this tour because one will be provided.

Over two hours, you’ll ride along city streets through the city center and surrounding neighborhoods, taking in many of the main sites. You’ll depart Steenplein with your knowledgeable local guide, who’ll tell funny and interesting stories of life in the city, both past and present.

The Cathedral, City Hall, Steen Castle, MAS Museum, and a railway station said to be one of the most beautiful in the world are just some of the sites you will see as you make your way along. You’ll also get to enjoy stunning views of Antwerp’s Old Port.

While many of the sites are part of the tour, your guide is flexible. If there’s something else you would like to see, other attractions can be added before returning to where you started.

4. Go Hot Air Ballooning Over Nearby East Flanders

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If you’ve ever wanted to see the land from above without the noise and cabin restrictions of an airplane seat, hot air ballooning is the way to go.

Travel 25 minutes to Sint-Niklaas and spend three hours soaring above the countryside and nearby towns and cities, including East Flanders. You have the choice of traveling at high or low altitude, and after your flight, you’ll enjoy a complimentary glass of cava.

5. Experience Antwerp Under the Cover of Darkness

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Seeing a city by night is a much different experience from seeing it during the day. Visitors to Antwerp have the chance to experience it after the sun goes down with a guided 90-minute walking tour.

Start your tour at Grote Markt, where you will get a quick history lesson about life in Antwerp during the Middle Ages. Antwerp is known for its exciting and vibrant nightlife.

The city really does come alive at night, and this is something you will witness as you make your way along the darkened streets. Visit popular nightspots you likely never even knew existed and see popular attractions, including the Cathedral of Our Lady, Koolkaai, Falcon Square, and Felix Warehouse.

Take a walk through the city’s Red Light District, learn the interesting history of Saint Paul’s Church, and end the tour on top of the MAS Museum, where you will take in the spectacular views of the city and harbor.

Throughout the tour, your knowledgeable local guide will tell stories about the history and culture of the city. Before departing, you will be given a free voucher good for entry into one of the city’s bars.

6. Explore Antwerp by TukTuk

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There are many ways to explore Antwerp, but if you are looking for a unique way to see the sights, this 90-minute tour offers you the opportunity to tour the city on an E-TukTuk.

Your knowledgeable local guide will take you to some of the nicest areas of the city, where you will visit renowned attractions. Visit the beautiful courtyard of the Renaissance Moretus Museum. Admire stunning views of the Scheldt from Steen Castle. Stop at the Museum Vleeshuis and see the impressive entrance hall. Visit The MAS Museum and Port Pavilion.

End the tour at the Grote Markt, where you will see the town hall and a statue of Brabo and Antigoon.

7. Indulge with an Evening of French Wine Tasting

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If you are looking for a refined and relaxing experience in Antwerp, this small-group tour takes you to an exquisite wine hall in the center of the city, where you will spend an evening sampling French wines and delicious snacks.

You’ll be joined by a professional sommelier, who will tell you all about French wines and what foods they are best paired with. You’ll also learn about wine etiquette, different types of grapes, the various regions and how they differ from one another, and the processes involved in creating each type of wine.

Throughout the evening, you can sample six different types of wine accompanied by regional delicacies such as goat cheese, Belgian chocolate, and French Cheese.

This entire affair can last anywhere from two hours to four hours, depending on how much you drink and how much you would like to know about French wine.

8. Enjoy a Private Sightseeing Tour of Antwerp

Source: Snehal Jeevan Pailkar / shutterstock

Join your local guide at the entrance of your hotel and make your way through the city streets on foot. For three hours, explore this historic city and learn about its past and present as you admire the old-world charm that includes buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Visit popular attractions including Renaissance City Hall, Grote Markt, Brabo Fountain, Groenplaats Square, The Rubens House, and the popular shopping area at The Meir.

View a Flemish art collection at Our Lady Cathedral and end the journey with a guided tour of the Central Station of Antwerp.

9. Tour Antwerp on a Segway

Source: Lobroart / shutterstock

If you are looking for a fun, exciting, and unique way to explore Antwerp, this two-hour tour provides you with the opportunity to see the city from a Segway. Give your tired feet a break and glide through the city streets and squares on two wheels.

Meet up with your local, experienced guide, and after a short lesson, head out into both familiar and unfamiliar territory.

Ride along the shores of the Scheldt River and see well-known attractions such as Grote Markt and Town Hall. Explore lesser-known areas of the city that you would otherwise not get to see.

10. Enjoy an Exclusive Meal at Hard Rock Cafe Antwerp

Source: viator.com

A popular place to have a meal in Antwerp is the Hard Rock Café. With this offer, you can skip the long line-ups and enjoy an exclusive experience at any time during opening hours.

Get picked up at your hotel and enjoy your two or three-course meal in either the upper dining room, the lower dining room, or the heated outdoor terrace. Enjoy spectacular views of the city and marvel at all the interesting music memorabilia while you wait for your meal.

11. Uncover Hidden Gems of Antwerp

Source: littlewormy / shutterstock

Antwerp is a city full of secrets and places that are not listed in your typical guidebooks. This private walking tour will take you to some of those places, where you’ll see areas of the city that you would otherwise not even know existed.

Meet your local guide at Grand Market Place and head toward the medieval center of Antwerp. Visit the renowned diamond district and historic Jewish district, where you will see a mix of modern and classic architecture.

Along the way, your guide will provide the back story of how things came to be in these areas of the city, and what daily life is like in modern times. Finish the tour at a trendy café, where you can relax with a hot beverage and some sweet treats.

The post 11 Best Antwerp Tours appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The abbots of Stavelot had power that reached well beyond modern Belgian borders, as far as the Loire, and had a lasting influence on the arts in the Medieval period.

The abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution, but many of its monastic buildings remain, and the ruined 11th-century Romanesque church is an enthralling archaeological site.

Within the palatial 18th-century outbuildings are three museums, one for the nearby Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps the venue for the Belgian F1 Grand Prix.

1. Abbaye de Stavelot

Source: Abbaye de Stavelot / facebook

The Benedictine Stavelot Abbey was founded as long ago as 651, which makes it one of Belgium’s very first monasteries.

In the 10th century the abbey became the seat of the ecclesiastical principality, and the abbots took on the title of Prince of the Empire.

This all came to an abrupt end at the turn of the 19th century with the French Revolution.

Tthe abbey church, which had a bell tower 100 metres tall, was sold off and demolished.

Although some of the complex is in ruins, a lot is still standing, and the abbey contains three museums which we’ll talk about below.

On two courtyards, with a fine entrance porch from the 16th and 17th century, there’s the principality council building, a hospice, orphanage, hospital and a refectory with fabulous stucco.

All of these buildings date to the first half of the 18th century, but have vaults that go back much further.

The foundations of the 11th-century abbey church have been uncovered recently, and you can clearly make out the nave, transept, choir and crypt.

2. Musée de la Principauté de Stavelot-Malmedy

Source: Abbaye de Stavelot / facebook

The political, economic and religious might of the abbey and principality are made clear at this museum in the corridors of the principality council building.

You can track more than a millennium of history from the 7th to the 18th century and get to know some of the more important abbots, all with the help of informative panels, multimedia and detailed 3D reconstructions.

There are plenty of artefacts on show, like sarcophagi, intricate fireplace firebacks, engravings, contemporaneous portraits of abbots, liturgical books, music manuscripts and a lot more.

3. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Source: Jens Mommens / shutterstock

The circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August is five minutes out of Stavelot in a wooded valley.

The location deep in the Ardennes countryside has earned the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps the billing of “most beautiful racetrack in the world”. Little wonder, as the track rises and falls with the terrain, creating iconic combinations like Eau Rouge-Raidillon, where the track drops into a sharp left at the base of a valley before climbing at high speed on a long blind right.

This sequence is the highlight of a track tour, which can be taken between mid-March and mid-November.

On the route are the paddocks for F1 and Spa 24 Hours, as well as the podium, commentators’ booths, press room and the high-tech Race Control Room.

4. Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Source: Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps / facebook

The old vaults of the Abbeye de Stavelot set the scene for a museum all about this fabled circuit.

Here you can dive into the 100-year history of the circuit, and see how it’s evolved, while pondering informative panels and decades of memorabilia.

There’s an exhibition of vehicles from different milestones in the circuit’s past, recalling the Belgian Grand Prix, but also the Spa 24 Hours, which has been going since 1924. Almost all of these machines are in working order, and among them are Minardi, Lotus, Arrows, Talbot-Lago F1 cars, as well as Porsche, Ford and BMW 24-hour cars, and a small line-up of bikes.

