ALUSOARE - Belgium

Walk in the nature ideas from Leuven

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 23:00:00 GMT

If you are planning to send a day out in the nature here some ideas. I will split in 3 categories: car - bike - walk so that it makes it easier to chose what is best for you. Keep in mind that I love to walk, so what I see as a walking opportunity, you might prefer the bike or car. Everything is considered from the center of Leuven. I'll be adding more to this if opportunities come up.

Walking ideas

Walk to Dijlepark ( 750m - 9 min one way)

Tiny park just a few min walk from the city center. The park is a perfect place to grab a book and focus on the reading.

Walk to Sint-Donatuspark (750 m - 10 min one way)

For long I knew it simply as the City Park. It's the place where you go for a walk when you feel the need to be in the nature. It's the place for summer pop up bar, for firewars and for so many other relaxing moments. And it's the most beautiful in autumn.

Walk to Keizersberg Abbey (1.2 km - 15 min one way)

The park is right outside the center. I love to go there every time I'll in the mood for a bit of a more "intense" walk as it has some stairs to reach it on one side, and a pretty damn hill on the other side. If not too many leaves..you can get a nice view over the city.

Walk to Provinciaal Domein (2.3 km - 27 min one way)

The area is perfect for everyone. Runners, people going for a walk, kids, people who enjoy a hydro-bicycle pealling on the lake, fishing ... and a lot of other nice outdoor activity,

Walk to Abdij van Park (2.3 km - 29 min one way)

Another beautiful walk which you can end with a beer at the Adij. They have cows & ponies ... CUUUTE and you have enough spots for some yoga (trust me I did go for it with teh girls. Anyway .. I walk there, if you think it's too far just grab the bike ;)

Walk to Arenberg Castle (2.6 km - 32 min one way)

This is just beautiful, I first saw it during my studies, had classes just next door. I find it especially beautify in winter covered in snow.

Cycling Ideas

Cycle to Heverleebos (4.1 km - 14 min one way)

I always thought Heverleebos is far away, but then i realized I was mixing it up with Merdaalwoud (which btw I do plan to check out as well). I went there during the week and it was absolutely gorgeous. Just walk around to reach out your 10000 steps.

Short driving ideas

Foret de Soignes (31km - 29 min one way)

The 3 main squares in Leuven

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 22:00:00 GMT

It's been almost 10 years that I've came to Belgium. 10 years, which I don't even realized when and where they passed, and this little city was my second home for a third of my life. If you have never visited Leuven, Belgium you should. It's a wonderful day trip from Brussels, 25 min by train. You can no excuse.

You can read more of what to see in Leuven in my post about the city. Check it out HERE.
â€‹Today is about the 3 main squares of the city.

Oude Markt

They call it the longest bar in Europe, as in summer all the bars & cafes take out tables and chairs and from the top it looks as if it would be one single place. On top of this during summer you have throughout July every Friday free music festivals and the best thing out there (believe me!) if you have the chance try to be there on the last Saturday of July when this event called Leuven Zingt takes place. It's an event where the whole market full with people sing famous songs out of a newspaper, it's like a huge karaoke.

Grote Markt

With the gorgeous city call as the main attraction, the Grote Markt is a beauty. All around you have several fancier cafes where people enjoy a glass of wine or cava while watching all the people passing by. The best is in winder during the Wintertime event as everything is full with lights and a huge tree is decorating the market. Check out more on XMas in Leuven.

Ladeuzeplein

A huge empty square with a bug in a needle in the middle of it and the beautiful University Library at one of the ends. I love this place being it summer with beach volleyball events, autumn with Kermis (a sort of a pop up attraction park) or winter with the xmas market. Of course throughout the year several other activities and events take place here

Day Trip to Gent, Belgium

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Reaching Gent is super easy, get a train from Brussels (or where you are based) and in less than 1h you are there. From the Train Station you can grab a tram that drops you right in the city center. If you like walking is a 30 min walk from the station to the main square of the city.

