Belgium Vacation

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Hello all,

I'm going to Europe this summer around June 17 and I am staying in Belgium for two weeks. I'll be staying in Aalst for some of the trip and Ertvelde for some of the trip as well (just as bases for sleeping).

I also wondered if there were specific sites anyone knew of that would be interesting to see? I want to see a lot of World War II sites, but other sites would be nice too. Medieval times, under Spanish rule, castles etc. would be great.

Thanks for the tips!

[PanzerJaeger]

The Ardennes sites are of course a must see and you could probably spend your entire vacation exploring them, but I'd also suggest Fortress Eben-Emael. (http://www.fort-eben-emael.be/histoire.php?id=31) A great site for the WW2 buff.

[Ice]

Hello all,

I'm going to Europe this summer around June 17 and I am staying in Belgium for two weeks. I'll be staying in Aalst for some of the trip and Ertvelde for some of the trip as well (just as bases for sleeping).

I also wondered if there were specific sites anyone knew of that would be interesting to see? I want to see a lot of World War II sites, but other sites would be nice too. Medieval times, under Spanish rule, castles etc. would be great.

Thanks for the tips!

I'd recommend Bruge, a city in the northern part of the country, for a couple of reasons:

1) It has some killer medieval architecture

2) It's a short train ride away from the beach (I forget the town... starts with a B)

Also, check out the war museum in Brussels. I was blown away by how much awesome stuff they have.

[Moros]

Well you should check out Brussels as it's not far fram Aalst, and the war museum is indeed quite something. Than some other classics are Brugges (medievalstyle town), Antwerps is also quite nice, Ghent, and you can always drop by in Leuven of course. Now if it's WWI you want to see you've got to go to Ieper and surroundings. For WWII it's the Ardennes, but that's quite far from Aalst. (wel not that anything is ever really far away in Belgium).

And if you have questions about belgium, you can always ask me. (Being Belgium I think I should be able to help. :))

[Fragony]

Brugge could just be europe's prettiest town it is an absolute must see. Deal for castle is go by the way you are welcome to stay, if you survive you will have plenty to talk about when back in the big boring.

[Vladimir]

Beer. :barrel:

[Kralizec]

There's a really awesome country just to the north of Belgium, you should check it out :clown:

[Sarmatian]

There's a really awesome country just to the north of Belgium, you should check it out :clown:

I heard about that but thought it was just a myth.... :book:

[Strike For The South]

I heard about that but thought it was just a myth.... :book:

No Germany is really there

[Alexanderofmacedon]

No Germany is really there

Hmm...?:inquisitive:

Yes, there is plenty of beer/liqour money in reserve for this trip, I can assure you of that. :2thumbsup:

[Andres]

Ertvelde? Did you say Ertvelde?

:laugh4:

A pity you didn't come to Ertvelde a few years earlier. It's the home town of the legendary voice of Europe, the one and only Eddy Wally (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8QlyRtc2NQ&feature=related). He had a dancing over there, but alas, it was demolished in 2005.

He's still a living legend in Belgium though, certainly in the Flemish part of the country. Just tell the locals you are an American and a fan of Eddy Wally who is visiting Ertvelde, the home town of his idol :jester: Sing a few of his songs and all Flemings will instantly love you :2thumbsup:

If you're interested in war, then don't forget to visit Ieper (Ypres) (http://www.ieper.be/ieper_en.aspx?SGREF=10587) as well. There's the In Flanders Fields-museum and in the surroundings you can still find authentic trenches. If you have an hour or so left, then go visit "Het Stedelijk Museum", it gives you a brief history of the city itself, it's pretty interesting, since Ieper was also a very important medieval city, which most people tend to forget sometimes. You can do a nice walk on the old ramparts and casemates as well, be sure to ask for information in the Tourist office.

Also, each night, at 8.00 pm, the last post is played at the Menin Gate in Ieper, to remember the soldiers of the British Empire, who fought and died in the Ypres Salient during WW I. It's pretty impressive.

If WW II is your thing, then you'll have to go to the Ardennes, make sure you get to Bastogne (historical center: http://www.bastognehistoricalcenter.be/index2.php?m=bastogne_fr-9-Infos%20pratiques, opening hours in June: from 9h30-18h00 (sorry site only available in French, so it seems) and La Roche (http://www.la-roche-tourisme.com/uk_attractions.php?variable=battle|Attractions|Battle%20of%20the%20Ardennes|uk) (I strongly recommend you to visit the Castle ruins and the Battle of the Ardennes Museum, if you only have time for one, pick the Castle ruins); if you have a car at your disposal, you can do those two in one day (if you're fast...).

If military history is your thing, then other cities in Wallony, very worhty of a visit are Dinant (http://www.dinant.be/index.htm?lg=3) and Namur (in Dutch: Namen) (http://www.namurtourisme.be/uk/index.php); both cities have quite impressive citadelles (Citadelle de Dinant: http://www.citadellededinant.be/gb/index.htm + Citadelle de Namûr : http://www.citadelle.namur.be/home.php?lang=EN).

