– Brussels, Gent, & Brugge –
Table of Contents
Introduction
Brussels
Gent/Ghent
Brugge/Bruges
Food & Drink
Introduction
Snuggled between Germany, Netherlands, and Luxembourg to the East and France to the West, Belgium is a small Northwestern European country known for its chocolate, fries, beer, the Battle of Waterloo, and medieval Gothic architecture. It is well recognized for its comic strip series about little blue creatures (The Smurfs) and about a Belgian adventurer who solves various mysteries (The Adventures of Tintin), as well as Agatha Christie’s fictional detective Hercule Poirot, a former Belgian police officer who fled to England as a refugee during WWI.
When visiting my sister in Maastricht, Netherlands, I flew into the Brussels Airport, which is only a little over an hour away. The border of Belgium with respect to Maastricht is a measly 15 minutes, making it a rather convenient country to explore. At 11,849 sq mi, it is a little smaller than Maryland but a little larger than Massachusetts, and you can drive across the country in about 3.5 hours, granted that traffic and weather permit. The country is unique in that it is split into two unique geographical and cultural populations: the northern, Belgian Dutch, or “Flemish” speaking Flanders and the southern, French speaking Wallonia, with Brussels being considered the third region and the multilingual international heart of the country. The so-dubbed Flemings compose about half the population, are practical and more business-like, priding themselves in work ethic and driving the economic powerhouse of the north with logistics, technology, and agriculture industries. They often view the Walloons for being idle and lazy. In comparison, the Walloons compose about a third of the population and embrace a more laid-back and passionate lifestyle, typically viewing the Flemings for being too obsessed with money. The Flemish tend to be more right-wing, while the Walloons more left-wing, causing political turmoil resulting in extreme delays during elections. From 2018 to 2020 it took almost 2 years to elect a new government and prime minister, during which time the country was led by a temporary government.
Belgium is a fairly affluent country and tends to be a bit more expensive than the US. Belgium has quite high tax rates, with it being common for 60-65% of one’s paycheck to be taken for various taxes. These are used to improve the country’s general quality of life, funding universal healthcare, education, social protection, and other public services.
Belgian is the seventh most densely populated European country, and is highly urbanized and industrialized, with about 98% of its population living in urban areas. Major cities include Brussels in the South, and Brugge, Gent, and Antwerp in the North. All of the northern cities have major ports either by canal system or being directly net to the North Sea, with Antwerp’s port being the second busiest in Europe. There is a quite a bit of stunning Medieval Gothic as well as more modern and Neoclassical architecture throughout the urban areas. The country’s natural areas are less impressive, and if looking for a country to visit for its natural wonders I would visit a different one. It is bordered by the North Sea, with broad coastal plains extending from the North down, and the forests and hills of the Ardennes to the southeast, with a maximum elevation of 2,277 feet. Wildlife such as wild boar, deer, wildcats, pheasants, muskrats, and hamsters can be found in various regions.
Weather
- Winter: Mean temperature of just below freezing in January
- Summer: Mild, with mean maximum temperature of around 71F in July
Language
- Flemish, or Belgian Dutch: about 50% of the population, spoken in the North
- French: about 30% of the population, spoken in the South
- German: a small minority, spoken in the Eastern Liege Province
- English: commonly spoken in the North, less commonly in the South
Currency
- European Euro: as of January 2026, €1 = 1.16 USD
Transportation
- Public transportation: more extensive than the US with trains, buses, trams, etc.
- Cars: much more convenient for travelers who have luggage to haul around when staying in different locations each night. Parking can be a pain in the cities, and both parking and gas can be quite expensive.
- Bikes: very bike-friendly with extensive, well-marked bike paths
- Canals: some cities, such as Brugge, Gent, and Antwerp have extensive canal systems
Sports
- Obsessed with football (soccer), with the Red Devils being their national symbol
Religion
- Primarily Roman Catholic
Government
- Representative democracy, headed by a hereditary constitutional monarchy
Brussels
The capital city of Belgium, Brussels lies is considered separate from Flanders and Wallonia, lying in Flanders but very close to the border of Wallonia. While it is technically bilingual, the vast majority speak French. It serves as a symbol of unity between the two regions, and is considered the heart of Belgium. It also unites other countries: it was also chosen as the the headquarters of both the EU and NATO due to its central location and historical significance as a diplomatic hub.