St Nicholas Church, Gent

Chasing Streetart - Focus on ROA

You can of course get more details on what can be found around Gent in terms of Streetart under the Streetart Tab :) - coming up soon

Roa, Streetart

Colorful Houses

Achterdok, Gent

Patershol

"This particularly beautiful corner of Ghent is a city within the city. Forget where you are for a moment and travel back in time to the Middle Ages. Have fun discovering centuries of history in this gorgeous part of town! Breathe in the nostalgia of old customs. Enjoy art and architecture. You will love the picturesque streets full of cosy restaurants, down-to-earth pubs and trendy bars." (Source)

Street within Patershol, Gent

Gravensteen Castle

"is a medieval castle in the Belgian city of Ghent. The current castle dates to 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. It was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory. It was restored over 1893-1903 and is now a museum and a major landmark in the city." (Source)

Gravensteen Castle, Gent

Graslei

"is a quay in the historic city center of Ghent, Belgium, located on the right bank of the Leie river. The quay opposite of the Graslei is called Korenlei. Both quays were part of the medieval port and are now a cultural and touristic hotspot of the city, with a high concentration of cafe patios. The site, with its unique row of historical buildings, is a protected cityscape." (Source)

Graslei, Gent

St Michael's Bridge

"St Michael's Bridge used to be a flat turntable bridge, but it was replaced by stone arches at the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the bridge is a beautiful central lantern with a bronze statue of St Michael. " (Source)

St Michael's Bridge, Gent

"Experience a moment to remember on St Michael's Bridge during your weekend in Ghent. Pause here to enjoy the picture-postcard views: the Graslei and Korenlei with the Old Fish Market, the Castle of the Counts in the distance, St Michael's Church, the back of Het Pand and, of course, all three of Ghent's famous towers in a row. It is only from this bridge that you can capture all three of them in one single picture." (Source)

St Michael's Bridge, Gent

Sint Michielskerk

"The exterior of the sober late Gothic church is entirely constructed with sandstone from Brussels and Ledian sandstone. The church has a rich Neo-Gothic interior, including an altar and a pulpit in that style. There are various 18th century statues, including a Saint Livinus by Laurent Delvaux, a wooden St. Sebastian by J. Franciscus Allaert, eight marble statues of saints and a copy of Michelangelo's Madonna of Bruges by Rombaut Pauwels." (Source)

Sint Michielskerk, Gent

Gent City Hall

St Nicholas Church view from the Belfort Gent

"is one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks in Ghent, Belgium. Begun in the early 13th century as a replacement for an earlier Romanesque church, construction continued through the rest of the century in the local Scheldt Gothic style (named after the nearby river). Typical of this style is the use of blue-gray stone from the Tournai area, the single large tower above the crossing, and the slender turrets at the building's corners." (Source)

St Nicholas Church, Gent

Belfort of Gent & Views from the top

"The 91-metre-tall belfry of Ghent is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre of Ghent, Belgium, the other two belonging to Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas' Church. Its height makes it the tallest belfry in Belgium. The belfry of Ghent, together with its attached buildings, belongs to the set of belfries of Belgium and France inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List" (Source)

Belfort of Gent

Aerial view, Gent from the Belfort

Some of the elements inside you can see below. Btw you can take the elevator to the stairs to get to the top ;-)

Interior, Belfort, Gent

Last ticket is sold at 17:30 and it's open every day except some public holidays. The ticket is if i remember correctly 8 Euros to climb in the tower.

Sint-Pietersplein with Our Lady of St. Peter's Church and St. Peter's Abbey

"This imposing church was built on the foundations of the previous Romanesque abbey church. If it reminds you of Rome, it is no coincidence: the architect Pieter Huyssens was inspired by the great Italian Renaissance churches." (Source)

Sint-Pietersplein with Our Lady of St. Peter's Church and St. Peter's Abbey

Different River views

"The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Leie and in the Late Middle Ages" (Source)

Achterdok, Gent

Coffee is always a good idea: Take five Espressobar

Flat White @Take five Espressobar, Gent

An Afternoon in Antwerp

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 22:00:00 GMT

I've been to Antwerp 50 times I think, but somehow never on a tourist route. So it was one lovely sunny (but cold) Saturday and as I had no clear plans for the day, I decided to jump on a train and off to a day trip to the Diamond City.

Will start from the beginning and guide you with pictures through the places I've checked out. I walked about 12 km.

