Every three years, the city of Ghent here in Belgium organizes the Ghent Light Festival. In 2024, this Ghent winter festival will take place from January 31 until February 4. Because there’s no point in hearing about it when the festival’s already passed, I wanted Read Post

A complete list of the school breaks, special days and holidays in Belgium that you can bookmark for later use. This way, you don’t plan a shopping trip when everything is closed or miss important festivities because you didn’t know about them. Read Post

There’s more to Belgian food than fries, chocolate and waffles. Alison shares 6 great Belgian dishes, like shrimp croquettes and meatballs, plus not only where you should order them in Brussels, but also which places you should avoid. Read Post

In this post, I want to give you an overview of the Christmas markets in Belgium and more specifically those in Belgium’s 10 province capitals and Brussels. We have Christmas markets starting in mid-November already, so you can take your pick and plan accordingly. Not Read Post

Did you know that the Belgium Ardennes are only one part of this region’s rich cultural and natural heritage? That’s right — the Ardennes stretch across France, Luxembourg, and Belgium, and are known for their historical sites and peaceful nature. They’re also renowned for the Read Post

Looking for some fun facts about Belgium? You’ve come to the right place! There’s much more to Belgium than beer, chocolate, and waffles. This treasure trove of Belgium facts is proof of that. Note: this list only contains facts. I created a separate list with Read Post

Floralia is a one-month flower show at the Groot-Bijgaarden castle and gardens, near Brussels. More than 1 million flower bulbs are planted here every year and arranged in beautiful flower beds, sometimes with fun shapes. There’s even a flower labyrinth.  Read Post

The National Botanical Garden of Meise near Brussels in Belgium is open all-year-round. The domain itself is 92 ha big and there’s also a large greenhouse. I visited the beginning of spring and photographed the botanical garden of Belgium as it came to live. Read Post

Every year in April, visitors and tourists alike flock to the Hallerbos in Belgium to see it turn into the blue forest, with grounds covered in bluebells touched by the spring sun. When should you go? Where exactly could you find the bluebells? I did the research and took some photos, so you can sit back and enjoy. Read Post

Belgium is the land of music festivals. From spring until late summer you can attend a music festival every weekend and even more than one in July and August. Flanders especially is a bit festival crazy, with even the smallest towns organizing their own festival. Read Post

The Botanical Garden of Leuven, Belgium is the oldest botanical garden in the country, founded by the Catholic University of Leuven in 1735. It’s a lovely place to go for a walk or read a book on one of the benches. Have a look. Read Post

Planning a trip to the land of beer and chocolate? You better come prepared! With these tips on 21 things to do in Belgium in 2021 you’ll see, hear, taste and experience the best of Belgium in the new year. Have fun! Read Post

Just like many other European countries, Belgium suffered a great deal during World War 2. Withe the country being stuck between Germany and France, there have been quite a few WW2 battles in Belgium and today, there are plenty of World War 2 tours and Read Post

2014-2018 marked four years of commemorating the end of the Great War, World War I, now more than 100 years ago. There was an influx of people from around the world visiting the Belgium WW1 battlefields, memorials, museums, and cemeteries. If you weren’t one of Read Post

The Plantin Moretus Museum and other top museums in Antwerp, Belgium Belgium is known to have cranky weather, so when you plan a city trip here, it’s best to have a backup plan for when it rains. If you’re going to the city, you can Read Post

The Hergé Museum is dedicated to the life and works of cartoonist Georges Remi, better know as Hergé and the creator of character Tintin. Tintin gets a lot of attention, but several rooms are also dedicated to the other works and of Hergé and the people and events that influenced him. Read Post

Belgium might not be the place you think of first when you plan to go hiking. It’s not the hilliest of countries, but there still has a fair amount of options for hikes in Belgium. From the dunes of the North Sea coastline to the Read Post

If you’ve ever wondered if there are any nice beaches in Belgium, you’re in for a treat. The Belgian coast is over 65 km / 40 miles long, stretching from De Panne near the French border all the way up to Knokke-Heist by the Netherlands. Read Post

Although it’s often overlooked in favor of the bigger, shinier cities of Brussels and Bruges, Leuven has so much to offer. It’s known as Belgium’s university town, and as such it’s been a center for academia and culture for centuries. Only 25 km / 15.5 Read Post

Ever wondered how many airports in Belgium there are? Confused that there seem to be two Brussels airports? Or maybe you’re just trying to choose between the international airports in Belgium. This shortlist has all the information you need on the different airports for your Read Post

Some of the best desserts are the simplest ones, and Dame Blanche is a sure-fire winner every time. You might recognize it as a variant of the classic ice cream sundae, but this method is an authentic Belgian hand-me-down. Vanilla ice cream drizzled with warm Read Post

For being such a small country, Belgium has a lot to offer. From the rolling valleys of Wallonia to the historic cities of Flanders and all in between, the list of leisure activities in Belgium will surely keep you entertained. If you like to get Read Post

Did you know that there are over 3000 castles in Belgium? That makes more castles per capita than France which is famous for its chateaux. Many of these structures were built long before Belgium even became a country, while some are more recent. What they Read Post

There’s a high likelihood that you’ve made a potato salad before – or at least eaten one. You might not, however, have stumbled across this simple twist on the classic dish – potato salad with bacon and egg. The recipe comes from the region of Read Post

For such a simple recipe that takes next to no time to prepare, steak tartare certainly packs a punch! This is a classic dish with a fascinating story that’s eaten throughout the world. It’s also a popular Belgian food. To sum it up, this beef Read Post