Most of the attractions in Brussels, including the Royal Palace, Manneken Pis, the Grand Place, Mont Des Arts, and the European Quarter lie in the center of the city are within walking distance of each other. However, the Atomium, a futuristic steel structure in the shape of an iron atom with exhibits on design
and science, represents modern Brussels and is on the outskirts of the city. While technically not in Brussels, I have included the Battlefield of Waterloo here due to its proximity. I only spent a couple of hours in Brussels but have included the sites I did have a chance to see as well as mentions of other attractions you could visit.
– City Center Attractions –
The Royal Quarter
- The Royal Palace
- Symbol of the constitutional monarchy
- The King and Queen exercise their authority as Head of State, but is not the official royal residence
- Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30-17:00, with free admission (though it was closed for renovation work when we visited
- Brussels Park (Parc de Bruxelles)
- Also known as the Royal Park, it is an urban park directly across from the palace
- Free to access
- The Church of St. James (Sint-Jacob-op-de-Koudenbergkerk)
- Catholic Church with a statue of Godfrey of Bouillon on horseback in front
The Grand Place
- The central square of Brussels and an UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Every 2 years (on even years) in mid-august it hosts a spectacular Flower Carpet, transforming the square into a mastic flower mosaic with begonias and other flowers
Mont Des Arts
- Area of Brussels composed of an urban garden connected to the Congress Palace, the Royal Library, and the National Archives of Belgium
- The Whirling Ear Statue (L’oreille Tourbillonnante)
- At the entrance of Mont des Arts, this statue was initially presented at the 1958 World’s Fair at Brussels following WWII. It symbolizes the cultural bridge between the East and West, initially standing between the US and Soviet Union pavilions at the exhibition.
Manneken, Jeanneke, and Zinneke Pis
- Manneken Pis, a bronze statue of a peeing boy, is the national symbol of Belgium, and is dressed up for various special occasions. Per legend, the young boy saved Brussels by putting out a fire with his urine. It is located about 5 minutes from the Grand Place
- Jeanneke Pis, a statue of a girl peeing, and Zinneke Pis (a dog peeing) are its lesser known counterparts
The European Quarter
- Also includes Parc Léopold, Parc du Cinquantenair, and Place de Luxembourg as well as various museums
- A neighborhood directly East of the Royal Quarter, it contains most of the European Union’s Brussels-based institutions, including the European Parliament, European Commission, and Council of European Union
- Known for being an international employment hub, attracting workers from around the world
– On the Outskirts –
The Battlefield of Waterloo
- Unfortunately the statue was under construction when we stopped by
- Admission costs €20.5 from November through March, and €24 from April through October for adults, and includes access to a museum, The Panorama of 1912, the Hougoumont Farm, as well as walking up to the mound
The Atomium
- A futuristic steel structure in the shape of an iron atom, surrounded by exhibits on design and science
- Hours: 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
- Tickets: €16 per adult
Hidden Gem: Au Vieux Spijtigen Duivel
A local Belgian pub with delicious and reasonably priced food, with a wide selection of Belgian beers with matching glasses. The customers all seemed to be mostly locals, with the staff only speaking French. Make sure to try the scampis spijtigen drivel (shrimp in a creamy tomato sauce), aubergines farcies à la viande hachée, gratinée à la feta, coulis de tomates, basilic gratinée à la feta, coulis de tomates, basilic
(eggplant stuffed with minced meat, feta, tomato coulis and basil), and their carbonnades flamandes (beef stew).
Gent/Ghent
Between Brussels and Brugge, about an hour drive from either one, Ghent is a Medieval city and the historic capital of Flanders. It is less touristy and more spread out than Brugge, but similarly contains many historic Medieval and Gothic buildings interspersed between a network of canals. It is the location of the world-renowned Ghent University, which is consistently ranked in the top 100 universities in the world, and hence has a younger population with many students. Gent is the Dutch/German spelling, whereas Ghent is the English spelling.
Ghent is very walkable and bicycle friendly, though you can drive through most areas. Parking, like any city is Belgium, can be a bit pricy, but was easier to find than in Brugge. You can also take a tour by canal, and there are many buses/trams.