As for Brugge, well, the whole city is like a museum, but there are also many musea. Just follow the link (http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm) and pick what you like. If you like art, then make sure you get to the Memling museum. If you're interested in food, then you should go to the Friet museum and the Chocolate museum.

And of course, Antwerp and Brussels are absolute musts. I suggest you visit those using public transport (Ieper is small enough to visit everything by foot once you're there, except for the trenches, they are a few kilometers from Ieper; idem dito for Bruges; both Bruges and Ieper are both easily reachable by train, same goes for every city in Belgium, even the small ones). In Brussels, the best way to get somewhere is by using the metro. Antwerp has a metro system as well. Information about most Brussels musea can be found here (http://www.museesdebruxelles.be/en/musees/index.php) - info about Antwerp museums : here (http://www.antwerpen.be/eCache/BEN/16/455.html).

A general note: if you don't have a car at your diposal, then don't worry. You'll pretty much get anywhere using public transport, it'll just take a bit longer.


Public transport:
* Train : http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/index.php
* Bus/Tram/Metro (American: "Why do you guys have three different websites for Bus services in a country the seize of a handkerchief?" Belgian : "Please, don't ask...") :
- Flanders : http://www.delijn.be/ (only in Dutch)
- Wallony : http://www.infotec.be/index.aspx?PageId=631734022642174032 (only in French)
- Brussels: http://www.mivb.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en (available in English!)

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Ertvelde? Did you say Ertvelde?

:laugh4:

A pity you didn't come to Ertvelde a few years earlier. It's the home town of the legendary voice of Europe, the one and only Eddy Wally (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8QlyRtc2NQ&feature=related). He had a dancing over there, but alas, it was demolished in 2005.

He's still a living legend in Belgium though, certainly in the Flemish part of the country. Just tell the locals you are an American and a fan of Eddy Wally who is visiting Ertvelde, the home town of his idol :jester: Sing a few of his songs and all Flemings will instantly love you :2thumbsup:

If you're interested in war, then don't forget to visit Ieper (Ypres) (http://www.ieper.be/ieper_en.aspx?SGREF=10587) as well. There's the In Flanders Fields-museum and in the surroundings you can still find authentic trenches. If you have an hour or so left, then go visit "Het Stedelijk Museum", it gives you a brief history of the city itself, it's pretty interesting, since Ieper was also a very important medieval city, which most people tend to forget sometimes. You can do a nice walk on the old ramparts and casemates as well, be sure to ask for information in the Tourist office.

Also, each night, at 8.00 pm, the last post is played at the Menin Gate in Ieper, to remember the soldiers of the British Empire, who fought and died in the Ypres Salient during WW I. It's pretty impressive.

If WW II is your thing, then you'll have to go to the Ardennes, make sure you get to Bastogne (historical center: http://www.bastognehistoricalcenter.be/index2.php?m=bastogne_fr-9-Infos%20pratiques, opening hours in June: from 9h30-18h00 (sorry site only available in French, so it seems) and La Roche (http://www.la-roche-tourisme.com/uk_attractions.php?variable=battle|Attractions|Battle%20of%20the%20Ardennes|uk) (I strongly recommend you to visit the Castle ruins and the Battle of the Ardennes Museum, if you only have time for one, pick the Castle ruins); if you have a car at your disposal, you can do those two in one day (if you're fast...).

If military history is your thing, then other cities in Wallony, very worhty of a visit are Dinant (http://www.dinant.be/index.htm?lg=3) and Namur (in Dutch: Namen) (http://www.namurtourisme.be/uk/index.php); both cities have quite impressive citadelles (Citadelle de Dinant: http://www.citadellededinant.be/gb/index.htm + Citadelle de Namûr : http://www.citadelle.namur.be/home.php?lang=EN).

As for Brugge, well, the whole city is like a museum, but there are also many musea. Just follow the link (http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm) and pick what you like. If you like art, then make sure you get to the Memling museum. If you're interested in food, then you should go to the Friet museum and the Chocolate museum.

And of course, Antwerp and Brussels are absolute musts. I suggest you visit those using public transport (Ieper is small enough to visit everything by foot once you're there, except for the trenches, they are a few kilometers from Ieper; idem dito for Bruges; both Bruges and Ieper are both easily reachable by train, same goes for every city in Belgium, even the small ones). In Brussels, the best way to get somewhere is by using the metro. Antwerp has a metro system as well. Information about most Brussels musea can be found here (http://www.museesdebruxelles.be/en/musees/index.php) - info about Antwerp museums : here (http://www.antwerpen.be/eCache/BEN/16/455.html).

A general note: if you don't have a car at your diposal, then don't worry. You'll pretty much get anywhere using public transport, it'll just take a bit longer.


Public transport:
* Train : http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/index.php
* Bus/Tram/Metro (American: "Why do you guys have three different websites for Bus services in a country the seize of a handkerchief?" Belgian : "Please, don't ask...") :
- Flanders : http://www.delijn.be/ (only in Dutch)
- Wallony : http://www.infotec.be/index.aspx?PageId=631734022642174032 (only in French)
- Brussels: http://www.mivb.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en (available in English!)

What a help you are! Yeah, I know Ertvelde is a small town, but I'm staying with a friend who lives there. :2thumbsup: