Planning a Trip to Belgium

Haaa, Maredsous ! Basically there isn't even a village called Maredsous. The place consists of three houses, a parking lot and a monastery. The village itself, a nice walk away if you are so inclined, is called Maredret. Which can also be pretty hard to find unless you know the way. I've been going to Maredsous/Maredret for years now (close to 30 years to be exact) and I still manage to lose my way getting of the highway. Follow the signs saying Anhée and Dinant and you'll find a sign saying Maredsous somewhere along the way though.
So. What's so special about the place to warrant a mention here ?
The monastery.
Am I suffering from a delusion that makes me think those that read this have this inner yearning to become monks ?
No. But in Belgium, when one says abbey, one basically thinks "beer". And some of the best is made here.
But it's more than that. The monks make their own bread, cure their own hams and make their own cheese. And I swear : there's nothing like sitting on the lawn in front of the abbey, with a wooden plate stacked with rough crunchy whole wheat bread loaded with smoked ham and rich cheese, and with a clay mug of the best beer for miles around (okay, maybe that last one is because there is nothing else for miles around). I have seen and known people to go back for seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths.... and not only for the beer.
For that feeling alone Maredsous already merits a visit. But if you feel guilty after such a bacchanal, there's more to do there. Not far (bad people would say "conveniently close") from the abbey is the convent of Maredret. Far less attractive to tourists (no beer, no food...) it attracts those who prefer a convent for what it actually is : a place of contemplation. Further along the road you finally reach the village of Maredret, built in the typical dark grey local stone. A little piece of the world where time stopped somewhere in the 18h century. It always makes me think of a sleepy Swiss mountain village. Once through the village a path next to large farm takes you back up to the abbey. It's a walk of app. an hour. More than enough for me so it will have to suit anyone who accompanies me.
Within driving distance there's the ruins of the castle of Montaigle. Also worth a visit even if you're not overly interested in the applied conservation techniques.
The rest of the day you can spend wondering through the town of Dinant which is a real tourist attraction on both sides of the river Meuse. Food and drink are - of course - up to Belgian standards !

Take your time and walk around this beutiful city. The people are friendly and willing to tell you where the best restaurants are!

In Summer, Bruges is packed with tourist but come autumn, the capital city of Belgium’s East Flanders is a picture-perfect composition of romantic canals and old buildings hung with red and golden vines. The best way to see, feel and experience its charms is on foot. Strolling through the city, it’s easy imagine being back in the 11th Century, or even an earlier time.

The relative quietness of autumn also provides the chance to linger over Northern Renaissance art and the best place to start is at the Groeninge Museum, to see the works of Flemish Primitives artists. Then visit the Memling Museum to admire the work of the 15th Century artist Hans Memling. Nearby is the Gruuthuse Museum, a mansion built in Gothic style. To view an example of Renaissance Chamber.

For all its museum prices, however, Bruges best work of art in the town itself, whose most panaromic view can be observed from Belfry Tower, a 83 metre high bell tower located at the centre of the town. If you have the stamina to climb the 366 steps to the top, you will be rewarded with a breath taking vista. The whole of flanders at your feet, not unlike a toy city.

Leuven is a very multicultural student city. Best time to visit this city is between the end of september till begin decemeber and from begin february till the beginning og june, this is when the students are active(many parties,...)During this time there's a party every day on many different places, not too far away from eachother (average price:3euro) The middle of august there's also a festival. There's a youth hostel near the station. The first thing to visit is the old market, thereyou can party from dusk till dawn in the many bars, the bierkelder is one of the latest open places!Have fun

Brussels is a melting pot of lot's of different cultures and styles. Most of the times, tourists are encouraged to go see the "big" things while Brussels has more to offer than chocolate and waffles. The best way to discover Brussels is by taking the subway and discovering it at your own pace. Find out where your instincts and intuition take you and don't trust in those pesky travel guides! ;-)

For the best coffee in town: 'Vandoag is't' near the city campus of Antwerp Uni
'CafèNation' on Hopland (street parallel with the main shopping street " Meir ") Traveler's cafe:  ViaVia (Pelgrimstraat): they also have free internet here

I've been to Houyet a couple times now. I find it a nice place to come at rest. It's in the middle of nowhere pretty much, with just a few things in the small town present : bakery, post office, bank, small super market, camping, train station, lots of forests, rivers rich with trout (for those that love to fish, come here in june, don't forget to buy a license at the post office, and one from the camping). Great walks so don't forget your hiking boots and a walking stick. Don't forget your rain clothes either, just about every time, we had a few very wet days. Knowledge of french is a must, didn't find english speaking or dutch speaking folks there.

