After the success of my last 2 trips in the UK I have come back once again for advice regarding my next trip! This year I plan to travel a bit further afield and spend some time in other European countries.

As I am approaching my 1st years service working for a TOC I can get access to discounted rail travel in Europe and plan to make good use of this  ! My first trip is going to be a simple one, I've wanted to visit Belgium for a while and decided its about time I went. The other trips I have planned this year are to Italy, Germany and France.

I plan to go in March, looking at traveling out by Eurostar to Brussels on the 20th in the afternoon and then coming back on the 26th in the evening giving me 6 days in the country. Staying in Brussels for the whole trip I can easily access most if not all of the country by train. So far I plan to spend a couple of days seeing Brussels and taking trips to Antwerp and Bruges. Is there anywhere else that is worth a gander? This will be my first ever trip to Europe apart from regular trips to stay with a friend in Gibraltar. Again, I have visited various websites and have a few places I want to visit but wanted to call on the experiences of anyone who has visited the country or even lives there!

I want to see what a bit of what the country has to offer! I get the idea that Beer and Chocolate are quite popular over there so I'm sure we'll get along just fine 

Ghent /Gand well worth a visit, mediaeval sites etc. Belgium
a compact country with good rail network so easy to get about.

Enjoy!

Numerous beers for you to test...

Brugge is a nice day out. Climb the tower, visit the museum.

As well as beer and chocolates, give the waffles a try. My favourites are not the expensive cafe ones but the ones you get in packs in the local shops and bakeries. They are full and crystalised sugar and are chewy and crunchy! They are the real deal! 

Hi,

Haven't been for ages but remember Ypres being lovely and quite moving. Don't know if they still do it but the fire brigade (I think, was a long time ago) play the last post near the main square every night in rememberance of WW1.

On a lighter note, the bestest chips (with moules).

For trains, obviously Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges would be great but I liked Ostend harbour. Prob all changed now.

Have a great trip and be careful of some of their beers, stronger than wine!! 

Cheers Weave

You can't go to Brussels / Belgium without going to the Atomium - http://atomium.be/ - a building / sculpture of an atom. Catch the train from Brussels and get ready for your jaw to drop when you first see it!

Also, try some of the bars in Brussels as many of them have their own micro-breweries (one we went to had a couple of 2 storey copper vats in the back of the bar, with tables tucked in around the pipe work! Fantastic!) and the beer is truly great.... Expensive (€9 a glass  ) but worth it!

this looks good but probably not open in march...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoomcentrum_Maldegem

also...

http://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museum/69-museum-of-belgian-railways

or if you like freight trains, plenty to see near antwerp docks???  plenty of locos from france, belgium, germany, private operators etc...
e.g.

2904 Antwerpen Berchem 20 April 2012.MP4



tim

First thing I learnt was to say "Keine Mayonnaise" otherwise you get your frites with a dollop and IMHO chips and mayo do not go together

Hi. I live in Belgium and reckon you can't go wrong with the big cities of Antwerp, Gent and Bruges. I live near Leuven and, whilst it's small, it's definitely worth a visit - as a you travel in on the train you can see the delights of the Stella Artois brewery but it's the City Hall and old market squares that are really worth seeing. Would also recommend the coast and Ostend is probably easiest place to get to. There is also a tram that runs the whole length of the coast so other parts are easy to access from there. Being biased I'll say all the nicer places are in Flanders but might be worth a trip to Wallonia to see how the other half live - I've been to Namur and that's nice and I understand that Liege is quite nice too. Spa is also quite accessible from Liege and gives a taste of the Ardennes, so if you like countryside this is an option.

If you are travelling a lot by train (I guess you will) you can get a 10-trip ticket for €76 meaning each journey, regardless of length, will only be €7.60. Although, other fares won't be expensive: Brussels-Gent/Anwterp will probably be less than €10 each way and a longer one like Brussels-Ostend getting on for €15. No restrictions on times either - you will delighted to see how a railway should be run!

As for beer, you won't be dissappointed (a bit hungover maybe) as there's lots to choose from. Of the more common ones you have to try Orval, Westmalle Tripel and Duvel, but you'll also find lots of smaller ones that are worth tasting too. Even the Stella tastes nicer here and, as that is the weakest beer you'll find, you might find yourself having one of these after a few too many tripels!

Good luck and enjoy Belgium!

