The beautiful, ancient facades are deceptive. Behind them today are hip stores and restaurants, making a vacation in Belgium the new insider tip in Europe.
Our time together only lasted a few days, but I have to admit - I'm in love. Flanders has taken my heart by storm. And anyone who has ever been to Ghent or Bruges will understand why. But first things first: My Belgian vacation begins in Brussels. The capital has much more to offer than just the Atomium and the government district. It has also blossomed into a fashion metropolis. The ateliers on Rue Antoine Dansaert and in the area around Georges Brugmann Square are a magnet for fashion fans. I let myself drift through the boulevards of the city center. I almost overlook the Manneken Pis, as I had imagined the world-famous fountain statue to be larger. And of course I treat myself to some thick Belgian fries. Sinful, but so delicious!
The Rubens city of Antwerp
The next day, my Belgian vacation continues in Antwerp, where Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) lived. Important works by the Baroque painter hang in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. I am also impressed by the Cathedral of Our Lady in the city center, whose tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And to relax in the evening, head to the cozy bars on the banks of the Scheldt.
Ghent - history you can touch
I drive from Antwerp to Ghent in just under an hour. In the historic center of the former trading city, almost every house bears witness to history. To find out more about the importance of Ghent from the Middle Ages onwards, it's worth taking a boat tour on the dark waterways. One of the biggest tourist magnets during a vacation in Flanders is rightly the perfectly restored Gravensteen Castle. Between the battlements and turrets, I feel like a damsel of the castle.
A Belgian vacation to fall in love with: Bruges
But a vacation in Belgium can be even better, as I soon find out. And for me it is now clear: Bruges is the most romantic place in Western Europe. The atmosphere is unsurpassed, the picturesque alleyways and stone bridges instantly transport every visitor back to the 15th century. I am only too happy to let myself be enchanted by the doll's house charm as I stroll through the cobbled streets between old houses and thick walls. From the Belfry, the high tower on the edge of the Grote Markt, I have a breathtaking view of the whole city - a reward for the narrow spiral staircase with over 360 steps that I have puffed up. I finally succumb to Bruges in the evening, when the lanterns come on at dusk and the city sinks into a mysterious twilight. Incredibly beautiful!
The dream beach of Zeebrugge
At the end of your vacation in Belgium, the sea beckons: the Zeebrugge district is a famous seaside resort with a wide beach and soft North Sea sand. Belgium's largest fishing port is also located on the outskirts. And that of course means there are plenty of good fish restaurants. Locals recommend the "Sea and Sand" on the Zeedijk, the beach promenade next to the harbor. A good tip: the portions are generous and the mussels and perch taste divine. The wide promenade connects Zeebrugge with the nearby seaside resorts of Blankenberge and Knokke-Heist.
Unfortunately, I don't get to cycle through the purple blooming heathland in the Hoge Kempen National Park this time. But you shouldn't keep a new love waiting for long, the next Belgium vacation won't be long in coming...