The city’s major attractions include Gravensteen Castle, Graffiti Street, the culinary neighborhood of Patershol, and St. Michael’s Bridge which offers a view of its three main towers: Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, St. Nicholas’ Church, and Ghent Belfry. You can purchase individual tickets to enter various attractions, or purchase a pass called the CityCard Gent, which which allows access to many different museums and monuments within Ghent, as well as a complimentary canal cruise, 1 day bike rental, and bus/tram access. The pass costs €42 for 48 hours and €48 for 72 hours for adults.
Gravensteen Castle (The Castle of the Counts)
Gravensteen castle is a medieval castle surrounded by a moat that was built in the 12th century, initially used as the primary residence of the counts of Flanders. In the 14th century it was repurposed as a court and prison, and is known for its collection of torture devices and weapons.
After paying for admission, you are directed to the gift shop, where you are provided with two different options for audio tours – a short one and a long, comedic one. I typically can’t sit still enough to listen to the end of most audio tours, so I chose the short one, which consisted of five sessions that were around 2-5 minutes each. You follow the numbers associated with the sessions throughout the castle, which leads you through stone corridors and rooms decked with paintings, flags, and stained glass, a room full of weapons on display, and up to the top of the towers with a panoramic view of the city.
Hours: 10:00-18:00
Admission: €15/adult
Korenmarkt, The Three Towers, & Surrounding Area
Korenmarkt is one of the main city squares in the historic center of Ghent, located on the East side of the Leie River. It is closest to St. Michael’s Bridge and St. Nicholas’ Church, but also in close proximity to St. Michael’s Church, the Ghent Belfry, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and The City Pavilion.
St. Michael’s Bridge
One of the most popular photo spots, St. Michael’s bridge overlies the Leie River, offering view of the three main towers as well as St. Michael’s Church. It is named for a small bronze statue of the Archangel Michael in the center.
St. Michael’s Church
A Roman Catholic Church built in the late Gothic style. Admission is free, hours are limited from 14:00-17:00 every day except Monday, when it is closed.
The City Pavilion
An open city pavilion made of glass, wood, and concrete known for its architectural design. A bit out of place, surrounded by buildings with much older architecture, it was constructed from 2010-2012 by Robbrecht & Daem/Marie-José Van Hee as part of a larger project to redevelop public spaces in the center of Ghent.
– The Three Towers: St. Bavo’s Cathedral, The Ghent Belfry, and St. Nicholas’ Church –
St. Bavo’s Cathedral
- A 292ft tall Roman Catholic Cathedral with Gothic architecture. According to a local I spoke to, it is the most beautiful of the towers. As I only visited the one, I am not able to judge but it certainly was grand
- Contains the Ghent Altarpiece, also called The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, which is a very famous and complex 15th century altarpiece painted by the Van Eyck brothers
- Hours: Monday – Saturday open 08:30-17:30, Sunday 13:00-17:30
- Price:
- Free to enter the Cathedral
- €12.5/adult to view the altarpiece (included in CityCard Gent)
- €16/adult for a 60 minute augmented reality tour and altarpiece viewing
The Ghent Belfry
- Climb 350 steps to get to the top of the 299ft tall Belfry for a panoramic view of the city
- Hours: 10:00-18:00
- Costs €13/adult (included in CityCard Gent)
St. Nicholas’ Church
- A 249ft tall Roman Catholic Church build in the the 13th century in Gothic style
- Hours: 10:00-16:00
- Entrance is free
Hidden Gems: Theo
While hot chocolate is sold in many coffee shops and restaurants, I wanted to find a more decadent Belgian hot chocolate and Thor did not disappoint. Located right outside of Korenmarkt, across from St. Nicholas’ Church, Theo is a chocolate shop that sells little cups of hot chocolate of various flavors made by melting chocolate chips with hot milk.
Graffiti Street
Located between Korenmarkt and Vrijdagmarktn, Graffiti Street is the first legal graffiti alley in Ghent. It was created in 1995, giving graffiti artists an outlet for expression of their art. Graffiti artists redo the street daily, so the walls are never the same. Directly next to the street is a cafe/giftshop, where tourists can grab a coffee, buy artwork, and meet up with the artists.