The frites are a necessary experience and some of the chocolate, although I find you can get very nice chocolate in the newsagents in Belgium and ignore a lot of the fancy overpriced stuff - its all better than Dairly Milk! I found lots of good food - and very distinct styles - the Flemish style being my preference.

If you are in Brussels for long enough then the museum of modern art is worth a visit but budget a day as its quite large. There's a museum of more traditional art too.

Quote from: newportnobby on January 18, 2013, 09:25:50 PM
First thing I learnt was to say "Keine Mayonnaise" otherwise you get your frites with a dollop and IMHO chips and mayo do not go together

It's actually 'geen mayonnaise' (pronunciation of the g is a bit like a spanish j and the 'een' to rhyme with 'ain') in a flemish chippy if you want to stay mayonnaise free - they don't have vinegar either - strange people.  The good thing about the flemish part is that everyone will speak English, even in the smallest shop. But don't try speaking French to them (in Brussels it's OK) because it annoys them big time.

Thanks for the correction, Brooksy
It was over 30 years since I was in Belgium - looks like I have mixed some German in there

Quote from: weave on January 18, 2013, 08:58:59 PM
Hi,

Haven't been for ages but remember Ypres being lovely and quite moving. Don't know if they still do it but the fire brigade (I think, was a long time ago) play the last post near the main square every night in rememberance of WW1.

On a lighter note, the bestest chips (with moules).

For trains, obviously Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges would be great but I liked Ostend harbour. Prob all changed now.

Have a great trip and be careful of some of their beers, stronger than wine!! 

Cheers Weave

Went to Ypres in October on the way back from Waterloo, the ceremony at the Menin Gate takes place every evening, last post played by the local fire brigade with one of the sevices  providing the honour guard, RAF cadets when we were there, a very moving occaision.

Moules frites is not to be missed, (if you like them of course!) largest and tastiest I've had. Beer is excellent and so much better than the brewed under licence offerings we get here.

If you take the tram at Ostend you'll find a good Model Train shop and exhibition in the main station at Blankenburg.

Have a good trip

Quote from: Karhedron on January 18, 2013, 08:51:19 PM
Brugge is a nice day out. Climb the tower, visit the museum.

As well as beer ....

Reminds me of the in brugge everytime haha.

Brugge is brilliant though, went last year and was spectacular to walk around, people were friendly and some great little pubs.

Quote from: Brooksy on January 18, 2013, 10:07:48 PM

Quote from: newportnobby on January 18, 2013, 09:25:50 PM
First thing I learnt was to say "Keine Mayonnaise" otherwise you get your frites with a dollop and IMHO chips and mayo do not go together

The good thing about the flemish part is that everyone will speak English, even in the smallest shop. But don't try speaking French to them (in Brussels it's OK) because it annoys them big time.

Lovely people great Beer and the place where I learned that Chips and Mayo are divine buddies...
As for the french speaking so true. In the mid 70's my girlfriend was working for a french family as a bi-lingual Old pear.... I used to ask railway staff at Antwerp a question in english. Would they mind speaking to her in French

Still the biggest difference is unlike their next door southern neighbours they LIKE US...

Thank for all the suggestions so far, I'll be taking trips to Bruges, Antwerp and Gent for sure. I'm also tempted by the trip along the coast that has been suggested but will have to look into this further.

Looks like I might have to pace myself with the beers and bring a few back with me for further sampling    .

Quote from: Brooksy on January 18, 2013, 09:52:25 PM

If you are travelling a lot by train (I guess you will) you can get a 10-trip ticket for €76 meaning each journey, regardless of length, will only be €7.60. Although, other fares won't be expensive: Brussels-Gent/Anwterp will probably be less than €10 each way and a longer one like Brussels-Ostend getting on for €15. No restrictions on times either - you will delighted to see how a railway should be run!

I will be traveling around the country by train aswell as using Eurostar to get there. I'll be using some free travel coupon thingys I can get from ATOC, which covers all the journeys I need to make. Basically it's a rover ticket that is valid on any SNCB or NMBS service.

Quote from: Brooksy on January 18, 2013, 10:07:48 PM
The good thing about the flemish part is that everyone will speak English, even in the smallest shop. But don't try speaking French to them (in Brussels it's OK) because it annoys them big time.

As I understand, Dutch is main language in the places I will be visiting with French spoken in the southern parts of the country. I'll still try and speak a little Dutch, even if its just used to greet people  . Alot of people have said how people speak very good english and are welcoming and friendly.