5. Église Saint-Sébastien

Source: Promeneuse7 / Wikimedia

Now, while this church at the far end of Place du Vinâve may have a discreet appearance, it contains a number of treasures from the Abbaye de Stavelot, so it’s not to be missed.

The current Église Saint-Sébastien replaced an older church, and its late-Baroque design comes from the middle of the 18th century.

Many of the fittings have been moved here from the abbey church, and among them there’s an 18th-century oak pulpit and a 16th-century stone baptismal font, while the stations of the cross date to 1724 and come from Église Saint-Marguerite in Liège.

But the absolute must-see is the abbey’s reliquary shrine of Saint Remaclus, a superlative piece of 13th-century Mosan goldsmithery, two metres long and with images of Christ and Mary at each end.

Another important work is the 17th-century reliquary bust of Poppo of Stavelot (977-1048) one of the abbey’s best known abbots, and one of the first Flemish pilgrims to the Holy Land.

6. RAVeL Ligne 45

Source: Werner Lerooy / shutterstock

From the middle of the 19th century Wallonia became criss-crossed by railway lines, many of which have since been decommissioned and turned into a regional system of greenways.

As RAVeL paths are on old rail-beds, they’re an easy way to traverse some of the country’s most difficult but beautiful terrain.

This is the story of Ligne 45, which was laid down between 1867 and 1914, and completely shut down by 2006. The RAVeL route runs along the Amblève valley-side, past Stavelot on a 20-kilometre route between Trois-Points in the west and Waimes in the east.

Just west of Stavelot you can also get onto another greenway, Ligne 44A, which will give you a super view of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on its 15 kilometre course.

7. Cascade de Coo

Source: Flikkersteph -5,000,000 views ,thank you! / Flickr

The thunder of Belgium’s biggest waterfall by volume can be heard from some distance.

What’s fascinating about the Cascade de Coo is that it’s partially manmade, as monks from the Abbaye de Stavelot created a millrace in the 15th century, and then cut across the meander in the 18th century to protect the village of Petit-Coo from erosion.

Those monks might be pleased to hear that the falls continue to provide income by powering a hydroelectric plant.

The Cascade de Coo became a hit with tourists in the 19th century and is now on an estate with a children’s amusement park (more later), and an animal park with native animals that you’ll pass on a tourist train.

The falls have two channels, dropping 15 metres, and you can catch a chairlift run by the amusement park Plopsa Coo, up to a belvedere.

From there you can ponder the falls and the Haute Ardenne scenery in the distance.

8. Musée de Guillaume Apollinaire

Source: Abbaye de Stavelot / facebook

The influential French writer and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918) spent the summer of 1899 in Stavelot while his mother, a Polish aristocrat frequented the Casino de Spa.

This has inspired the only museum in the world dedicated to Apollinaire, also set at the Abbaye de Stavelot.

Apollinaire was a fierce defender of Cubism and his play, The Breasts of Tiresias (1917) was one of the first surrealist literary works.

In a historic Monastic building you’ll be drawn into the artistic world of the author of the famous Chanson du Mal-Aimé (1913), will and view his life from the perspective of friends and collaborators like Chagall, Picasso, Derain, Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau and Henri Rousseau.

9. Place Saint-Remacle

Source: Stanislava Karagyozova / shutterstock

Stavelot’s charming main square is paved with cobblestones on a steep west-to-east slope.

Place Saint-Ramacle is in solemn shades of grey, caused by the slate cladding, natural Ardennes limestone and those cobbles.

From the higher, west side you can see the Haute Ardenne hills peek above the houses from the other side of the Amblève valley.

The architecture on the square is from the 18th and 19th century, and near the centre is the 18th-century Fontaine du Perron symbolising Stavelot’s freedoms.

10. Vinâve

Source: Pflege24 / Wikimedia

On the west side of Place Saint-Remacle give yourself a minute or two to poke around the oldest settled part of Stavelot.

This is on the cobblestone Place du Vinâve and the tiny Rue de la Fontaine and Ruelle Delbrouck, which can only be navigated on foot.

You’ll be walking the oldest alleys in the city, lined with houses in Stavelot’s typical style, with facades clad with slate tiles.

One little sight to hunt down is a water fountain dating to 1777 and capped with a stone ball finial.

11. Plopsa Coo

Source: Plopsa Coo / facebook

Walking distance from the Coo Waterfall there’s a small theme park run by the Belgian broadcaster Studio 100, which makes shows for children up to around 10. There has been an amusement park at the foot of the falls since the 1950s, and Studio 100 took over in 2006. You’ll find rides appropriate for littler members of the clan, many themed on Studio 100 characters like Mega Mindy, Kabouter Plop, Wickie de Viking and Piet Piraat.

These are joined by all sort of other non-themed fun like a log flume with three plunges, a bobsleigh, pedal boat, carousel, pedal karts and a lot more.

12. Stavelot Plage

Source: tourismestavelot.be

A few steps from Stavelot’s historic core there’s a quiet little place to unwind by the Amblève River.

As the name suggests, up to the 70s Stavelot Plage was somewhere to bathe in the river, and although this isn’t possible today, you can come to savour the peaceful wooded banks and the view along the Amblève under the shade of broadleaf trees.

The surface here is paved and there’s a newly refurbished picnic shelter with a barbecue grill and chimney at the centre.

13. American Half-Track

Cross the Amblève from the centre of town, and above the left bank you’ll happen upon a relic from the Second World War.

This is an M3 half-track, sitting in a square that was re-laid and given a new fence a few years ago.

Stavelot was the scene of bitter fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45, and from December 18-20 over 100 civilians and American prisoners of war were massacred in the town.

A memorial for the 30th Infantry Division, the vehicle on show is mounted with a machine gun and accompanied by the Belgian, United States’ and Walloon flag.

14. Coo Adventure

Source: Adrenaline Events / facebook

One look at the scenery on the Amblève at the Cascade de Coo and you may be in the mood for adventure.

This activity centre has been based in Coo for 20 years and has the gear for a whole menu of adventure sports.

The river is the big draw here, and Coo Adventure offers kayaking and rafting trips down the Amblève, with an optional shuttle bus back to Coo.

The company also arranges climbing trips, horseback rides, mountain biking, paintballing, a high ropes course, caving and a whole lot more.

15. Laetare de Stavelot

Source: Laetare de Stavelot / facebook

On the fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) Stavelot puts on one of Wallonia’s most vivid traditional spectacles, which is saying something for a region renowned for its carnivals.

The festivities get underway on the Saturday evening with a whimsical illuminated procession.

Then on the Sunday there’s a bumper parade with 2,500 people taking part, with wacky floats, colourful costume and music by roving bands.

This all builds up to the arrival of the 400 Blancs Moussis, dressed in white cloaks, wearing masks with long red noses and throwing confetti.

At the end, the Blancs Moussis lead a Farindole (traditional chain dance) around the fountain on Place de Saint-Remacle and put up posters around the old town, poking fun of prominent residents.

The story behind the Blancs Moussis goes back to the turn of the 16th century when the abbot prohibited the abbey’s monks from taking part in the festivities.

To mock this decision the townsfolk dressed as monks, but, after getting into trouble, they toned down the costume to resemble a white monastic habit instead.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Stavelot (Belgium) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

From the 18th century Waregem was a stop on the coaching road between Kortrijk and Ghent.

Later, in the middle of the 19th century, the city became the venue for an enduring horserace, the Grote Steeple-Chase van Vlaanderen (Great Steeple Chase of Flanders), which moved to a purpose-built racecourse in 1855. That course, the Hippodroom van Waregem, is one of the few remaining in Belgium and is packed out every August for meets during the Waregem Koerse Feesten, when there’s also live music and fun for kids.

Some of the last fighting in the First World War happened around Waregem, marked by Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial.

1. Park Baron Casier

Source: Kasteel Casier.JPG: Mingneau18 derivative work: Vinkje83 / Wikimedia

Waregem’s municipal park could hardly be closer to the centre of town, at just two minutes on foot from the Markt square.

Added to that, this green lung is a genteel sort of place, on the grounds of a Neoclassical mansion.

Baron Casier moved here in 1897, adding a southern wing, and his descendants would stay until 1977 when the city took over.

In eight hectares you can wander among the groves of mature trees, the ponds with fountains and the perfect lawns crossed by meandering paths.

That mansion now holds a contemporary bar-bistro, if you’re in need of something cold after a summer stroll.

2. S.V. Zulte Waregem

Source: babbo1957 / Flickr

Waregem has its own top-flight football team, which got promoted to the Belgian First Division A in 2005 and has stayed there ever since.

S.V. Zulte Waregem have progressed over the last 15 years, and often compete in the Europa League group stages.