Vrijdagmarkt
A city square in the historic center of Ghent, called Vrijdag Market or “Friday Market” because of the weekly market it hosts on Fridays.
Dulle Griet
Belgium is well-known for its beers, with each Belgian beer having a glass the goes along with it. Tourists often steel glasses as souvenirs, which can cost as much as €50 a piece. Many bars have implemented methods to prevent theft. 2be in Brugge, for example, has secured electronic anti-theft tags to each glass.
Located in Vrijdagmarkt, Dulle Griet is a bar that guards against glass theft by implementing a simple rule: customers must give up a shoe, which is hung from the ceiling, and don’t get it back until they return their glasses. Still, sometimes people leave without their shoes.
Hidden Gem: Le Bal Infernal – Used Book Café
Located in Vridagmarkt, this is a very cute café with used books plastering the walls, serving both coffee, beer, and some food options.
Patershol
Patershol is a network of cobblestone streets in Northern Ghent, separated from the rest of the city center by the Leie river. It is considered the culinary heart of Ghent, providing a selection of cuisines from around the world, with restaurants featuring Himalayan, Japanese, Turkish, Belgian, and many other cuisines and is popular among students and tourists.
Of note Ghent has been dubbed the veggie capital of Europe, with vegetarian and vegan options available in most restaurants. It also started Donderdag Veggiedag, or Thursday Veggie Day in 2007, their version of the American meatless Monday. Every Thursday over 100 restaurants and about 50% of the Ghent’s population go vegetarian.
Brugge/Bruges
By far my favorite city in Belgium and an UNESCO World Heritage site, Brugge is a fairytale medieval city in northwest, about a 30 minute drive from the shore, about a 1.5 hour drive from Brussels, and about an hour drive from Ghent. “Brugge” (BRÜH-khuh) is the Flemish spelling, while “Bruges” is the English/French spelling, which is also easier to pronounce (rhymes with rouge, with a silent ‘s’). I initially checked out a couple of smaller, more shoreside towns close to Brugge (Lissewege and Blankenberge) but these were not as impressive at least during the winter, and I would skip them to go straight to the center of Brugge.
Encircling the center of Brugge is a moat system with ramparts known as De Vesten, that historically served as a defense against invaders. Within these boundaries, Brugge is a very pedestrian friendly city, though you can also take a canal tour of the city with various companies (Canal Tour, €15/person). You can drive through it, but parking is pricy and can be difficult to find closer to the center. The city’s cobblestone streets are lined with various restaurants, chocolate shops, souvenir shops, churches, and other historic attractions. There are many different museums, including those on art, culture, and some of its favorite things—fries (Frietmuseum), lamps (Lumina Domestica), and chocolate (Groeninge Museum), as well as one to all three (Groeningemuseum). There is a combination pass, the Musea Brugge Card, which costs €33 and provides 72 hour access to the Belfry, City Hall, and several museums.
De Market – Market Square
When you arrive in Brugge, I would start with visiting Market Square, the central square in the city. Here you can climb to the top of the Belfry Tower to get a panoramic view of the city from above, visit the Provincial Court and Historium, dine at its various restaurants or visit one of its tourist shops.
The Historium
- Learn about the city’s history with exhibitions and virtual reality tours and access its tower for a view of the city
- Hours: 10:30-17:00, as well as 20:00-22:00 on Saturdays only
- Admission: €12/adult for virtual reality tour, €14/adult for access to the tower and exhibition, €22/adult for historium discovery tour including access to exhibitions, and €28/adult for the historium discovery tour with virtual reality tour. See updated prices here: Tickets
Provincial Palace/Provinciaal Hof
- Admission is free
- A Neo-Gothic building built in the 19th century, formerly used as a meeting place for the Provincial Government of West Flanders, today serves as an open house for visitors as well as an events venue
- Contains Hofcafé and Hofshop inside
- Hours: 10:30-18:00 every day except Tuesday, when it is closed
Belfry Tower
Probably my favorite Bruges experience was climbing to the top the of the Belfry Tower to view the city from above. A UNESCO World Heritage building, the Belfry Tower is a 13th century 272ft tall belfry (bell tower) located in the Market Square. Its Carillon contains 47 bells, which the carillonneur plays on Wednesdays, Saturadays, and Sundays from 11:00-12:00. You can walk into its courtyard for free, but to access the tower you must purchase a ticket. To get to the top, you must climb 366 winding steps, stopping along the way in rooms with various displays and information boards. On the way back out, there is a small gift shop. There are also pay-for restrooms in the courtyard.
