Belgium Travel Guide

Then There are the Chocolates

Any country where hot chips dipped in mayonnaise are a national favourite has to be a great place for travellers. Tuck into your share while visiting this pocket-sized nation that manages to pack a surprising amount of history into a very small area.

Belgium has special significance for Kiwi travellers. More than 4700 New Zealanders are buried here in about 80 cemeteries throughout the country. A growing number of Kiwis now make a pilgrimage to these wartime resting places and to the battlefields of Flanders. They will always be assured of a warm welcome from the locals too.

An intriguing aspect of Belgium is its dual personality – the northern half is Dutch speaking Flanders, but in Wallonia to the south, French is the dominant language. Add to all the fact that Brussels, its capital, is the headquarters of the European Union and you have a recipe for plenty of political debate.

While you are in Brussels head for the Grand Place and absorb the atmosphere among the elegant guild houses before you go in search of the tiny, but very famous Mannekin-Pis statue. One place that definitely deserves a longer stay is Bruges. This medieval town is perfect with its network of picturesque canals, glorious medieval Gothic architecture and preserved stone cottages. You may even see women sitting outside their front doors making hand-made lace.

Those in search of works of art will want to check out the Rubens and Brueghel paintings but most famed artwork of all is the beer - Trappist monks have been making it for centuries – and then there are the utterly sumptuous handmade chocolates…

Brussels & Brugge Highlights
Brugge
Canal Trip - take a boat ride through the picturesque centre of the city. It’s often called the ‘Venice of the North’ and is a photographer’s delight.

St Anna Quarter - this tranquil quarter is dotted with churches, windmills and small museums and is just lovely.

Markt Square - this large, pedestrian square is the hub of the city. It has the Belfry Tower, neo-gothic Provincial Court, some medieval-style buildings and plenty of outdoor cafes.

Brussels
Grand Place - this is the impressive central square that dates back to the 12th century. It has great baroque guildhalls, the beautiful Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), pavement cafés, chocolate shops and cellar restaurants.

Grand Place Guildhalls - each merchant guild erected its own building, which is named and adorned with statues and elaborate symbols related to their trade, they are pretty impressive.

Manneken-Pis - the famous statue of the little boy ‘relieving himself’ into a pool. Just 60cm high it is one of the most visited attractions in Brussels.

Musée Bruxellois de la Gueuze - if you’re interested in beer this is a great tour through a family run brewery. The owners still proudly use traditional methods to make their beers & after a brief introduction, make your way around the brewery before sampling their wares.

Refreshments - the chocolate shops are just amazing and the pub scene fantastic!