Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp

The center of all European organizations and a multicultural city. The capital city of Belgium. Although in other cities of Belgium you can hear English, Flemish, German and French in daily conversations, in this city the dominant language is French.

The city includes a historic part and a new part. Here are the highly recommended attractions;

•  Atom/ Atomium
• Grote Markt (Grand Market Square) / Royal Art and History Museum & Town Hall
• Manneken Pis, situated in Rue de l’Etuve (Little Julian’, the statue is, a typically Belgian symbol of cultural self-mockery),
• Comic Museum,
• Parliament of Europe,
• Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

                                                    

Other possible attractions:

·           Autoworld

·           Art in the Metro

·           Bruegel's Tomb

·           Chateau Royal-Royal Hothouses

·           Musee communal des Beaux-Arts

·           Musee van Buuren

·           Natural Science Museum-Dinosaur Skeletons

·           Palais Royal / Koninklijk Paleis

·           Palais de Justice / Justeipaleis

·           Parc du Cinquantenaire / Jubelpark

·           Place Royale / Koningsplein

·           Kasteel van Gaasbeek

·           National Botanic Garden (Nationaal Plantentuin van Bouchout)

Tips:

- Be ready for heavy rain.

- Try different versions of waffles, chocolates, and of course the famous Belgium beers that you can select from 280 different types.

- If you like potatoes and mussels then you will enjoy the lunch :) They prepare the mussels in hundreds of different ways. 

- French is the dominant language, however, people know other languages, as well, they just prefer not to speak. 

Brugge

A cute Belgium city with several beautiful churches, almshouses, windmills, and many other attractive places. The city quarter where most foreign merchant houses and consulates were established in the 14th-15th centuries. By boat you have the opportunity to see the city from the city canals; you will discover Bruges from quite a different and surprising point of view. The city is pretty small so you can easily walk across it in half an hour. 

Museums & places of interest

Bruges offers a great number of museums and other places of interest, worthwhile visiting during your visit. Note that Monday is the closing day for the municipal museums.

Here are my pics:

1 Groeninge Museum

2 Church of Our Lady

3 Historical Museum Belfry (climb the 366 steps up the bell tower)

4 Gruuthuse Museum

5 City Hall (Gothic Hall on the 1st floor is open to the public)

6 Memling Museum

7 Basilica of the Holy Blood

8 Beguinage

9 Lace Centre

Antwerp /Antwerpen/ Anvers

Although Antwerp is not a tourist city, still it is worth visiting. Mainly famous for the diamond commercial and its international port.

 

Oude Stad (Old City) In Grote Markt square; the Town Hall. A little further, you will find the beautiful Cathedral, Onze-Lieve Vrouwekathedraal, and besides many more beauties...

Groenplaats (Green Place)

The square offers a great view from the city's Cathedral. It is also the starting place of a tourist tram. It is one of the largest squares in the city, also it is a recommended starting point for visitors of the historic center. It gets quite crowded during the season. You can enjoy numerous cafe terraces and restaurants together with the music and beer.

The Cathedral (from the 14th- 15th century) 

It is the largest Gothic church in the Netherlands. It is just at the north of the Groenplaats. It was furnished with renaissance, baroque, rococo and classical works of art.

Grote Markt (Grand Market Square) 

This market is a marvelous sight right in the middle of the city. Dominated by the renaissance style Stadhuis (city hall), the square includes several more beauties. The famous tavern Den Engel, the Brabo Fountain, the statue of the legendary Roman Silvius Brabo, who saved Antwerp from Druon the giant, are also here. Enjoy a Belgian beer, a Brussels waffle, or coffee at one of the cafes.

 

The Town Hall

 This amazing structure, designed by Cornelis Floris, signifies the new status of the city. The design reflects a fusion of Flemish and Italian Renaissance architecture.

Plantentuin

It is a small and historical botanical garden in the heart of the city. This Hortus Botanicus still has an interesting variety of plants and trees. The entrance is for free.

Antwerp Zoo (Dierentuin)

It's an excellent and well-kept zoo, with a wide variety of wild animals and a special focus on penguins and reptiles. Don't forget to visit the elephant hall.

Other alternatives to visit in Antwerp:

• Begijnhof
• Stadpark
• The Bourla Theater
• Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal Ruben's Painting
• Plantin-Moretus Museum Museum Mayer van den Bergh
• Museum of Fine Arts (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten)
• Nightingale Park (Nachtegalenpark)
• Open-air Sculpture Museum. (Openluchtmuseum voor Beeldhouwkunst)
• Rubens' House (Rubenshuis)
• Sint-Jacobskerk Rubens' Chapel
• St James' Church (Sint-Jacobskerk)
• Berendrechtsluis
• Kalmthoutser Heide Nature Reserve
• Butcher's Hall (Vleeshuis Museum)
• The International Port