Hours:
- April 1-November 2: 09:00-08:00
- November 3-March 31: 10:00-18:00 every day except Saturday, when open 09:00-20:00
- December 26-30: 09:00-20:00
Price: costs €15/adult, included with Musea Brugge Card
De Burg/Burg Square
Smaller than Market Square but just as picturesque, Burg Square is the oldest location in the city. It contains an architectural hub by Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance-inspired building, including the Basilica of the Holy Blood, Stadhuis (Bruges City Hall), St. Basilius Church, & the Deanery (residence of the deans of St. Donatius Church).
Basilica of the Holy Blood
- A Roman Catholic church that houses a relic that is said to contain the blood of Jesus Christ
- Price: Free
- Hours: 10:00-17:15
The City Hall (Stadhuis)
- The City Hall is a late-Gothic building which contains a vault, 20th century murals, and exhibits on the history of Brugge.
- Hours: 09:30-17:00
- Price: €8/adult (included in MuseaBrugge)
Rozenhoedkaai “Quay of Rosary”
One of the most photographed sites in Brugge is Rozenhoedkaai, or “Quay of Rosary,” which depicts the spot where the Dijver and Groenerei canals meet, framed by picturesque buildings and an iconic weeping willow tree drooping over the water. Historically, rosaries were sold here and the name has stuck since.
Minnewater – “Lake of Love”
Unfortunately I did not have time to visit Minnewater Lake, a beautiful rectangular lake surrounded by a park you can walk around in southernmost corner of historic Brugge. Here you can also see the 59ft tall Gunpowder Tower (Poertoren), a defensive tower built in the 14th century. Several festivals and concerts, such as the annual Cactus Festival, a summer music festival, are hosted in its park.
Noteworthy Chocolate & Beer Spots
While I had the unfortunate luck of coming across each of these spots when they were closed, I would definitely check them out if you have the time.
The Old Chocolate House
A family-run chocolate house that sells a wide variety of specialty hot chocolate, with flavors fromTiramisu to Speculoos Bomb perfect for the winter months. It also sells a large selection of chocolate, cookies, and waffles. Open 10:00-18:00.
2be Bar, Shop, and Beer Wall
Highly raved about by visiters, 2be is composed of a bar that serves Belgian beer with traditional matching glasses, an iconic beer wall, & a shop that sells beers, glasses, and food treats, as well as Tin Tin trove.
Huisbrouwerij de Halve Maan
Brewery and restaurant known for its 2 mile underground beer pipeline and rooftop bar. You can book your tours Here.
Food & Drink
Belgian cuisine is centered around hearty dishes such as stews containing meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Food from Flanders typically has more of a Dutch influence, while that from Walloon and Brussels cuisine more of a French influence, with specific dishes originating from specific areas. However, you can find the same dishes throughout the country.
Stews
Perfect for the colder weather, stews are very popular throughout Belgium. The most common stews are:
- Storverij or Stoofvlees or Carbonnades flamandes: beef stew slow cooked in beer, typically served with fries
- Waterzooi: creamy stew with chicken or fish and vegetables
Fries
Similarly to the Netherlands next-door, fries are also very popular in Belgium, with “fritkots,” or fry-stands, scattered throughout the streets. Fried twice and cut in a basic straight-cut fry shape, the fries themselves didn’t seem to taste any better than fries anywhere else. What makes them stand out is the large variety of sauces and the stews (as above) available to dump on top of them. My favorite sauce was Samourai Sauce, a spicy mayonnaise based sauce with Tunisian chili, but other popular options include Truffle Mayonnaise, Curry Ketchup, and Andalouse (with mayonnaise, peppers, and tomato paste). It is also popular to combine fries with mussels in their traditional dish Moules-frites. Fries are also served with most dishes in restaurants, with ketchup and mayonnaise as their staple condiments.
