Belgium Vacation

[Kralizec]

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

[Sarmatian]

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

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

[Strike For The South]

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

No Germany is really there

[Alexanderofmacedon]

No Germany is really there

Hmm...?

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

[Andres]

Ertvelde? Did you say Ertvelde?



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. 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 Sing a few of his songs and all Flemings will instantly love you

If you're interested in war, then don't forget to visit Ieper (Ypres) 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....os%20pratiques, opening hours in June: from 9h30-18h00 (sorry site only available in French, so it seems) and La Roche (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 and Namur (in Dutch: Namen); 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 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 - info about Antwerp museums : here.

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?Pag...34022642174032 (only in French)
- Brussels: http://www.mivb.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en (available in English!)

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Ertvelde? Did you say Ertvelde?



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. 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 Sing a few of his songs and all Flemings will instantly love you

If you're interested in war, then don't forget to visit Ieper (Ypres) 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....os%20pratiques, opening hours in June: from 9h30-18h00 (sorry site only available in French, so it seems) and La Roche (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 and Namur (in Dutch: Namen); 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 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 - info about Antwerp museums : here.

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?Pag...34022642174032 (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.