Antwerp Central Train Station

You can find this train station on several of the most beautiful train stations in the world list and you can clearly see why

"The original station building was constructed between 1895 and 1905 as a replacement for the original terminus of the Brussels-Mechelen-Antwerp Railway. The stone clad terminus buildings, with a vast dome above the waiting room hall were designed by Louis Delacenserie. [...] The station is now widely regarded as the finest example of railway architecture in Belgium" (Source)

Below you can also find a picture of the exterior which i took on my way back (@sunset)

Former Hotel Metropole

The construction of the ornate neo-baroque style building was requested by the City of Antwerp. The architect Frans van Dijk (1853-1939) had to design a building, which would be the mirror image of the building on the other side of the Leysstraat. This earlier building, whose construction was started in 1901, was a design by Ernest Dieltiens. The addition of a near-mirror image would create a monumental gateway to the center within the former city walls. People who would stroll from the new "Middle Station" or Central Station towards Meir would come face to face with this "gate", which could have been in Paris, Vienna or the Nevsky Prospect in St Petersburg. (Translation from Dutch)

Leysstraat 27-29

Kipdorpvest (nr. 28-30)

Street Art on

As I walk and you with me, I'll share some street-art from around the city

Groeneplaats - â€‹A Dog of Flanders

"Statue has been unveiled in front of Antwerp Cathedral depicting a young boy and his dog, in tribute to the stars of a beloved 19th-century novel that found fame in Japan before it became known in Flanders, where the story is set. A Dog of Flanders was written by British author and animal rights activist Marie Louise de la Ramee, under the pen name Ouida. It tells the story of young orphan Nello, who grows up with his grandfather in a village near Antwerp. " (Source)

Groeneplaats - Cathedral of Our Lady

"is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's see of the Diocese of Antwerp started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. It contains a number of significant works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, as well as paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos. The belfry of the cathedral is included in the Belfries of Belgium and France entry in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites." (Source)

Grote Markt

This Grote Markt is not different from most of the ones you find in Flanders: gorgeous houses, the city hall and some cafes around.

Grote Markt - Brabo Fountain

"The ceremonial inauguration of the sculpture took place in 1887. Jef Lambeaux realized the set of the bronze fountain. The reason is the legend of the name of the city, in which it is said that the giant Druon Antigoon cut off a hand to all the ship captains who moored in the area and refused to pay toll, then throwing it to the Scheldt. The captain of the Roman army Brabo cut off the giant's hand imitating what he had done. The fountain reflects the moment when the Brabo throws the giant's hand into the river.According to this legend, the etymology of the name of the city Antwerp is a composition of the Dutch words "(h)ant" (hand) and "werpen" (launch) " (Source)

â€‹Grote Markt - City Hall

"â€‹Erected between 1561 and 1565 after designs made by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt and several other architects and artists, this Renaissance building incorporates both Flemish and Italian influences. The Stadhuis is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List along with the belfries of Belgium and France"(Source)

â€‹Sint-Annatunnel

"Majestic wooden escalators lead you deep down into a tunnel that stretches beneath the Scheldt River. Theyâ€™re the highlight of the otherwise staggeringly monotonous 1,876 feet of ceramic tiles that backdrop your walk from shore to shore." (Source)

The escalators were made in the 1930s. They were a novelty then and still are now, thanks to the rarity of wooden escalators. The beautiful woodwork is remarkably preserved, making this a real treat for anyone tired of the modern, more unsightly escalators that dominate pretty much everywhere else. (Source)

â€‹Scheldt River

Is a 350-kilometre (220 mi) long river in northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands.

Het Steen

Currently, November 2018, it was in reconstruction, so I skipped the photo and will pass by again hopefully after renovation will have ended.

Decorated corners around the city

I love small details, they make places more unique and so a lot of corners around Antwerp have a very nice added element.

Around the PORT

MAS - Muesum

"The 60 metre high MAS was designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects. The facade is made of Indian red sandstone and curved glass panel construction. It is an example of postmodern Art Deco architecture. The MAS houses 470,000 objects, most of which are kept in storage." (Source)

Red Star Line - Museum

"Two million passengers travelled from Antwerp, the Red Star Line's main European port, to North America on board Red Star Line ships. The museum focuses on their stories, that of the Red Star Line that transported them and that of Antwerp, the city and port from which they embarked on their journeys." (Source)

New Port House

"Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the bold neo-futurist architect known for her elegant curves and sweeping scale, the new Port House opened to fanfare on 23 September. Dubbed the â€œdiamond shipâ€ â€“ a nod to Antwerpâ€™s history as a hub for the diamond trade â€“ the giant glass block sits proudly on its classical base, like an alien spaceship that has found a comfortable nest." (Source)

