Best of Belgium - Paperblog

Belgium was the second to the last country I visited on my second trip to Europe.

I arrived in Brussels from Strasbourg on a cold and windy night. My hostel was just two blocks away from the bus station, but walking against the direction of the wind was quite a challenge. The hostel’s common area looked like a bikers’ den, but at least it didn’t look as seedy as my hostel in Munich. LOL The stairwell, hallway, and room was tiny, but I only spent a night there and then transferred to a better hostel where I spent the next couple of days.

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The second area I stayed at seem to be in the business district. And since my first whole day in Brussels fell on a Sunday, the metro was devoid of people that it gave off a post-apocalyptic vibe. Take note that this was pre-COVID. However, Brussels Centrale Station was a different story. I was surprised that there were many homeless people there. It was something I haven’t seen in other major European cities’ train stations.

Grand-Place/Grote Markt

Naturally, the first attraction on my list was Grand-Place. When you think of Belgium, this is probably the first image that pops into your head. It is a square famous for its opulent baroque buildings. As expected, the place is very touristy.

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People were also gathered in front of the Manneken Pis – the tiny, tiny statue of a naked boy taking a piss at the fountain’s basin. I was more interested, however, in the Belgian waffles. Along with beer and chocolates, we can thank Belgium for their delicious waffles! The best one I had was a freshly-made plain waffle in Ghent.

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Maybe it was the travel fatigue or the gloomy weather, but I didn’t feel like seeing more of Brussels after that. I just had an early dinner at an Asian restaurant because I was craving for rice, bought a fridge magnet from one of the souvenir shops, and called it a day.

Bruges/Brugge

The following day’s weather was so much better, so I went to two of the popular day trips from Brussels. My first stop was Bruges. I didn’t have any plans or specific sights I wanted to see. I just followed where the people went upon exiting the station. LOL

I eventually reached the Market Square. The square is dominated by the belfry, the city’s most prominent building. The square is also famous for its “gingerbread” buildings. Coachmen also wait in this area offering a carriage ride.

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Just like Amsterdam, Bruges is also famous for its canals. Needless to say, a boat ride is another popular way to see the city from a different angle.

After having a very late lunch and a glass of Jupiler–because it would be a crime not to drink beer when in Belgium–I went back to the train station and hopped on a train to Ghent.

Ghent/Gent

Unlike Bruges where the square is walking distance from the train station, I had to take a tram to Korenmarkt. It is surrounded by photogenic cafes, shops, and old buildings converted into commercial establishments.

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The Graslei and Korenlei areas face the waterside and are the perfect spots to enjoy an aperitif or two while marveling at the beautiful facades of historic buildings. St. Michael’s Church can also be seen from here.

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Belgium might not be top of mind when planning a trip to Europe, but it is definitely worth visiting. If I had more days, I would have loved to see Antwerp and Dinant as well.