Belgium
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. Starting at the Grand Place in Brussels Old Town, you’ll discover that this is a city of museums, beautiful buildings and enticing cafés – think moules, frites and Belgium beer. Art galleries that celebrate everything from renaissance to surrealist works, city parks, puppet theatres, lace boutiques and chocolate shops fill your days. Brugge, chocolate box picturesque is a perfectly preserved medieval city with cobbled squares and canalside walkways. To really enjoy this popular city you need to stay overnight to see the fabulous evening floodlighting and make an early start to wander around the market square and climb the 13th century Belfort which towers 83 metres above the city centre and leans almost a metre to the east at the top. The 366 steps to the top will test your determination and its bells will keep you on schedule.