Some Extra Streetart

The Opera House

"Since 1834, French and Italian operas were performed in the Bourla-theatre (Theatre Royal). As reaction, some Flemish dignitaries of the city had the idea to found an opera company which would play only Flemish and German operas. Finally in 1899, the building of the new opera house started. It was designed by Alexis van Mechelen. In October 1907 the new opera was inaugurated with Jan Blockx' (1851-1912) opera De Herbergprinses (La Princesse d'Auberge). The opera is designed in the typical style of the late 19th Century with half-open balconies. It's striking that the lower (expensive) seats aren't visible from the upper balcony, and vice-versa. This was done to separate the poorer public from the rest of the public. This is also visible in the separate entrances and staircases." (Source)

And so I went back to the train station. Maybe as activities that you can also do are visiting the Rubens museum (if you are into art), visit the Zoo which I heard is quite cool and shop till you drop in the center of Antwerp. :)

a few hours in Hasselt

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:00:00 GMT

It is maybe true hat Hasselt does not pop up with a lot of details in all the tourism guides, but if you have some time to spend in Belgium or you live in this country, you should definitely pass by for at least a few hours especially in spring.

I decided to go to Hasselt to check out a streetart expo and took advantage to also visit the Japanese Garden which was still in bloom, have a look on what I discovered.

Getting there

I think that the easiest way is by train. There are direct trains from several Belgian train stations and you can easily access the city. Although not as small as Leuven for example, Hasselt can be easily be visited by foot.

Grote Markt area

Filled with bars it's a pleasure to stop for a beer especially on a sunny day and spend some time people watching

at one side of the square there is a bronze sculpture created by Marc Cox in December 1989 and represents the youth of the city looking towards the future. Officially the name of this sculpture is 'Luisteren naar de beiaard' but locally it is more known as 'Hendrik en Katrien' which make a reference to the first couple who lived in the city,

on a side street you can easily reach the Hasselt Cathedral (officially St. Quentin Cathedral) "was elevated to the status of cathedral in 1967 when the diocese of Hasselt was created. Its construction began in the eleventh century, and continued for two centuries. " (Source)

Capucienenplein and around

If you are into Genever then Hasselt is the right place for you, the city is famous for it. If you do not know what it is, here some details: "is the juniper-flavored national and traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, from which gin evolved" (Source). On Maastrichterstraat you can find Het Borrelmannetje statue by Lou Boonman which is the symbol of Hasselt's gin.

And in front of the tourist info center you can find Het Borrelvrouwke, and you have some genever routes leaving form here especially tailored for ladies ;)

or take a tour with a Babbelfiets

next to Il Pasticcio

is a tine street, walk in and you'll find a hidden garden full with statues. On Google it is listed as Kadettensteeg, maybe helpful info. It's very relaxing to take a book and relax for a few hours.

or check out the statues around

If you love streetart, Dzia is hiding here on one of the walls

Het Stadsmus

offers free expos and when you think how expensive it can be to go to a museum, free art is an must visit. I went there for the outside inside export.

Japanese Garden

April is the month to go, although there seem to be several events throughout the year. Here what I spotted. :)

Dorpstraat

A great place for bars, terraces, restaurants and cafes is the dorpstraat area. You'll surly find the place you are looking for. There you can also find the statue of Hendrik Van Veldeke who seems to be the father of all Dutch poets. Born somewhere around 1150, he was the first poet to write in a different European language then Latin. He is celebrated as a write of old Limburgish. Limburg is a province in Belgium

Streetart

If you are into streetart, then you'll love Hasselt, you have some many wonderful murals out there after an event organized by streetartfestivalbelgium. You can check out more in my post about Streetart in Hasselt.

The Belgian Coast

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 23:00:00 GMT

If you are from places like Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Portugal or the Caribbean then you'll probably tell me that why would you spend your time visiting the Belgian Coast. Well because it's different! I know you won't have the super blue water or the white sand of some other places around the world but you'll get to experience some of the widest and longest beaches out there, making it perfect for long walks/runs on the beach.

Getting there

This is super well connected!!!! Jump on the train and head to De Panne, Oostende, or Knokke-BlankenBerge. These would be the main options you have by train...but wait...there is something amazing happening on the Belgian Coast ... the Coast Tram!!! This 60km Tram of De Lijn basically brings you to any spot on the Belgian Coast you want! Now that we are at the coast, I'll share with you some of the spots I've been to.

Oostduinkerke

We hang here at the Windsurf club. The owner is not the nicest guy, but they have snacks and good cava and you can watch how the sky colors up with all the kits up in the air. It's also an excellent beach for long walks as it is not as crowded as the one in Knokke for example.