De "stadswandeling" (= city walk) en de "jeneverroute" (= also a city walk, but you visit a museum and get a drink). You can find more information in the information booth in Hasselt or on the internet.

Belgian etiquette varies from Dutch etiquette in a number of ways, so don't treat Belgians as if they were Dutch. Belgian etiquette is more like that of France and Italy. Both the Flemish and the Walloons prefer to be addressed in the polite form and using tu or toi when addressing others is generally considered impolite. It's not allowed to smoke in public buildings and although service is included in the bill at cafes and restaurants, it's customary to leave a small tip.
Belgium has the same universal emergency telephone number for ambulance, fire and police assistance as other EU countries: 112. If you dial this number, you'll be connected to the emergency service you need, whether that be the police, fire or ambulance. The operator who takes your call speaks Dutch, French and English. Various police stations are located throughout Bruges. If you want to report a complaint, it's best to go to the big police station at the Hauwertstraat.
Bruges has an excellent public transport system. The station lies within walking distance of the historic centre and the shopping streets. A bus departs from the station to the centre on average every two minutes. During the morning and evening rushes, that frequency increases to one every minute. The best way to get to your destination at night is by bus. Bus departures continue until 23.10 p.m. during the week, and 2.10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. It's cheaper to buy a ticket in advance rather than on the bus.

If you're looking to have a good night out, then head to Bruges' Eiermarkt, just behind the town square. You'll find a mix of small cafes, bars and a discotheque for the young and not-so-young crowd. Various dance cafes like Coolcat, Pick, Ambiorix and 't Ei all have their own specific character and all draw a totally different crowd. The Eiermarkt is an especially good place to relax on a terrace during the summer. DJs often feature at the weekend.

In addition to being the diamond capitol of the world, Antwerp has some wonderful museums.  The Museum of Photography and Rubenshuis are just two of the must sees.  Not to mention, Antwerp's location makes it an ideal jumping off point for Amsterdam, Gent, and Brugges.  Once in Antwerp, it you look for the charm, you'll find it.

Showroom of contemporary Belgian art, the Comfort Art Hotel Siru has given free hands to 130 artists, painters, sculptors and cartoonists, to transform its 101 rooms into 101 works of art. From the dream of a globetrotter to the sweet arrows of Cupid, the comfort Art Hotel Siru will guide you to a world that is marvel to behold. At a stone's throw away from the main shopping area of Brussels, there is only a few minutes walk to the Grand Place, the historical centre, Thalys and Eurostarterminus. Direct connection between Brussels Airport and North Station/Place Rogier. Rooms: 101 Hotel Chain: Comfort Inn

Le musée du genièvre. Un must. Et en plus vous y trouverez une photo de mon arrière grand père.

Bruges really is a fairytale city! The winding alleys and paved roads, coupled with the old, medeival feel to the buildings makes for great photo opportunities! Particularly from the top of the tower in the main square, just hope your camera has good zoom! For food, restaurants either seem to be high class and expensive, or cheap and grotty. Ignore the modern tourist centre building, its a big red shape that looks horribly out of place in such a picturesque old town.

Find out about customs and traditions, foreign culture, communication with people, improvement of a language, etc.

Rue de bouchers ("butcher's street")
a narrow street right next to the grand Market, packed with small restaurants. It's a real tourist trap, but the atmosphere is great, in a kitchy kind of way. The food is not very high quality, but quite cheap. Gigantic displays of seafood line the restaurant fronts, trying to lure the customers in.

Brussels, Bruxelles, Brussel is the most amazing city. treat it with respect, one comes across the nicest people here, with some of the most beautiful sights around. Brussels is the best.

my hometown. If you want the best chips of the world, go to *friterie ferre*... there are delicious...  a bit of advertising for my former job....

ghent festival between 18th and 28th of july 2009

best place for a picnic in belgium

A really nice small and cheap restaurant with good food, located in the old town of Namur:
L'Alternative
(Rue Haute Marcelle 18,
5000 Namur)
http://www.lalternative.be/

And the staff is really sympathetic with a really good knowledge of wines (ask for Christian)!