Belgian football is seen as a proving ground for Europe’s top footballers, and some famous players to have worn S.V. Zulte Waregem red and green jersey are Thorgan Hazard, Thomas Buffel, Nikica Jelavić and Saido Berahino who joined in summer 2019. The home ground is the 12,414-capacity Regenboogstadion (Rainbow Stadium), which sits next to fishing ponds in a pleasant landscaped area in the centre of Waregem.

3. Hippodroom van Waregem

Source: Waregem draaft / facebook

Something that raises Waregem’s profile is the racecourse that was plotted on the Gaverbeek stream back in 1855. That stream, which passes in front of the grandstand, is part of the course design and a natural obstacle.

The big milestone in the calendar is the Grote Steeple-Chase van Vlaanderen, 4,600 metres long, with 25 obstacles, and run on a Tuesday towards the end of August.

The race draws a massive crowd and takes place during a week of celebrations, called the Waregem Koerse Feesten and kicking off on the previous Sunday.

There’s also a 1,106 flat track for trotting races at the Hippodroom van Waregem, scheduled from May to September.

4. HIPPO.WAR

Source: Hippo.war bezoekerscentrum / facebook

In 2017 a visitor centre opened on the south side of the racecourse, focussing on the First World War.

Waregem is the location for the Flanders Field American Cemetery, and the two-pronged exhibition At HIPPO.WAR partly recounts the role of the US Army around Waregem in the closing stages of the First World War.

You can study photographs, footage, audio clips, uniforms, equipment, and read moving letters from family members of servicemen laid to rest at the cemetery.

HIPPO.WAR also looks into the role of horses in the conflict, and has a display of original bridles, a re-created horse hospital and a genuine skeleton of a horse from the war.

The exhibition explains the many important jobs filled by horses, from carrying mounted cavalry to running supply lines.

5. Goed te Nieuwenhove

Source: Zeisterre / Wikimedia

What awaits you at this bucolic site south-west of Waregem are the domestic buildings for the now lost Castle of Nieuwenhove.

The first written mention of an estate here goes back to 1403, and archaeological surveys have revealed Gallo-Roman occupation.

The castle was demolished during the French Revolution, while the architecture of the surviving courtyard is from a little earlier in the 18th century.

There’s a residential house, half-timbered barn, a red brick dovecote and gatehouse.

You’ll notice that there’s a slight distance between all the buildings, and this is a measure to prevent the spread of fire.

6. ‘T Gaverhopke

Source: Brouwerij met Brasserie 't Gaverhopke / facebook

In 2015 this local, family-run brewery moved to the Goed te Nieuwenhove’s courtyard.

‘T Gaverhopke has been in business since 1994 and brews ten regular beers, among them an abbey tripel, a double IPA, cherry-infused kriek and a handful of blonds of varying potency.

The flagship may be Den 12, a full, rich dark beer with chocolate and raisin notes.

The tasting room is open on weekends from 15:00, as well as Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (11:00-18:00) between May and September.

There’s also a menu for light meals and snacks, and littler visitors will be pleased with the playground and bouncy castle in the courtyard.

7. Be-Part

Source: Be-Part, Platform voor actuele kunst / facebook

A platform for contemporary art in south-west Flanders, Be-Part has two locations in Kortrijk and here in Waregem, just off the R35 (Westerlaan). Dealing mainly with visual art, this centre also explores overlapping disciplines to present contemporary art in all its diversity and introduce the public to emerging trends and debates in the art world.

When we wrote this list in early 2020 there had just been a show, In the Hands of Puppets, by the Brussels installation artists Sarah & Charles.

The Be-Part complex also has a studio for resident artists and has a programme of workshops aimed mainly at helping children discover art in a playful way.

8. Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial

Source: Paul Daniels / shutterstock

The only United States World War I cemetery in Belgium is in the south-east of Waregem.

One of the many poignant things about the cemetery is that most of its 368 burials (43 unknown) were killed in the closing days of the War, between October 30 and November 11. This cemetery is on the battleground at Spitaals Bosschen, where the 91st Division fought an action in the wider Ypres-Lys Campaign.

You can visit all year round and there’s a monument by French-born American architect Paul Philippe Cret (1876-1945). In 2017 a visitor centre opened in the cemetery’s former superintendent’s quarters, explaining US involvement in Belgium in WWI and telling the stories of some of the men buried here.

9. Roger Raveelmuseum

Source: Roger Raveelmuseum / facebook

The painter and graphic artist Roger Raveel (1921-2013) was born 15 minutes away in the village of Machelen, where he would return and spend much of his life.

Raveel’s work tends to depict everyday items, which means he’s often identified as a Pop Artist.

At his museum in Machelen you can follow his progress, from abstract to figurative, in a contemporary building designed by Flemish architect Stéphane Beel.

There are more than 300 paintings, 2,500 drawings and a comprehensive collection of sketches.

Also take a look around Machelen to view Raveel’s three “columns of the unrestricted”, public artworks installed in 2011.

10. Gaverbeekroute

Source: www.fietsrouterijders.be

Cyclists from most other countries will be thrilled with the network of designated paths in West Flanders, well-maintained and adding up to almost 3,180 kilometres.

It’s easy to orient yourself on this system, using the 1,045 numbered junctions or “knooppunten”. You can buy a guide to these junctions from the tourist office in Waregem.

Off the network there’s a signposted cycling loop that ushers you through the border region between East and West Flanders.

The pastoral Gaverbeekroute departs from Park Baron Casier for a 35-kilometre ride along the Leie Valley, before cutting east into the foothills of the Flemish Ardennes and then turning back towards Waregem through the forests of Oud-Moregem and Wortegem.

11. Stadionvijvers

Source: Amauroo / Wikimedia

The Regenboogstadion was built in 1957, next to what had previously been a parcel of swampy ground along the Gaverbeek.

This space had been left undeveloped until the 20th century when a local doctor built the pond on what was then a private plot.

In the interwar years this was opened it up to the people of the town, and so founding Vaders Woud, Waregem’s first public park.

The city council bought the land after the Second World War and excavated the ponds as part of a recreation park that included the football stadium.

This is also the origin of the long footbridge, crossing the largest pond towards the stadium.

With ample grass, shady trees, playground and a couple of places to grab a coffee, it’s all a great setting for a stroll, bike ride or morning run, and on warm days you’ll pass anglers huddled on the banks.

12. Beukenhof Vichte

Source: Kareldemeulemeester at Dutch Wikipedia / Wikimedia

Close by in Vichte there’s an adorable little park open to the public around a neo-Renaissance château from 1876. This was built for the town’s mayor and remained in the family for a century, before being sold to Vichte in the 1970s.

There are several outbuildings on the site, including a gardener’s house and porter’s house, while the sheds and stables are now occupied by youth groups from the town.

The château itself has housed a bistro since the 2000s, and the park, full of native vegetation, is a refreshing place to stretch your legs, with a butterfly garden teeming with life and colour in summer.

13. Uitkijktoren Kruishoutem

Source: Uitkijktoren moet blijven / facebook

In Kruisem an unassuming lookout tower has recently been spruced up with an orientation table.

This 30-metre construction was inaugurated in 1963 and is built from repurposed concrete telegraph poles.

The location is no coincidence, as from this spot there are picturesque vistas back over the Lower Leie Valley towards Zulte and Deinze, as well as down to the rolling hills of the Flemish Ardennes.

14. Brouwerij ‘t Verzet

Source: Brouwerij 't Verzet / facebook

Off the N382 south-east of Waregem there’s a craft brewery founded by a group of friends in 2011, brewing a mix of traditional and innovative beers, all with a sense of their location in West Flanders.

Brouwerij ‘t Verzet makes seven regulars, like the classic top-fermented Oud Bruin(6%), aged for six months in the bottle, or Moose Blues (7.5%), brewed with Canadian maple syrup, or Golden Tricky (7.5%) made with Australian Ella hops for an almost tropical flavour.

There’s also a selection of Oud Bruin fruit infusions, as well as experimental “Bootleg Beers” in limited runs.

You can book a tour online to hear about how these beers are made on your way past the brew kettles and casks, followed by a guided tasting session.

15. Dwars door Vlaanderen

Source: Woud Demasure / Wikimedia

Waregem is the finish line for a one-day semi-classic professional cycling race, setting off from Roeselare on a 180-kilometre course through Flanders.

This is a stern test, as although the western part of the course is flat, the second half trails through the Flemish Ardennes on cobblestone lanes.

The route changes by the year, but there are always famous climbs like the Taaienberg and Kruisberg, which also feature in the Tour of Flanders a few days later.

