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Belgian Cities You Need to Visit

5/12/2019

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Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog
Belgian Cities You Need to Visit
Several countries feature on my list of places I'd like to live for several months or several years, if given the opportunity. Among those countries are Ireland, Scotland, France, and Belgium - not necessarily in that order.

Read On to See Four of Our Favorite Cities
​in one of Our Favorite Countries.

Belgium's relatively peaceful history, its three distinct cultures, and its train system which connects cities to each other and connects Belgium to the rest of Europe, make Belgium one of my favorite countries in the world.

This small country, with a total population of just over 11 million (approximately the population of the state of Ohio and roughly half the population of the city of Beijing), is divided into three sections, each with its own official language - Dutch in the north, French in the south, and German in the east.

The In Flanders Fields Museum; Ypres, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
The In Flanders Fields Museum

Ypres

No other city embodies the spirit of gratitude like Ypres. Ypres' main attraction is the In Flanders Fields Museum, a museum dedicated to the fallen of World War 1. The museum tells the tragic history of Belgium in the 1910's, with personal stories of real people, from soldiers and nurses to civilians, and with maps and a moving collection of war memorabilia throughout.
Poppy, the symbol of the fallen of the first great war; Ypres, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog
The Poppy, The Symbol of the Fallen of the First Great War
Climb to the top of the In Flanders Fields Museum Tower; Ypres, Belgium
In Flanders Fields Museum Tower
The poppies growing in the fields of Belgium became a symbol of those killed in the war, and poppies can be found throughout the city, on signs, on crosses, in store windows, and at the various memorials.
In Flanders Fields, poem by John McCrae, WW1, Ypres, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae
Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers, In Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog
Memorial to the Fallen
Views from the top of the In Flanders Fields Museum Tower, Ypres, Belgium
Views from the Top
Views from the top of the In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper / Ypers, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
Views from the Top
Climb the 231 stairs to the top of the museum bell tower to enjoy stunning views of the city below.
From the top of the In Flanders Fields Museum Tower; 231 stairs; bell tower; Ypres, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog
Stunning Views from the Top of the In Flanders Fields Museum Tower
Amble along the wall surrounding the city, explore the parks and various cemeteries, and listen to the gurgle of the river below.
Along the City Wall, Ypres Belgium, Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
Along the City Wall
Graves of Fallen Soldiers of the Great War; WW1 History; Ypres, Belgium
Graves of Fallen Soldiers of the Great War
At the end of the day, stroll over to the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing to see the names of thousands upon thousands of soldiers, from Canada and the U.S., Australia and England, and more. Then stay for the Last Post Ceremony honoring those who fought on Belgium's behalf to stop the invasion of Germany. The ceremony, which the city has conducted every day for nearly 100 years, rain or shine, starts at 8:00 and lasts only about 10 minutes, but is easily one of the most moving ceremonies I have ever witnessed.

Beautiful Architecture of Grote Markt, Aalst, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
Architecture of Grote Markt

Aalst

With a population of just 85,000, Aalst may not make it to many lists, but its gorgeous architecture combined with its small-town feel makes it one of my favorite towns in Belgium.
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Visit the town square, Grote Markt, to see De Zwette Maan and Belfort en Schepenhuis, the former town hall with a large belfry, as well as the architecture of other surrounding buildings.

Enjoy a nice typical Belgian dinner at T'file Puurke. After dinner, stroll over to Vredeplein ("Peace Square"). It's the perfect area for after-dinner drinks and people-watching, as the restaurants spill over into the outdoors.

If you are fortunate enough to visit Aalst during the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, don't miss the 3-day carnival celebration!


