Someone asked me how I had decided on visiting Brussels for a long weekend and after a bit of thought I remembered. It was the low price of the air far. Which is totally unfair, because Brussels has so much to offer. Not only is it the seat of the European Commission, making it quasi the de-facto capital of Europe, but it’s also the capital of chocolate, fries (don’t call them French fries here), and mussels. Do you need another reason for a city trip?
Belgium is a small country in the heart of Europe. Despite its size it has several places worth of visit besides Brussels. So when you have a bit of time, hop on the train and go to Antwerp (or Bruges, Ghent, the coast). It’s only an hour away from Brussels. Both cities score with an amazing old town. So don’t miss the ‘Grand Place’ (or ‘Grote Markt’ in Antwerp) with its amazing guild houses and the city hall.
one side of the Grand Place @Brussels
Antwerp lies in the Flemish region, which can be easily detected by all the Dutch around, while Brussels is fairly French. Quite neat to travel only one hour and hear a completely different language. True, that’s not really unique in Europe, but quite special for the same country. The food though is similar in both cities and so, so good.
part of the Grand Place @Antwerp
We spent our weekend walking around a lot to stave off the many calories setting up a permanent home on our hips. As far as preparations go, the only thing I did in advance was to arrange the train and the restaurants. The restaurant reservations were a great idea, because we lucked out with two excellent choices. But arranging for train tickets was not necessary. Public transport in Belgium is superb and you basically just need to show up and buy your ticket at the machine.
inside the beautiful train station @Antwerp
When it comes to restaurants the situation is a bit more tricky. There are so many places to choose from, that it can be a bit overwhelming. So I booked three meals in advance and then canceled one lunch spot the day before. You want to give yourself a little wriggle room. Yours, Pollybert