The race has been going since 1945, but in 2017 was promoted to the UCI World Tour, raising its profile even further.

Dwars door Vlaanderen is run in late-March and is part of Flemish Cycling Week, in which three important races take place in the region.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Waregem (Belgium) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Fishing is still a way of life here, as you’ll discover at the Vismijn auction hall, and the nearby National Fisheries Museum.

On the resort side, Nieuwpoort-Bad is growing at high speed, and has a grid of multi-storey apartment blocks footed by boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

Nieuwpoort is on the Belgian coast’s Kusttram system, so you can use public transport to shoot between the old city and the resort in a matter of minutes.

Before it flows into the North Sea, the IJzer River passes through an ingenious set of spillways and locks in Nieuwpoort.

Known as the Ganzepoot, this 19th-century system was used to flood Nieuwpoort’s backcountry for the entirety of the First World War.

1. Strand van Nieuwpoort

Source: Huysman Geert / shutterstock

The beach in front of Nieuwpoort Bad is an endless ribbon of pale sand that merges with Groenindijk Strand a few hundred metres to the west.

The beach is up to 50 metres wide, and when the tide goes out the North Sea retreats for what seems like miles.

Behind the beach is that giant wall of new apartment blocks, fronted by a broad promenade where people whizz by on bikes, electric scooters and Segways.

East of the beach is the last reach of the IJzer River, and you can walk or ride along the left bank to travel between Nieuwpoort proper and the resort.

The promenade here has a boardwalk with benches and jetties, so you can look out at the estuary to see if you can spot some oystercatchers, curlews, little egrets and little grebes that make their habitat in the IJZermonding nature reserve on the opposite bank.

2. Vismijn

Source: flamenc / Wikimedia

First off, if you want to know why Nieuwpoort’s fish auction hall is called the Vismijn, it’s because before the days of electronic bidding bidders would yell “mine” (mijn). Right on the IJzer in the centre of Nieuwpoort proper, the Vismijn was built in 1952 and expanded in the 70s.

The trawlers in Nieuwpoort’s fleet are never out to sea for more than five days, and unload their catch for daily wholesale auctions beginning at 07:00 or 08:00. You can watch these in person on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or you could sign up for a guided tour for the inside track.

This fish and seafood is sold to local fishmongers and restaurants, many of which are based right in front along the Kaai.

3. Staketsel

Source: Erik AJV / shutterstock

Two long wooden piers built in 1865 flank the IJzer River on its way out to the North Sea.

Both the Westerstaketsel (west) and the Oosterstaketsel (east) have a foghorn and beacon at their tip designed like a little lighthouse.

The east pier is a bit longer than the west one, at 543 metres, compared to 490. Both will be lined with people casting fishing rods and are great if you want a fresh blast of sea air, to watch the seaborne traffic going past and gaze back at Nieuwpoort’s beachfront and dunes.

The scenery is gorgeous at sunset, and you can hang around a while to see Nieuwpoort-Bad lighting up.

4. Ganzepoot

Source: Patrick Cools / shutterstock

Right by Westfront near the centre of Nieuwpoort is a sophisticated lock complex where six waterways converge.

The Ganzepoot (goose foot) gets its name from how it looks from above, and is part of a 19th-century land management project to drain the polders around Nieuwpoort and channel that water out to the North Sea via the IJzer.

The spillways at the Ganzepoot help remove surplus water from the polders, while the locks maintain the water level for boats.

At high water the spillways are blocked and then open again when the tide goes out.

In 1914 these were left open on purpose, totally flooding the polder and halting the German advance.

The polder would stay underwater for the next four years.

5. Westfront Nieuwpoort

Source: Monika Boncuk / shutterstock

The Koning Albert I-Monument was unveiled in 1938, paying tribute to the recently departed Albert I of Belgium (1875-1934), as well as the Belgian troops in the First World War.

Built from the pale bricks of the IJzer plain, this circular monument is 25 metre tall and 30 metres in diameter.

At the very top is a kind of circular lintel, 100 metres in circumference, which has walkway and orientation tables.

Below, on a brick plinth, in the centre of the circle is an equestrian statue of Albert I by sculptor Karel Aubroeck (1894-1986). In 2014, at the centenary of the beginning of the First World War the monument was rechristened Westfront Nieuwpoort and a new visitor centre was unveiled.

Among other things, this recalls the flooding of the Ijzer Plain in 1914.

6. Stadshal met Belfort

Source: flamenc / Wikimedia

The 35-metre belfry on Nieuwpoort’s market square belongs to a cross-border UNESCO World Heritage Site, made up of 56 historic belfries around Belgium and Northern France.

After the original town hall and belfry were dynamited in the First World War, the city took the chance to recreate the original Gothic monument built in 1280. This is a beautiful building, with crocketed pinnacles, corner turrets and little arched recesses along the facade.

The belfry, rising from the east facade, has five floors with pairs of narrow lancet windows in a an Early Gothic style.

7. NAVIGO-Nationaal Visserijmuseum

Source: Navigo - Nationaal Visserijmuseum / facebook

Oostduinkerke, just a stone’s throw from Nieuwpoort, has been home to Belgium’s National Fisheries Museum since the 1970s.

This was reworked in the 2000s, and is a multifaceted and interactive attraction, bringing together art, social history, craftsmanship and natural history.

You can find out about the daring IJslaandvaarders who for centuries made intrepid fishing expeditions up to Icelandic waters and discover a local tradition that persists in Oostduinkerke, where shrimp fishermen drag their nets on horseback.

The exhibition lets you step inside a traditional fishing cottage, inspect the OD.1 “Martha” inland fishing vessel and view aquarium tanks presenting the marine life of the North Sea.

8. Sint-Laureinsduinen

Source: www.natuurenbos.be

From Nieuwpoort-Bad east to the resort of Westende-Bad you can walk or ride through a coastal dunescape where nature has been allowed to take over.

Until not long ago this 45-hectare reserve was the site of two campgrounds, and also still has relics from both world wars, including bunkers from the German Atlantikwall from WWII.

The campgrounds were cleared in the 2000s and typical dune vegetation, like prickly saltwort, sea spurge and seaside centaury has started to appear.

Orchids are also expected before long.

The reserve is beginning to draw birdlife like the rare crested lark, grasshopper warbler and garden warbler, as well as a variety of butterflies.

If you’re heading to the Sint-Laureinsduinen by bike, the entrance is at junction (knooppunt) 75.

9. Marktplein

Source: User:LimoWreck / Wikimedia

Possibly the prettiest spot in Nieuwpoort proper is the market square where you can appreciate the town hall and Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk from an outdoor table at one of the bars and restaurants.

The Marktplein has been restored to its historic appearance: Every building is constructed from pale IJzer bricks and most have crow-stepped gables or dormers.

A weekly market trades on the cobblestones every Friday morning, selling fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, clothes, confectionery, dairy, meat and a great deal more.

10. Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk

Source: User:LimoWreck / Wikimedia

In a story repeated throughout Nieuwpoort, this three-aisled Gothic hall church was toppled and reconstructed a couple of times in the 20th century.

The first mention of a church here is from the 12th century, and the building standing here up to the First World War was 15th-century, with a tower completed in 1735. That was sadly obliterated, and the same fate was in store for the next church in 1940. The neo-Gothic reconstruction took place in 1946, and the separate bell tower was ready in 1952. Take the chance to go in to see the painting Slag bij Nieuwpoort in 1600 (Battle of Nieuwpoort), on the south aisle and attributed to Northern Dutch academic painter Louis Moritz (1773-1850). This used to hang in the town hall’s council chamber but was moved to the church after the First World War.

11. Nieuwpoort Lighthouse

Source: el lobo / shutterstock

Out in the dunes on the right bank of the IJzer at Lombardzijde is Nieuwport’s lighthouse, painted in red and white bands and emitting two flashes every 14 seconds, with a range of 16 nautical miles.

Strictly speaking, this is more a landmark than a tourist attraction, but you might be interested in its story.

This tower is one of a long line of beacons for Nieuwpoort, going back at least as far as the 13th century.

The first lighthouse on this exact site was built in 1881 but razed during the Battle of the Yser.

Its replacement was erected in 1922 but that was brought down by the retreating Germans in 1944. The present lighthouse has been here since 1949 and had a lighthouse keeper until it was automated in 1963.

12. Frontzate

Source: Patrick Cools / shutterstock

Laid down in 1868, Spoorlijn 74 was a 15.8-kilometre railway between Nieuwpoort-Bad and the village of Kaaskerke to the south.

In the First World War the line got the name Frontzate (roughly, Front Lane) as its embankment was a first line of defence in the Battle of the Yser, poking above a flooded landscape.