Buildings Along the Lys River, Ghent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Need to Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog; travel guide
Buildings Along the Lys

Ghent

This college town packs so much activity and so much history into its 60 square miles!
Views of the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Views of the River
Views of the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Views of the River
Views of the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit by exquisitEXPLORATIONS
Views Along the River
Bikes Along the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Bikes along the River
Bike tied up along the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Bike along the River
The Gravensteen, Castle of the Counts, Views of the River, Lys / Leie, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Gravensteen
The highlight of a trip to Ghent is definitely the Gravensteen, or "The Castle of the Counts." This Medieval castle was built in 1180 and, because of its history of torture, it is now a museum of torture. Some of the displays are somewhat gruesome, but the views from the top outweigh the horrors inside.
Inside the Gravensteen, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Inside the Gravensteen
From the Top of the Gravensteen, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
From the Top of the Gravensteen
View from the Top of the Castle of the Counts, Gravensteen, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
The View from the Top of the Gravensteen
Dine at The Great Butcher's Hall (Groentenmarkt 7, 9000 Gent), take a river tour, explore St Nicholas' Church, see Graffiti Street, and splurge on drinks at 1898 The Post, an old post office turned boutique hotel and restaurant.
Poseidon with His Trident, Ghent / Gent, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Poseidon with his Trident
Ghent has so much to offer, and we can't wait to go back!

Grand Place, Brussels / Bruxelles; Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Grand Place

Brussels

No trip to Belgium would be complete without a visit to the capital city of Brussels. Brussels is the NATO World Headquarters and the capital of the European Union. With some 104 languages spoken in Brussels, it is the second most culturally diverse city in the world.
Grand Place, Brussels / Bruxelles; Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
Golden Buildings of Grand Place
The Tower of the Town Hall, Grand Place, Brussels / Bruxelles; Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit
The Tower of the Town Hall
The very first place a visitor to Brussels absolutely must see is Grand Place. Grand-Place de Bruxelles is a market square surrounded by some of the most stunning guild buildings I've seen, with the Town Hall being the crown jewel of Grand Place. Construction of the oldest part of the building began during the Middle Ages in 1406. Construction continued and various expansions were undertaken, and in 1454 the tower was completed, with a guilt metal statue of Michael, patron saint of Brussels, standing atop the spire. The tower is conspicuously and notoriously off-center. Legend has is that Jan van Ruysbroek, realizing his "mistake" climbed the tower and jumped to his death, though this is most likely (hopefully!) just an urban legend.

Nevertheless, Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and absolutely worth a visit.
Mannekin Pis, the Pissing Boy Fountain; Brussels, Belgium; Bruxelles, Belgium; Things to See in Brussels
Mannekin Pis, the Pissing Boy Fountain
Another Brussels must-see is Mannekin Pis, the Peeing Boy Fountain. The Fountain pays homage to the guild of tanners, who had young boys urinate on the hides, as the urea in urine turns into ammonia and breaks down the material and makes the hides more supple.
Bust of King Baudouin, Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, Brussels, Belgium; Belgian Cities You Must Visit by exquisitEXPLORAITONS Travel Blog; travel tips
Bust of King Baudouin, with the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in the background
Brussels has a distinctly punk-rock, avant-garde feel to it, while keeping the integrity of the old structures intact. The city is alive with music, dancing, and great food. Definitely visit the popular attractions, but don't be afraid to get off the beaten path to discover new bars and restaurants.

Tip: Do not miss out on waffles! You'll find little waffle shops all over Brussels, with a plethora of topping options!

I should also point out that many lists will also include Antwerp and Bruges as must-see Belgian cities, and I do not disagree with them, though I've not spent nearly enough time in them to be able to point out the highlights.

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2 Comments
Ellie link
5/16/2019 05:27:00 pm

So many interesting places in such a small county ♥️ I'd like to visit Ghent one day 🤔 your pictures are so great 🤩

Reply
Carolyn Bingham link
5/19/2019 12:00:25 pm

Thank you! Yes, I think if I could live anywhere but I had to choose one place to live for the rest of my life, it would be Ghent. So much to do, such a great vibe, and loads of history and culture! And the people are just incredibly nice!

Reply



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    explorations' RV, Travel, & Lifestyle Blog

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    Carolyn 
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    The daughter of an English teacher, Carolyn has been an avid reader and writer from an early age.  She decided to chronicle the exquisitEXPLORATIONS journey through a travel and RV lifestyle blog, full of RV-related tips and stories of their travel adventures. As a mom and dog mom, her focus has shifted slightly to include both pet-friendly and kid-friendly places to go and things to do.


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