Oostende

I never stayed at the beach in Oostende, but there was a time during my offshore wind classes where guess what I had my exams at the (former) KU Leuven Technologiecampus Oostende and there you get the chance to see the beach

Winter in Oostende

Knokke

Knokke is known for being more high end beach area, it's the perfect place for Ferrari cars to be shown off, with expensive shops along the streets and fancy beach bars, but Konkke has also the more relaxed places just 1/2 bus stops away. To sum it up, it's a bit for everyone.

De Haan

De Haan means the rooster in English and the city transformed the name into several colorful roosters around this beach town. On top of this the promenade of the Haan is topped with interesting sculptures, adding to the beautiful walk along the shore

Now, of course there are so many other places around the coast so if I visit more will add to this post ;)

Gent Xmas Market

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Under the tag Gentse Winterfeesten, Gent dressed up in Xmas Cloths decorating the city with lights, but the main action is spread out from Sint-Baafsplein, along the Botermarkt and Klein Turkije to the end of the Korenmarkt.

You can spend quite some time around the market if you enjoy Xmas Market food, carols and people and souvenirs. Some of the highlights listed below.

The discreet City Hall Decoration

The Big Wheel

The Lights

The Ice Ring

Gifts to Buy

There are loads of options for gifts, from warm hats and gloves, up till spicy sauces for your crazy friends

The Food

There is no Xmas Market without Bratwurst, but my top favorite is the fire grilled salmon.

Even though Christmas Markets became a bit too touristy in some places and consequently the quality of the products has decreased, it is a clear that you must visit at least one one them during the winter holidays.

My 3 favorite M-streets in Leuven

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 22:00:00 GMT

Leuven is definitely a very nice and cute Flemish city, so it makes it a perfect 1/2 or even full day trip from Brussels. Here some of the 3 most interesting streets of the city (in my opinion of course :))

Mechelsestraat

The Mechelsestraat is traditionally one of the most important traffic and trade avenues of the city. Together with the Diestse, Tiense, Naamse and Brusselsestraat, it forms the network of five main axes that have shaped the Leuven street pattern since the Middle Ages. Leading from the Grote Markt to the Keizersberg - and later connected to the stone road that was built in 1730 to Mechelen - this very long and densely built street was once characterized by a narrow and winding route from its start, crossed by the Dijle river and its ramifications and up through the Voer river. The various street sections carried distinctive names up to the 19th century. (Source)

Today Mechelsestraat is known for the nice restaurants and shops that you can find along the first part of it (coming from the center) and then it goes all the way up till you end up at the Keizersberg Abby.

This 19th-century Benedictine abbey was built by monks from Maredsous Abbey. A long wall encloses the building and surrounding grounds so that the complex is reminiscent of an old fortress. The garden is a public park, offering a beautiful view of the city.

Mussenstraat

This is certainly my favorite part of Leuven in terms of looks. The houses are cute and decorated with flowers and nice elements to ensure a very cozy feeling. It's also not very known as it is not on any of the touristy roads :)

You can best enter the area (as it is not just a street) from Maria Theresiastraat. Where you are welcomed by one of Bisser's Murals. (a local streetartist from Leuven) .

Walking towards the parking area you can find some of Bisser's recent (sept. 2018) work in the city

The Street was "created on private initiative, namely by the coachman Alexander Peeters who opened and parceled out his terrain in 1835-1838. [...]This neighborhood - later also called "Mussenbuurt" - was built up relatively quickly after construction and formed a typical popular neighborhood. (Source)

Muntstraat

If you love food, then I know that your favorite street will be this one. Packed with restaurants on both its sides, this is the place to be when it comes to get inspired on what to eat. As I don't aim to influence you on what to try, make sure you pass by this street several times ;). You can also keep an eye on BudgetGourmad's posts on IG as there are several pictures shared from the restaurants on this street

The most important event related to this street (and today all over the center) is called Hapje Tapje, when all restaurants serve tapas size dishes on stands in front of their restaurants. You can check some photos over the IG account of Budget Gourmand from the 2018 edition. this event is always on the first Sunday of August.

What about Brussels

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 22:00:00 GMT

It's been long that I wanted to write a post about Brussels but as I never got to visit it in a structured way I somehow did not manage to put my thoughts in a clear way together. But now I think it's time to give it a try.