Passenger traffic ended in the50s, and the line was eventually broken up in the 70s, to be later turned into a greenway for walkers and cyclists.

The route trails through a green polder landscape, and on its edges there are still lots of holdovers from the First World War like observations posts, gun positions and bunkers.

13. Bommenvrij

Source: Frans90245 / Wikimedia

The last survivor of Nieuwpoort’s city fortifications from the beginning of the 19th century is an artillery magazine raised between 1818 and 1822. The Bommenvrij was protected as a monument in 1994, as a rare piece of Dutch military architecture from the period, and forms an interesting pair with ruined Duvetorre (more below). This is the only building that survived the bombardment in 1914 intact, and you can get a good look from Schoolstraat.

The Bommenvrij’s brick vaults have been turned into a dramatic space for art studios and exhibitions, although opening times can be a little irregular.

14. Duvetorre

Source: www.nieuwpoort.be

To the back of the Bommenvrij, off Willem de Roolaan are the decaying ruins of a tower that has witnessed every phase of Nieuwpoort’s history since the 13th century.

It was originally the tower for the Church of St Lawrence (1281), destroyed in the 14th century and then turned into a castle around 1400 by Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

In the 16th century this was a billet for Spanish forces, and then in the Dutch period in the early 19th century it was turned into a watchtower for their fortifications.

In 1916 the building was hit by German shells and now stands in ruins as a monument.

The name, Duvetorre (Devil Tower) is supposedly a connection to Jeanne Panne (1593-1650), an unfortunate Nieuwpoort baker’s wife, executed at the stake for witchcraft.

15. Sunparks Oostduinkerke aan Zee

Source: Sunparks Oostduinkerke aan Zee / facebook

If you catch some inclement weather or want to bathe somewhere out of the breeze, this holiday resort five minutes from the centre of Nieuwpoort has a pool complex under a giant glass roof.

You can buy a day pass, which will give you access to the pool building, called Aquafun.

This houses a subtropical pool, a wave pool, a lazy river and a variety of slides like the Black Hole.

Grownups will have their eyes on the relaxation area, West Coast Wellness, which offers a peaceful outdoor pool, a sauna, baths and choice of massages.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Nieuwpoort (Belgium) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Think primeval forests, sharp valleys with gossamer mists and idyllic pastures.

Many thousands of hectares of countryside around Houffalize are preserved as a natural park, waiting for adventures on foot, by water or on a mountain bike.

You can journey up to viewpoints with no sign of human life for miles, float downriver through canyons and explore little villages that were caught up in the fighting during the Battle of the Bulge.

Houffalize didn’t escape the bloodshed, and as a monument there’s a German panther tank that was fished out of the Ourthe River three years after the battle.

1. Parc Naturel des Deux Ourthes

Source: DirkVE / Wikimedia

Houffalize is surrounded by an immense protected space, covering 76,000 hectares on the deep slopes of the Ourthe Valley.

The Parc Naturel des Deux Ourthes encompasses both the western and eastern arms of the Ourthe, which meet near Houffalize at the Nisramont dam.

There’s something almost Nordic about the countryside, with its frosty winters, coniferous forest and a mist that hovers over the valleys.

Out on a hike you’ll cross moorland, peat bogs, sunny pasture dotted with dairy cows, fragrant woodland, and will occasionally come face-to-face with giant schist formations.

2. The Rock of Hérou

Source: Wouter van den Broek / shutterstock

At the village of Nadrin, also part of Houffalize, the course of the Ourthe River is obstructed by a colossal schist outcrop 1.5 kilometres long, 80 metres wide and up to 80 metres high.

At the Belvédère de Nadrin you can stand on the edge of this ridge and survey an Ardennes landscape completely devoid of civilisation.

Far below, wrapped in forest and often beneath a veil of mist, the Ourthe wriggles past on its circuitous course through the hills.

There’s a restaurant by the car park with its own observation tower and you can walk a 5.4-kilometre loop from the centre of Nadrin, down to the riverside and up again.

3. Brasserie d’Achouffe

Source: Chouffe / facebook

Even by Belgium’s lofty standards, the brewery ten minutes out of Houffalize makes some top-class beer.

Brasserie d’Achouffe began as a hobby between two brothers-in-law and now produces 300,000 hectolitres a year and exports to more than 70 countries.

In 2006 the brewery was bought by the Duvel-Moortgat group.

The signature beer is La Chouffe, an unfiltered lager with fruity and spicy (coriander) hints.

Also in the range is a dark beer, a hoppy lager, a spicy winter beer, a citrusy summer beer and a fruit beer introduced in 2017, infused with cherries.

You can learn the brewery’s secrets on a 90-minute multilingual guided tour, setting off at 14:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.

4. Houtopia

Source: Houtopia, univers de sens / facebook

Just the ticket if you’re in town with smaller members of the clan, Houtopia is a multisensory indoor and outdoor attraction that was updated in 2018. The interior is a kind of hands-on children’s museum with up to 80 subtly educational “experience stations” involving senses like touch, sight, hearing and even taste and smell.

There are interpreter’s on hand all along the trail to help kids get the most out of these activities.

Outside, the adventure playground is like nothing you’ve seen.

There’s a safe, netted bridge crossing the Ourthe to the rocky right bank, leading to 30-metre an enclosed slide returning across the gorge.

5. Église Sainte Catherine d’Alexandrie

Source: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / Wikimedia

Houffalize’s Early Gothic church started out in the 1230s as the chapel for an Augustinian priory.

The building suffered during the bombing in January 1945, but there are some extraordinary fixtures that came through unscathed.

One is a lectern in the form of an eagle with outstretched wings, cast in 1370 by Dinant goldsmiths.

Also exceptional is the 13th-century recumbent tomb effigy for Thierry II of Houffalize, carved from black limestone and showing him in chainmail with a shield at his side and lion at his feet.

6. Point de Vue du Vieux Château

Source: Evan Frank / shutterstock

Beside the Rue du Barrage (N843) at the hamlet of Filly you can scale a promontory for a knockout view of the Ourthe Valley.

The viewpoint is set on the foundations of a lost castle.

At the foot of the rise there’s a state of the folkloric figure, Pogge.

This is a member of the burgher class from Schaerbeek in Brussels, known for its wisdom.

The monument recalls the help given to Houffalize from Brussels after its total destruction on 6 January 1945.

7. Barrage de Nisramont

Source: Catstyecam / shutterstock

Not far downstream from where the western and eastern arms of the Ourthe meet there’s a hydraulic dam built in 1958 to supply drinking water to the Bastogne plateau and the Ourthe and Aisne basins.

For visitors the Barrage de Nisramont is a place to bask in the Ardennes countryside.

There’s a 14-kilometre path weaving through the deep woodland on the banks of the reservoir, set up with barbecue grills and picnic tables.

This walk has a medium difficulty level but pays you back with awesome views.

And in the summer you can rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at the dam.

8. Projet de Canal Meuse et Moselle

Source: Les Meloures at lb.wikipedia / Wikimedia

Between 1827 and 1839 there was an ambitious attempt to link the Meuse in Liège with the Moselle at the Luxembourg town of Wasserbillig.

This project would have created a connection between the Meuse and Rhine basins, but would have needed up to 400 kilometres of waterway and more than 200 locks.

The plans were supported by William I of the Netherlands, but scuppered by the Belgian Revolution of 1830 and the the advent of the railway.

Traces are strewn over the region, and in the Houffalize municipality you can see one of the trickiest pieces of infrastructure.

The incomplete Tunnel de Bernistap would have been 2.5 kilometres long, only 1,130 metres of which was excavated.

Although you can’t go inside, there are 15 kilometres of marked trails along the towpath, and you can visit the entrance to peer into the darkness.

9. Escapardenne Eisleck Trail

Source: Escapardenne / facebook

There’s a famed hiking trail more than 100 kilometres long, between Kautenbach in Luxembourg and La Roche-en-Ardenne in Belgium.

This path is signposted in both directions and is broken down into five stages.

Travelling northwest towards La Roche-en-Ardenne, Houffalize is at the end of the third stage, which puts you in a great position to try a couple of day hikes.

Heading southeast on the way to Asselborn you’ll be walking on the towpath of that unfinished canal.

Going northwest towards Nadrin the vistas are spectacular, as you traverse a narrow ridge between the valleys of the eastern and western arms of the Ourthe.

10. Houffalize Panther (Panzer)

Source: Agrillo Mario Me contacter / Wikimedia

Where the N30 (Rue de Bastogne), turns off onto Rue Saint-Roch sits a reminder of the Battle of the Bulge in the shape of a Mark V, Panther tank.