The Sweets
Waffles
I’m sure you’ve had, or at least heard of Belgian waffles, and would expect those found in Belgium to be extra fluffy and mouth-watering. What I did not realize is that there are actually two types of waffles in Belgium: The Brussels and the Liège Waffle, each named after the city it originated in. The Brussels waffle, which the Americanized Belgian waffles originated from, is made from a liquid batter and is very light and fluffy. It is typically rectangularly shaped with fine ridges and large square holes meant to hold an amplitude of sweet topping such as fruit, chocolate sauce, ice cream, and whipped cream. In comparison, the Liège waffle is prepared from a hard dough with pearl sugar, and hence is denser, chewier, and slightly sweet. It is typically oval shaped, and while in tourist spots you can add toppings, it is traditionally enjoyed plain.
Chocolate
Belgium is world-renowned for its chocolate, both for the quantity and quality it produces, with Flanders specifically being known as “the capital of chocolate.” One of largest chocolate factory in the world, Callebaut, is located in Flanders and is said to produce a whopping 1,000 tons of chocolate daily. Belgium itself produces around 600,000 tons of chocolate annually, and it exports about 11% of the World’s total chocolate exports, second only to Germany. Belgian chocolate is also very high quality, being regulated by the “Belgian Chocolate Code” developed in 2007, which ensures that all chocolate labeled as Belgian contains at least 35% pure cocoa powder and 100% cocoa butter with no substitutes such as palm oil. The praline was also invented in Belgium, by chocolatier Jean Neuhaus in 1912.
You can find chocolate shops throughout the various cities in Belgium, and there are also several chocolate museums. The most well known one, Chocolate Nation in Antwerp, is one of the largest in the world, and takes visitors through 14 thematic rooms on the story of Belgian chocolate and provides samples of 10 different flavors of chocolate. Other popular museums include Belgian Chocolate Village in Brussels and Choco-Story in Bruges.
Belgian hot chocolate is also very popular during the winter months. It is made by melting Belgian chocolate with milk, and often cream, rather than using cocoa powder. The Chocolate House in Bruges and Theo in Ghent are two good spots to find hot chocolate.
Cuberdons
Also known as “noses,” cuberdons are traditional cone-shaped Belgian candies with hard exterior and soft interior, vaguely similar to a large jellybean. Traditionally raspberry-flavored, they come in many different flavors. Gent is known for them, but you can also find them in surrounding areas – they were very common in chocolate stores in Brugge.
The Drinks
Beer
Belgium is very well known for its beer, which typically has complex flavors, unique yeast strains, and high carbonation. They also tend to have a higher alcohol content than those found in the U.S., with 6-10% being typical. Two of my favorite Belgian beers were Leffe Blond, an authentic blond abbey beer, and Orval, a pale ale. Specific Belgian beer styles include:
- Dubbel: a strong, malty, fruity dark ale
- Tripel: a strong golden ale with complex, spicy, and fruity flavors with high alcohol content, around 8-10%
- Quadrupel: basically a stronger version of a Dubbel, with alcohol concentrations up to 12%
- Belgian Witbier: a light, citrusy wheat beer
- Saison: a fruity, spicy, and highly carbonated pale farmhouse ale from Wallonia
Belgium is also known for its beer glasses themselves, with each Belgian beer having a matching beer glass to go along with it. As you can imagine, Belgian glasses make perfect souvenirs, and hence are often the victim of tourist theft. They can be quite pricy, costing up to €50 a piece, creating a major financial issue for many bars, who have responded in implementing methods to prevent theft. 2be in Brugge, for example, has secured electronic anti-theft tags to each glass, while Dulle Griet in Ghent requires customers to give up a shoe to be hung from the ceiling, which is no returned until their glasses are safely back behind the bar counter. Still, sometimes people leave without their shoes.
Coffee
No post would be complete without mention of its coffee. Coffee in Belgium is similar to all of that in Europe: espresso-based with smaller sizes than the US. It is very tasty, but difficult to find my typical cold brew or a larger coffee.rom the ceiling, and don’t get it back until they return their glasses. Still, sometimes people leave without their shoes. from the ceiling, and don’t get it back until they return their glasses. Still, sometimes people leave without their shoes.