Where to start?.....ok...i'll do it like this: Gare Centrale

The best way to reach Brussels is by train. Although public transport in Belgium can be a bit of a tricky story in general 25 min to Brussels city center from Leuven or like 15 min from Brussels Zaventem (BRU) airport is faster than simply living on the other side of the city.

The story will run sort of radial having Gare Centrale as the center point of what you can see around, and I will take advantage of a bit of inspiration (not to miss anything relevant) of a travel app called TripScout as it offers you a map with photos of the main attractions and all info you need about that attraction is basically a tap away. If you are a more list type of person no worries you can get all the attractions also in the form of a list.

Grand Place

one of the most visited locations in Brussels is of course the Grand Place, and for sure it is an incredibly nice square, especially now that everything has been renovated. Since 1998, the Grand Place is listed under the UNESCO world heritage.

From Grand Place there are couple of key locations you need to tick off when in Brussels.

Delirium

it's the bar that has about 2000 types of beers, crazy right? well, it's definitely worth passing by and trying out some of the Belgium's finest beers, on top of this you can check out the Rum, Absinth & Tequila Bars on the same street..

i love the interior, you can clearly see that this is a beer place. The only way to get a spot is either on a sunny day when Belgium will stay outside or coming somewhere before 4pm going by the German rule "kein Bier vor vier" (no beer before 4PM )

Room downstairs

Some suggestions based on my taste of course would be Gouden Carolus Classic, Rochefort 8, Westmalle Dubbel, Chimey Blue and I can go on....

Bar at the entrance - tap beer

and wait...Jeanneke Pis is right at the end. For the sake of giving here some details, Jeanneke Pis build 1987 is the less famous statue of Manneken Pis, and represents obviously a girl peeing.

Manneken Pis

.....well...for who did not see it yet, it will come as a surprise, maybe, that it is very small (only 65cm), but the cool thing about it is that they dress it up in traditional or special costumes depending on the occasion...It counts like 900 costumes and you can have a look more in detail over on this page.

Zinneke Pis

i would not want to be told that I discriminate anyone so of course a special place in my post will be given to Zinneke Pis...just as a detail the official name of the statue is Het Zinneke and it was created in 1998 by sculptor Tom Frantzen.

Pita Street

It's locally famous, so maybe interesting to give a try to the Greek style of fast food. The food quality is good (for what it is) and it is right next to Grand Place

My favorite spot

on one of the nearby streets you have a tiny entrance which looks like:

not sure why, but I absolutely love the view of it. You can find it by searching in Google for â€‹Au Bon Vieux Temps

Charles Buls fountain- Rue du Marche aux Herbes-Agora Square

I only noticed this statue the other day and out of curiosity I read who the person behind the statue is...so I find out that "Buls became Mayor of Brussels in 1881 and remained in office until 1899. At his initiative policemen had to be able to speak both French and Dutch and bilingual signposting was established throughout the city. However, along with these reforms, his most lasting achievement was the result of his opposition to the grandiose architectural schemes of King Leopold II, and the resulting preservation of old parts of Brussels. In particular, Buls was a steadfast defender and admirer of the Mont des Arts and the Grand Place, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, successfully proposing the 1883 city ordinance protecting the facades of the Grand Place buildings and providing funds for their restoration which took place between 1883 and 1923." (Source) .. interesting.

St. Hubert Royal Galleries

It is said that famous writes like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Edgar Quinet and others, would gather around these galleries.

nowadays the galleries house a lot of luxury shops as well as places with very specific Belgian products

La Monnaie De Munt Theater

Designed by Louis Damesme in a neo-classical style, the facade of the theater dates from 1819. In 1854 Eugene Simonis put the finishing touch to the facade in the form of a pediment with a bas-relief representing "The Harmony of Human Passions".

Today the theater building hosts the National Opera of Belgium.