This vehicle belonged to the 116th Panzer Division, which captured Houffalize on December 19, 1944. The American counterattack began on January 3 and the German troops had to pull out by the middle of that month.

During the fighting this panther ended up overturned in the Ourthe and wouldn’t be retrieved for another three years.

From 2017 the Houffalize Panther was taken apart and reconstructed in a two-year restoration.

11. Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Forêt

Source: photo by Pierre Bauquel / facebook

Out in the woodland north of Houffalize there’s a chapel off the road to Sommerain, held as an important piece of 18th-century religious heritage.

The first mention of this building, which can be reached along a forest trail, dates from the middle of the 17th century when a local man bequeathed 50 guilders for a chapel to be built in honour of the Virgin.

The current hexagonal structure is from a century later, and has a distinct Mosan character, with onion domes capping the chapel and the porch in front.

Inside, there are five paintings of an unknown date, while the altar was produced in 1766 and the panelling dates from 1768.

12. Tour de l’Ancienne Église Saint-Urbain à Dinez

Source: Borisb17 / shutterstock

For photographers there’s a picture-perfect little sight not far out of Houffalize in the hamlet of Dinez.

Here standing alone on a scenic hillside is the whitewashed tower for the former church of Saint-Urbain.

In a low walled enclosure, the church is now in the middle of a cemetery with some eye-catching old monuments.

The tower dates back to 1755 and the rest of the church was pulled down in the 1930s, with a replacement built across the road.

One element left over from the old building is the basin of the baptismal font.

13. Outdoor Centre

Source: angel217 / shutterstock

The same company that rents out equipment at Barrage de Nisramont also organises all sorts of adventures in the Ardennes wilderness to the west of Houffalize.

Setting off from the dam you can kayak or ride a raft downstream on the awe-inspiring Ourthe to La Roche-en-Ardenne, with all equipment included in the price and a shuttle bus to bring you back.

Depending on the water level there’s an alternative route between Maboge and La Roche-en-Ardenne.

Outdoor Centre also provides mountain bike rental, and can arrange rock climbing and abseiling trips across the region.

14. Carnaval du Soleil

Source: www.carnavaldusoleil.be

On the first weekend of August Houffalize gets into party mode with a summer festival that has now been going for more than 20 years.

During the Carnaval du Soleil there are parades, tons of children’s activities, live music, a fireworks display and lots of fun customs.

One of these is the coronation of the Sun King (Roi Soleil) and Princess Carnaval in front of the town hall.

On the Saturday afternoon there’s a parade for children, while the main event is the Grand Parade with more than 30 troupes and floats.

15. Foire Sainte-Catherine

Source: www.tourisme-langres.com

In November there’s another annual event, this one observed for the first time in 1338. Taking place on the Saturday before the feast of Saint Catherine, the festival packs a lot into one day.

The celebrations get underway with a fanfare, and there’s a large market throughout the town.

You can catch all sorts of street theatre and live music performances, and every year a Miss Catherinette and a Mr Catherin are elected.

One of the most curious spectacles is the competition to see who can eat the most crâss d’jotte, a local cabbage dish similar to choucroute.

This recipe is entwined in Houffalize’s history to the point where the townsfolk are nicknamed “magneux d’jotte” (cabbage eaters).

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Houffalize (Belgium) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

This sparked an industry that persists today, permanently altering the countryside around the town.

Exhausted former quarries are now nature reserves, and combine to form the gigantic Bosland, the largest wooded area in Flanders.

Lommel’s contribution to glassmaking is recognised by Het GlazenHuis, a museum and centre of excellence under a 30-metre glass cone.

There’s a Center Parcs holiday village on the edge of town, and lots of things to get up to close by.

You can amble in a forest with extraordinary sound sculptures, ride over circular bridge through the forest canopy or grab a few bottles at one of the world’s few authentic Trappist breweries.

1. Bosland

Source: kma shutter / shutterstock

The natural space around Lommel, as well as the neighbouring municipalities of Peer, Overpelt and Hechtel-Eksel have been combined to create the largest public wooded area in Flanders.

Bosland is over 5,100 hectares, broken down into a host of smaller nature reserves.

We’ll talk about the Lommelse Sahara below, but also in Lommel are the pastures of De Watering, the heathland of Heuvelse Heide and the Kattenbos and the Scots pine woodland of the Pijnven.

The landscapes have been made accessible for walkers, cyclists and horseback riders.

Head to the tourist office in Lommel and you can buy adventure packs for children’s treasure hunts in several of the reserves.

2. Fietsen door de Bomen

Source: Fietsen door de Bomen / facebook

One of a few unforgettable experiences to be had in Bosland is the sensation of riding through the forest canopy at this incredible structure to the south in Hechtel-Eksel.

You can reach Fietsen door de Bomen from Lommel via the cycle route network, and you’ll find it at junction (knooppunt) 272. You’ll ride a circular cycle path 700 metres long, 100 metres across and rising to a height of 10 metres on a gentle 3-4% gradient.

The structure is held up by steel pillars designed to blend in with the straight trunks of the Scots pines in the Pijnven forest.

3. Lommelse Sahara

Source: SpaceKris / shutterstock

From the centre of Lommel you can walk north for a few minutes and find yourself in a strange dune landscape wrapped in coniferous woodland and protected as a nature reserve.

If you had made this journey 100 years ago you would have found a very different scene.

This was a quarry for quartz sand, and around this time a zinc factory blighted the landscape.

Those days are long forgotten now, and the thick pine woodland on its fringes was planted to prevent these white sands from spreading, restricting the Lommelse Sahara to just under 200 hectares.

At the heart of the dunes there’s a sapphire lake, contrasting beautifully with the shimmering sand.

To the north is the Bocholt–Herentals Canal, which can be crossed on a suspension footbridge to continue your hike.

4. Uitkijktoren Sahara

Source: Thomas Dekiere / shutterstock

Since 2015 there has been a mesmerising architectural statement by the water at the Lommelse Sahara.

This jagged-looking, 30-metre watchtower has curving contours on its frame, caused by suspended ropes that evok the rolling dunes of the Sahara desert.

In all there’s more than 3.5 kilometres of rope wrapped around the structure.

The Uitkijktoren Sahara has 144 steps to the top, for a panorama that stretches more than 25 kilometres on a clear day, encompassing all of Bosland.

The tower is a collaboration between the firms, MaMu Architecten and Ateliereen.

5. Het GlazenHuis

Source: het glazenhuis / facebook

Quartz sand, a key ingredient for glassmaking, has been extracted around Lommel since 1891. This has left its mark on the landscape, and former quarries have been turned into nature reserves, like Lommelse Sahara.

There was also an important glassworks in Lommel up to the end of the 20th century.

As a nod to its role in the industry, the Flemish Centre for Contemporary Glass Art opened in Lommel in 2007. The building is hard to miss for its towering 30-metre glass spire, and each year hosts two exhibitions by internationally renowned glass artists.

Het GlazenHuis has an educational role, staging workshops and demonstrations at its own furnace heated to more than 1100°C.

And at the shop you can purchase a unique piece of fine mouth-blown glass as a souvenir.

6. Center Parcs de Vossemeren

Source: annika85 / shutterstock

Set against the Dutch border, on the eastern fringe of Lommelse Sahara is a branch of the holiday village chain, Center Parcs.

At just three kilometres, this is close enough to the middle of Lommel that you could purchase a day pass and make the most of the abundant facilities.

Amid many hectares of woodland for walks there’s a spectacular indoor subtropical pool, a cavernous pirate-themed indoor play area, two lakes for water sports, a petting zoo, a cluster of restaurants and a spa and wellness centre.

You can also put your name down for a range of activities like climbing, archery, mini-golf, paintball and laser tag.

7. Marktplein

Source: toerismelommel.be

On a rough triangular plan and with grand rows of lime trees, Lommel’s market place is somewhere you’re sure to end up at some point.

At the time of writing, in early 2020, this space, along with Dorp, to the east, had just been re-landscaped.

The town’s tourist information point is on the east side, and there’s a helping of cafes, brasseries and restaurants on the square’s borders.

Hiding among the foliage is the old Neoclassical town hall, built in 1845 and now mainly a venue for weddings.

In front is a little bandstand and water pump, both dating from 1905. The weekly market takes place here on Wednesday afternoons, and every Sunday from April to October you can browse the Teutenmarkt, a flea and antique market.

8. Sint-Pietersbandenkerk

Source: Sonuwe / Wikimedia

While most of this church the centre of Lommel is neo-Gothic from the beginning of the 20th century, the tower is actually Medieval, in a Kempen Gothic style and dating to 1388. There’s also quite a lot of art inside predating the church, the most important of which is a polychrome carving of Mary from the 16th century.