The capital of Belgium isn’t exactly the most popular capital in Europe. It’s a bit gritty, the sights are rather spread out, and it takes some time to warm up to it. But it does have a rich history and plays an important role in Read Post

Fort Breendonk was a nazi prison during World War II, not a real concentration camp., although it’s called that way. It’s now the Breendonk Memorial for war victims and shows visitors what life in the Fort Breendonk concentration camp used to be like. Read Post

Hof ter Saksen is a beautiful park in East Flanders, Belgium with an arboretum, an orchard, a 19th-century castle and a natural garden. It’s small and not near any other major sights, but if you’re in the area, this is a nice place to stop and take a break or have a picnic.  Read Post

Bruges has always been one of the most visited cities in Belgium, but the movie In Bruges with actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson most certainly gave it a boost. Directed by Martin McDonagh, In Bruges is a black crime/comedy movie set in Bruges. It Read Post

By November, the weather in Belgium is starting to get pretty chilly and the days are much shorter. Although this might mean you have to plan your activities a little more carefully, there are so many options for things to do while visiting Belgium in Read Post

Belgium is known throughout the world for its national food. From its tasty treats like waffles, chocolate, and sweets, to its globally famous breweries, to its shellfish and seafood. You might ask yourself why this small nation has such a strong culinary identity! The country Read Post

There are eleven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belgium. If that surprises you, then you’ll be even more surprised when you read that the actual number of UNESCO sites in Belgium exceeds fifty. That’s because, even though the thirteen Flemish béguinages are spread out across Read Post

The city of Ostend lies at the Belgian coast but has plenty to offer all-year-round. If you’re looking for things to do in Ostend in winter, you can’t ignore the many museums that offer shelter against the wind and an artistic or historical boost to Read Post

Guest contribution by my dad on taking photos in Bruges at night. Because of the weather, I had to cancel a photography trip to the Opal Coast. In Belgium, though, the skies cleared and so I decided to go take some pictures of Bruges at Read Post

It might not be as famous as some other Belgian cities, but there are plenty of things to do in Mechelen! This article lists the sights and activities I think you shouldn’t miss when visiting the city, based on my own experience. Check it out! Read Post

Fort Liefkenshoek in Kallo, Beveren, was part of the first defense ring around the city of Antwerp. It’s now a museum and experience center with a part created especially for children. Walk the ramparts, have a drink at the cafe and learn about the role the fortress played throughout the decennia. Read Post

Gaasbeek Castle is located about 10 km from Brussels, but you wouldn’t think that when you’re walking around on the peaceful, green castle grounds, around the ponds and with the castle as a backdrop. People come here to picnic, let their kids play on the grass and stretch their legs. Read Post

The Abbey of Villers-la-Ville in Belgium isn’t that known, but it should be. You can wander around these abbey grounds for hours and even picnic there. It’s the perfect spot for photographers, children, history buffs and others. Have a look. Read Post

The coal mine industry in Belgium flourished in the first half of the 20th-century but long have the mine shafts been closed again. Some sites were taken down, others got a new purpose as local governments saw the importance of upholding their industrial heritage. The Read Post

I’ve been going to the Antwerp Christmas market for several years now and while I haven’t written about every edition, I thought it would be better to gather my yearly impressions in one post instead of in different ones. Below you can find yearly updated Read Post

To find a bunch of hip foodie hotspots in the historical center of Bruges here in Belgium, that was my mission when I went to spend two days in the city last week. I especially want to find some fun coffee bars as they’re often Read Post

The Leuven Christmas Market is part of the larger Leuven winter event “Wintertijd” (“Winter Time”). After a break because of the pandemic in 2020, both Wintertijd and the Christmas market are back in 2021. Here’s what you can expect.   Leuven Christmas market 2021 In Read Post

Worried about going to the Brussels Christmas market this year? Don’t be! I visited two days after they lowered the threat level and had a great time watching the sound and light show, wandering along the stands and listening to street artists. Read Post

On my quest to put the lesser-known gems of Belgium in the spotlight, I asked nine other Belgian bloggers to share which places they think deserve a bit more attention. These are their replies. Have a look: do any of these places ring a bell? Read Post

Whenever I travel somewhere, I love coming across rivers and canals. Whether it be in cities or nature areas, I think a body of water always adds something extra to a place. So when Rivertours invited me on one of their boat trips here in Read Post

So, you’re thinking of traveling to Belgium – fantastic! You probably have a pretty concrete image in your head of what you imagine the country to look like. Meandering canals, medieval city squares, grand gothic mansions, and medieval cathedrals is what you’ll find in the Read Post

It’s hard to talk about Ghent, one of the coolest cities in Belgium without sounding like a tourist brochure. Its car-free city center has that picture-postcard vibe, complete with tangling canals, bridges and towers. Somehow, this picturesque city in East Flanders has managed to dodge Read Post

Brussels is a city of many faces. As well as being the capital of Belgium, it is also the capital of the EU and a melting pot of cultures. With it’s many different neighborhoods, the question where to stay in Brussels isn’t easy to answer. Read Post

Vol au vents are light puff pastry shells filled with yummy ingredients such as chicken, small meatballs, and mushrooms. They’re a typical Belgian food and often found on the menu of casual eateries. If you want to find out how to make vol au vents, Read Post

Known as Belgium’s “capital of cool”, “city of diamonds” and “city of fashion”, the attractions in Antwerp are endless. The reason why there are so many things to do in Antwerp is down to the city’s wealthy past. Found only 15 km / 9 miles Read Post