La Bourse

"Built in 1873, on the former site of the convent des Recollets, it was designed by the architect Leon Suys. Rodin collaborated on the exterior decoration of the building as an employee of Carrier-Belleuse. While the former became a famous sculptor, the latter is a name familiar only to specialists now. Of neoclassical inspiration, its simplicity is broken by very ornate decorations that have been described by some people as baroque excesses." (Source)

Tip: You can get a nice view from the rooftop of the Beursschouwburg

St Catherine & St Gerry

These markets are excellent for food and drinks. Below in the little red car is the best mojito in Brussels :) you can find it almost year round in St Catherine

also there a lot of restaurants you can actually pick in St Catherine and it is super easy to reach as it has a metro stop right in the middle of the square.

if you get there on a sunny day, it will be absolutely packed with people, a great people watching spot

and for sure very cute to meet friends at the end of the day is St Gerry. I don't think that a particular bar is of the highest importance but the location in general ;)

Amadeo: the place for ribs

Amadeo offers all you can eat ribs..no worries I won't tempt you, but he building is so beautiful that it totally deserves its spot in my post. (update: this place was closed in July 2018)

On the other side of Gare Central

Weird or not, Gare Central splits somewhat your visit of the city center, so now that you saw Grand Place area have a look on the other side :P

Mont des Arts

I love it especially by night, as the garden is litten up, giving an nice view from the top

and here you can also see the night version

Music Palace

I am clearly not a museum fan, but, some years back on the Museums night in Brussels we went to the Music Museum and I must say, that I absolutely enjoyed the visit (I have to go back one day). Both inside and outside the place is worth the time from both architectural and content point of view.

Royal Palace

Especially when not that many cars around and on a sunset light, the place looks gorgeous, it does not happen often but fingers crossed you get to see it.

Brussels Park

It's used for various purposes, from enjoying some time in the park, to running (although I think jogging is not allowed) or just crossing towards the parliament (and commission) area, the park gives a freshness feeling to the city. I mainly love it in the morning when you get to hear all the green parrots that live there....impossible to get a picture of them of course :)

Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg

Is a neoclassical church which stands on the location of a medieval abbey church. [...] "During the French Revolution, the abbey was suspended and the church was made into a Temple of Reason, and then later into a Temple of Law. The church was returned to Catholic control in 1802." (Source)

Sablon and around

you can find a lot of cafes and restaurants around, but also buildings having very typical local architecture.

Tower:Tour Anneessens

it's an interesting view, as it brings a medieval look to the city. It was not easy to find the name of it, but I knew it is somewhere. It is part of the first wall of Brussels. "Soldiers defended the Rue Haute from the top of this tower. This part of the tower, very well conserved, still shows the arrow slits. These are very narrow and long windows made it possible to shoot arrows without getting hit back."(Source)

Skateboard court

with street-art, view over the rails and a lot of youngsters doing tricks on skateboards, it's a cool place to stop for a minute and look around

and the view on the other side

Pierre Marcolini building

there is generally quite a queue to buy luxury chocolate.

Local Belgian - Traditional Brussels

There are some things that are absolutely everywhere when it come to the most touristic places in Belgium and Brussels is definitely a great place form where to explore local products. You should not worry if you missed a shop as there are tons of others just 10 m further.

Waffles

Belgian waffles are world famous, but there is here a little story behind how they ended up becoming so famous. You should get ready for this :)

Originally showcased in 1958 at Expo 58 in Brussels, Belgian waffles were introduced to North America by a Belgian named Walter Cleyman at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle in 1962. The waffles were further popularized in the United States during the 1964 New York World's Fair at Flushing Meadows Park. The waffle was introduced by Maurice Vermersch of Brussels, Belgium, and was named the Bel-Gem Waffle. Largely based on a simplified recipe for the Brussels waffles, Vermersch decided to change the name upon observing that many Americans could not correctly identify Brussels as the capital of Belgium. (Source)

In Belgium you have 2 different types of waffles: Liege Waffles & Brussels Waffles. Truth being said, I am more of Liege fan when it comes to Waffles (please don't hate me)

Liege Waffles:"Authentic Liege waffles are one of life's great indulgences-caramelized sugar glistening on a tender, buttery, vanilla-laden joy for the senses. Unfortunately, the "original recipe" has been long lost [...] The recipe that follows is not an adaptation of any other. It's a reconstruction based largely on 18th and 19th-century brioche - which indisputably forms the basis of the Liege waffle (Source)

Visit Brussels describes the local Brussels Waffles as: " Ah, the inviting aroma of freshly prepared Brussels waffles: at the same time, warm, light, deliciously crusty outside and soft inside. They differ from wafers or other waffles that you enjoy cold. For the Brussels waffle, you sit down at a table, you generously sprinkle icing sugar all over it (the waffle, not the table obviously) and if you prefer it rich, you can top it with whipped cream which will slowly melt. We told you, it is bliss."

Now basically, it's up to you what you will enjoy more, but for sure you would need to give both options a try.