The 32 neo-Gothic stained glass windows are a joy, dating from 1906-1912 and painted by Gustave Ladon of Ghent.

The church’s organ is also noteworthy, and was an early work by master organ builder Arnold Clerinx (1816-1898), who was just 27 at the time.

In the tower is a 63-bell carillon, and Lommel’s carilloneur Liesbeth Janssens puts on a concert every Wednesday from 15:00 to 16:00. You can also go in to see this historic tower and its carillon on the first Wednesday of the month for free from 15:00 to 16:00.

9. Burgemeestershuis en Park

Source: HET Burgemeestershuis / facebook

There’s a gorgeous patch of public greenery a little way south of the centre of Lommel.

With paths looping around lawns and mature trees, this is the old parkland for the mayor’s residence.

Come the summer there’s a lively schedule of live music and festivals in the park, based around the bandstand.

The mayor’s residence, dating to 1898 and built in an Eclectic style, is on the east side, on Stationsstraat, and until recently contained Lommel’s tourist information office.

Since the 2010s there’s been a restaurant here, “Het Burgemeesterhuis”, with a terrace in the garden.

10. Leyssensmolen

Source: Carmen de Bruijn / shutterstock

First built in 1797, 15 kilometres away in the village of Olmen, this fine post mill in the hamlet of Kattenbos has moved around a lot in its time.

The Leyssensmolen has been dismantled, relocated and put back together three times, in 1808-09, 1964 and in 2007. The most recent move was just up the road on Zandstraat to allow the mill to catch the wind better.

Painted an arresting shade of sky blue and posted on a grassy mound, the Leyssensmolen has always milled flour, apart from between 1955 and 1988 when its internal mechanism was removed.

You can pay a visit and chat with the miller in the afternoon on the first Sunday and third Saturday of the month, while there’s also an annual festival with market stalls and fun for children at the end of May.

11. Klankenbos

Source: Musica - Impulscentrum voor Muziek / facebook

This one-of-a-kind museum in Pelt is set in a forest where you’ll encounter a growing array of sound-producing art installations.

There are now up to 20 pieces at Klankenbos, by artists from around Europe.

These works are intriguing to behold, and produce sound, either manually or by ingeniously using the natural power of the wind to chime, hum, rustle or blare.

One of the installations, “Liglicht”, is a bench that makes a different sound depending on how people are sitting on it, while others record ambient sounds and play them back as you approach.

Another, “Tacet”, is a sound-proofed glass box, from which you can see the forest all around but hear nothing.

12. Achelse Kluis

Source: De Achelse Kluis / facebook

Achel Abbey, boasting one of only a handful of Trappist breweries in the world is an easy drive away in Hamont-Achel.

There was a community of hermits at this location from the 17th century up to the invasion of the French Revolutionary Army in 1789. Then in 1846 Trappists from Westmalle Abbey founded a priory here, which would gain abbey status in 1871. As well as cheese, the Achel Abbey has been making beer since the 1850s, and today produces a variety of Bruin and Blond beers for general sale, labelled according to their ABV (5, 7, 8 and 9.5). There’s also a Bruin and Blond 5s, only available at the cafe at the monastery.

Most of the monastery and brewery are off-limits, but you can pause at the cafe which has windows on the brewhouse and there’s a giftshop on the courtyard selling beer, cheese and handicrafts made at the abbey.

13. LAGO Pelt Dommelslag

Source: LAGO Pelt Dommelslag / facebook

Also in Pelt there’s a super indoor pool and recreation centre 15 minutes east of Lommel.

At LAGO Pelt you’ll find a wave pool, a variety of children’s pools, slides, a lazy river and an outdoor pool for days when the temperature gets above 20°C.

Combined with all this is a 25-metre pool with six lanes for people who are out for exercise.

For stressed parents and grownups seeking relaxation there’s a large wellness area available only to people above the age of 16. This has a panoramic sauna, biosauna, whirlpool, steam bath, warm lagoon and a blissful wellness garden, to name just a few of its facilities.

The whole centre also has free Wi-Fi, and a restaurant for a healthy post-swim bite.

14. Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Lommel

Source: RockerStocker / shutterstock

Lommel is home to the largest military cemetery for German Second World War personnel outside Germany itself.

The 39,102 burials at Kattenbos were moved here by the American Battle Monuments Commission in 1947 from a number of locations around Belgium, like Henri-Chapelle in the Liège Province and Tongeren in Belgium Limburg.

Some 6,221 of the burials are unidentified, and a further 542 are from the First World War.

If you’re passing by, the cemetery is a worthwhile, thought-provoking stop.

The 16-hectare grounds are immaculate, and marvellous in spring when its many flowers are in bloom.

At the entrance is a grand gatehouse, holding an information room and vaulted crypt, all topped with a crucifix carved from black lava.

15. Polish Military Cemetery

The largest Polish military cemetery in Belgium is also in Lommel, just off the N71 (Ringlaan), south-west of Lommel.

Laid out in 1946, this was set up for Polish personnel killed in the liberation of Belgium.

Remains from around the country were transferred to this cemetery, which has 257 burials, two of which are marked with a Star of David.

Curiously, the town of Tielt refused to give up its burials after the war, as these heroes had become a “relic of the city”. Under the large cross at the far end are stones inscribed with the Belgian locations where these soldiers fell.

There’s also a multilingual information panel by the entrance showing the course of the War through Belgium in 1944-45. A Socialist Realism sculpture by Marian Wnuk (1906-1967) depicting a woman with a laurel wreath commemorates the sacrifice of those who died.

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Decades before, the Celtic tribal prince Ambiorix had railed against the Roman Empire on this land, and is remembered with an imposing statue on Grote Markt.

You can take a trip back to Roman times all over Tongeren, at the 1.5 kilometres of walls last altered in the 4th century CE, at the Gallo-Roman museum and in the city’s foundations of the Teseum.

Fast forward a thousand years or so, and Tongeren’s Medieval treasures include a Gothic Basilica with an exceptional treasury, 13th-century fortifications and a beguinage on a maze of cobblestone alleys.

In the 21st century the city is also on the map for a weekly antiques market with more than 350 traders.

1. Gallo-Romeins Museum

Source: Gallo-Romeins Museum Tongeren / facebook

You can dip into Tongeren’s ancient past at this award-winning museum, which moved into a modern building in 2011. The attraction has its roots in a 19th century history and antiquarian society, and its collection has been bolstered by digs and discoveries across more than 160 years.

The permanent exhibition begins with the Neanderthals and study’s the major landmarks in human history in the Limburg region, from our earliest direct ancestors, to the first farmers, to the beginnings of trade, to the foundation of Atuatuca Tungrorum in 10 BCE.

Along with compelling artefacts like statuettes, steles, jewellery, architectural elements and a pristine 1st-century BCE bust of Julius Caesar, the exhibition is full of multimedia, highly-detailed models and lots of tactile items for a multisensory journey.

There’s always a temporary exhibition and in February 2020 this was dedicated to Romania’s Dacian treasures.

2. Basilica of Our Lady

Source: Boerescu / shutterstock

During a period of conflict in the 13th century, Tongeren’s Romanesque main church burnt down and was rebuilt in the Gothic style that survives to this day.

In the foundations of this building there’s stonework belonging to a long line of previous places of worship going back all the way to the 4th century CE.

The Basilica of Our Lady as it is today took more than 300 years to complete, and you’ll be struck by the 55-metre spire-less tower that serves as Tongeren’s belfry and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside, look up at the exquisite triforium and the massive canvasses painted by Liège artists like Théodore-Edmond Plumier (1671-1733). On a neo-Romanesque altar sits the 15th-century walnut-carved polychrome image of Mary with Child, titled Onze Lieve Vrouw Oorzaak onzer Blijdschap (our dear lady, cause of our joy). Outside, predating the current church, is the only Romanesque cloister in Maasland, with daintily carved capitals.

3. Teseum

Source: Teseum / facebook

The treasury for the Basilica of Our Lady is in the chapterhouse and is an attraction in its own right, holding one of the richest collections of Catholic art in Belgium.

At the Teseum this art is combined with an archaeological site excavated to a depth of three metres.

Down here you’ll be able to see right back to Tongeren’s origins, in the foundations of ancient buildings and the remnants of seven churches that came before the present basilica.

Many of these show signs of fire damage, hinting at a turbulent past.

Then in the treasury you can pore over a glimmering line-up of invaluable liturgical art in gold and silver, including monstrances, candlesticks, reliquaries, illuminated Medieval graduals and extremely rare relic pouches.

4. Tongeren Flea Market

Source: MirasWonderland / shutterstock

On Sunday mornings Tongeren is swept up by an antiques market that winds around the city along seven streets.

A normal Sunday will bring about 350 stallholders to Tongeren, complementing the 40 or so antiques shops that open their doors.

The Tongeren Flea Market started in the early-1970s and has snowballed from a casual gathering to a weekly event that pulls in visitors from all over Europe and the United States.

Just for a snapshot, the stalls will be stacked with vintage toys, collectibles, decorative art, antique appliances, furniture from all eras, art, light fittings, vintage and more than we could hope to list here.

Early birds get out onto the street at 07:00 to start their hunt, and you can recharge with coffee or breakfast at a terrace along the route.

5. Roman Walls

Source: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany / Wikimedia

At the start of 2nd century under Emperor Trajan Atuatuca Tungrorum was enclosed within a wall, more than 4.5 kilometres long and protected in places by up to three moats.

The walls were up to two metres thick, and it is believed that, because they were built during a long period of peace, they were built more as a status symbol that for defence.

The core of the wall was made from flint, which was then clad with sandstone, although this material has been quarried since that time.

Remarkably more than a kilometre and a half of Tongeren’s Roman walls are still standing.

The best pieces can be seen on Caesarlaan and Legionenlaan.

6. Medieval Walls

Source: Torsade de Pointes / Wikimedia

Come the 13th century, when Tongeren was under threat from the Duchy of Brabant, those 4th-century Roman walls were not enough to protect the city.

In 1241 a 50-year program of construction got underway, leaving Tongeren with 13 towers, 6 gates and a walled enclosure that added up to 54 hectares (roughly 100 football pitches). A lot of flint and sandstone from the Roman wall was re-used for the Medieval fortifications.

There are tons of thrilling vestiges to be found, like the Moerenpoort gate, Lakenmakerstoren (cloth-makers’ tower) and Velinxtoren (named for an influential 16th-century family). The most intact stretches of the ramparts can be found along Elfde Novemberwal to the north, and the Leopoldwal to the east.

7. Moerenpoort

Source: lehic / shutterstock

Of the six gates that controlled access to Tongeren in Medieval times, only the eastern Moerenpoort is still standing.

The name refers to the marshes (moeren), on Tongeren’s eastern flank, and you can visit these at the De Kevie nature reserve.

The Moerenpoort, as it is now, mostly dates from 1379 when it was reconstructed after an attack in 1344 by soldiers of the deceased Prince-Bishop of Liège, Adolph II of the Marck, against his controversial successor and nephew Engelbert III of the Marck.

Facing out, the gate’s portal has an ogival arch, but inward there’s an older, Romanesque round-headed arch.

The foundations were built from flint quarried from the old Roman walls, and above is a three-storey tower, designed like a keep.

The last restoration took place in 2011, and you can go in to visit a free museum, explaining the story of this gate and Tongeren’s military history.

At the top you can head out for a labelled view of the city and countryside.

8. Begijnhof van Tongeren

Source: Stanislava Karagyozova / shutterstock

West of the Moerenpoort is Tongeren’s beguinage, a community for lay religious women who lived a monastic life, without a vow of poverty.

This community, dedicated to Saint Catherine, moved to a walled enclave within the city’s defences in the middle of the 13th century.

After the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and 17th century the beguinage reached the height of its wealth, and between 1610 and 1716 the wooded houses were rebuilt in stone.

At this time there were more than 100 properties, inhabited by around 300 beguines.

There are eight cobblestone streets and alleys to explore, and a variety of facilities still standing.

On Sint-Ursulastraat the old infirmary from 1659 is now a brasserie, and the Baroque Ursulakapel next door is a solemn venue for concerts and talks.

The Gothic church of St Catherine is currently closed to the public, but you can appreciate the building from a cafe terrace or the restful little garden on the north side.

9. Grote Markt

Source: original: Jeanhousen derivative work: P199 / Wikimedia

In a city as old as Tongeren, it’s exciting to think that people have been congregating on its plazas for many hundreds of years.

Grote Markt, and the neighbouring Vlasmarkt and Graanmarkt at the foot of the Basilica of Our Lady, have both been fully pedestrianised and re-paved in the last decade.

On a sunny you could just park up on a brasserie or cafe terrace and take in a view that includes a burly depiction of Ambiorix, Prince of the Eburones, the Stadhuis and that basilica.

There’s a weekly market below the statue every Thursday morning, for things like fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and fabrics.

10. Standbeeld Ambiorix

Source: Travel Telly / shutterstock

More on that statue of Ambiorix (d. 53 BCE), who strikes a defiant pose with axe in hand.

He was part ruler of the Belgic Eubrones tribe, which had been conquered in 57 BCE.

Three years later Caesar’s troops were low on provisions, and tried to take what they needed from the Eubrones.

They resisted because their own supplies were low, and a revolt ensued, which would later push Ambiorix to national hero status after Belgian Independence in 1830. Ambiorix and the Eubrones were massacred in the end, but not before taking out a Roman legion and five cohorts.

His statue was erected in 1866, depicting him in Germanic garb, with a dragon helmet, and ringed by a Celtic-style fence with spears and wild boar heads.

11. Stadhuis

Source: Henryk Sadura / shutterstock

In 1677 a city fire destroyed much of Tongeren, including the town hall.

The new town hall went up from 1737 where the city’s cloth hall had stood before the fire.

Delayed by the War of the Austrian Succession and ready in 1755, this in a Rococo style typical of the Maasland.

It’s also a close match to city hall of Liège, and was designed by the same man, Pascal Barbier.

Although the building only has a ceremonial role today, it is closed to visitors, which is a shame because the interiors have exquisite stuccowork, panelling, fireplaces with Delft tiles and Baroque furniture in the Liège-Aachen style.

You can take in the exterior’s double stairway and pediment, which contains the coat of arms of Georges-Louis de Berghes (1662-1743), 94th Prince-Bishop of Liège.

This was slightly damaged in the Liège Revolution of 1789-91.

12. Stadspark de Motten

Source: stadspark de Motten / facebook

Tongeren’s municipal park is to the south of the city centre, and on a warm summer’s day has plenty to offer families.

An obvious attraction is the large pond (one of two) at the park’s heart, with a boathouse where you can rent rowboats and pedal boats.

But kids can also run wild at the park’s playground and drive a pedal kart at the “traffic park”. And on top of all that you’ve got a mini-golf course and a cafeteria where parents can take a needed time out.

13. Gasthuiskapel

Source: Jean Housen / Wikimedia

Tongeren is on the Way of St James, a pilgrimage route leading to the shrine of the apostle St James in Spain’s Cathedral de Santiago.

For hundreds of years pilgrims would stay at the Sint-Jacobusgasthuis hospice, which became a wealthy institution through donations.

All this ended with the French Revolution, and the hospice was later used as a hospital, orphanage and rest home.

In 1980 it was transformed to house Tongeren’s municipal services and today contains a hotel, shops and residences.

The chapel is the visitor centre for the tourist office, integrated with historic architecture and fittings.

The building is from the middle of the 17th century, with an altar, organ case and a confessional carved in the second half of the 18th century.

And, being a visitor centre, you can shop here for delicacies from the region, like top fermentation beer, jenever (juniper liqueur) and all manner of traditional sweet treats.

14. Roman Remains

Source: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany / Wikimedia

Aside from the walls there are other traces of Roman habitation around Tongeren if you know where to look.

South-west of Tongeren proper, in Koninksem there’s a pair of tumuli, standing out unmistakably in the landscape and dating to between the 1st and 3rd century BC.

They are both set on the Romeinse Kassei, a Roman road now on the course of the N69. Around a kilometre north is the Beukenberg, also a protected monument.

This is where you’ll come across Atuatuca Tungrorum, which was an earthen construction that tallied with the natural slope and had an embankment six kilometres long, leading to the centre of the city.

Finally, just off the Roman wall at Caesarlaan you can visit the site of an ancient temple, the footprint has been marked out with modern paving and illustrated with handy interpretation boards.

15. De Kevie

Source: De Kevie / facebook

To break away from the city for a while, there’s a beautiful nature reserve on the Jeker River, south-east of the city.

At De Kevie the river has recovered its natural meanders, and twists through marshland, reedbeds and former pasture now reclaimed by nature.

There are four walking and cycling trails in the reserve, ushering you by the river, coppiced willows, poplars and hedgerows.

As you go, keep on the lookout for the Eurasian hobby, a nimble falcon that preys on grasshoppers and dragonflies.

You can buy a map “Langs de Flanken van de Jeker” from the Tongeren tourist office.

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