Comic Strips

Belgians are crazy about comics and you can find loads of shops from where you can buy your favorite strip, from Tin Tin to the Smurfs and so many others, take some time to get in one of the shops...and btw if you are lucky enough maybe when coming to Brussels with Brussels Airlines, you'll get to fly in one of the special planes they have created representing Belgian Icons. Latest one has the Smurfs as a design :)

Oh, the chocolate.

When it comes to pralines, Belgium is King, so many options and all taste simply delicious. My favorite one is indeed Neuhaus, but I can very difficult say no to any praline when I am offered one.

If you would like to bring home high quality Neuhaus pralines but at a cheaper price, make sure you pass by the factory where you can by pralines in 1kg boxes. The factory is easy accessible by metro so no worries if you don't have a car.

Lace

"Brussels lace, lace named for the city of Brussels. It became distinguished from other bobbin laces made in Flanders during the second half of the 17th century. Brussels laces were of high quality, popular at court, and made professionally at workshops called beguinages (often associated with convents) by unmarried women whose lives were dedicated to the work. The laces were of the non-continuous-thread technique, the richly delicate designs near-naturalistic, almost weightless, and at times breathtakingly beautiful. The ground could be a meshwork of drochel (hexagonal forms) or bars or a mixture of the two. Through the 19th century the laces became heavier, and the designs, though still beautiful, became rather crowded, frequently sprinkled with numerous dots and flourishes in keeping with the taste of the period." (Source)

Brussels Beer

If and when in Brussels you should definitely try one of the Beers from the Brussels Beer Project my favorite one is the Dark Sister (BLACK WITH LIGHT RED REFLECTION) but they have something for everyone. I did try the most of their beers at a bar in Leuven where they have most of their beers, so I can say that the "project" looks to be a great success.

Ending up back at Gare Centrale.

on my way back to the train station, I spotted all the Caulier 28 in the window of a bar, by googling a bit, i can also share with you the details: B28 Gare Central I like this beer a lot, so if you have some extra time or your train is late, looks like a good place to give the beer a try.

B28 Central Station

Now that I am at the end of the post, I think I've done quite a good job and you have what to see the whole weekend :P It looks I know Brussels better than I thought and I even managed to mark as visited most of the recommendations of TripScout when it comes to Brussels center, just lagging a bit behind the pubs and bars, but I promise to check them out and hopefully get soon a food and drink scene overview of the capital of Belgium as seriously, you can find absolutely all the cuisines around the city (perfect spots for all the gourmands out there)

bike trip to Lier

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 22:00:00 GMT

It was brought to my attention by a street-art project called Lier UP, which scope is to bring some color to the city. After that I also saw an advertisement in Leuven station that you can reach Lier in 35 min, so I added this little city to my travel list ;)

Belgium is a bike country, maybe not as much as The Netherlands, but cycling is a very common activity around so we decided to bike to Lier. It was a 45km long ride but totally worth it. As it was raining in the morning we only left around 3 PM and 3:30h later we were in Lier.

What to see in Lier?

Sheep Heads monument

In the 15th century Duke John II wanted to thank the people of Lier for their services during his struggle against the people of Mechelen. They could choose their reward themselves: a cattle market or a university. They chose the cattle staple right, a choice that didnâ€™t do Lier any harm as only one was permitted per region. Thus the cattle market moved from Wespelaar to Lier and the duke sighed, "Oh, the sheep heads!â€â€‹(Source)

BEGIJNHOF

The Lier beguinage was created in 1258. It is a typical 13th century street beguinage comprising 11 alleys and 162 houses. (source). By the way this is a UNESCO wold heritage site.

ZIMMERMUSEUM

The former Cornelius Tower from the 14th century, part of the town ramparts at the time, was turned into a museum in 1930.

City Hall & Belfort

In 1369 Hendrik Mijs built a Gothic belfry next to the cloth makers' hall. It stands as a symbol of freedom and independence. In the Middle Ages the town's deeds and freedoms were kept in the belfries, as was the arsenal, and the town council's assembly room was also to be found there. Since 1971 the tower has housed a small automatic carillon with 23 bells. Together with 23 other belfries the Lier belfry was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999. (Source)

Take a walk or a boat trip

Streetart <>

if you like street art, then take the time to check the Lier UP project. The addresses and completion dates of the murals can be found here.
I Only managed to get a shoot of the one done by #Bisser in collaboration with Joaquin