Fun at Flanders
This Dutch-speaking northern
portion of Belgium is truly a tourist's paradise
Flanders figures high on
the must-visit list of most travel enthusiasts across the globe for many
reasons; but two of the most common ones include the bed time stories of Tintin
and the famous Belgian chocolates.Once here, one can experience a slice of Europe
where children's attractions, culture and countryside mix in just the right
proportions.
The northern part of
Belgium is known as Flanders and each of its cities is brimming with quaint
medieval squares, tree-lined canals, gorgeous architectural facades,
world-class museums and friendly outdoor cafes. The scenic Flemish countryside
is painted with soft green hills and winding roads, dotted with black heather
bordered by exotic farms. With its cobblestone streets, beguinages, gothic
cathedrals and artistic treasures, the region is an ideal destination for
families.
Among the many pleasures of
visiting Flanders, food is the most significant one. The options are plenty,
including chocolates, ice creams and waffles; but what top the list of
favorites is the fries. To enjoy them the most, it's best to get them from a
street vendor, where you get the freshest ones.Called Fritkot, these small
stands can be found in every town in the country.Moreover, one can have
delicious vegetarian food in Ghent which is famous for its 'Thursday veggie'
and also known as Veggie City of Europe.The tram experience, dinner in the sky,
dine around are unique ways to pamper the adventurous side of your kids and
experience the rich Flemish cuisine.
The city of Ghent,
Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges have loads of unique things that can be explored.
The various enjoyable activities that you can treasure with your family make it
the ideal destination for your next trip.
GHENT HISTORY WITH A
HEARTBEAT
Ghent is praised for its
brilliant mix of a wonderful past and a vibrant present.
Here hides one of Europe's
finest panoramas of water, spires and centuries-old grand houses.
Under the watchful eye of
Castle of the Counts, the city boasts of an opera house, 18 museums, 100
churches and over 400 historical buildings. The most visited site in Ghent is
the famous polyptych, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, painted by the brothers
Jan and Hubert van Eyck in 1432. Discover your inner knight in the halls and
dungeons of the Castle of the Counts, but don't let the torture rooms scare
you! The view from the top of the castle is magical.
The city was home to great
masters such as Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck and fashion designers like the
world-famous Antwerp Six. There are always a lot of cultural activities, but
the city is also well worth a visit for its excellent restaurants as well as
for the shopping experience it offers. Much like Antwerp diamonds, the city
sparkles with an impressive range of architecture from medieval buildings in
Art Nouveau styles to the contemporary courthouse.The Antwerp Zoo is the oldest
and the largest in Europe, housing more than 4000 animals. Right across the
street from the zoo, you can visit the underwater world of Aquatopia.
BRUSSELS THE CAPITAL OF
EUROPE
The starting point for any
visit to Brussels is the Grand Place which was built as a merchants' market in
the 13th century. It serves as the centre of the city and hosts numerous
concerts and festivals, including the Ommegang pageant held every year in July.
Every alternate year for two days, the Grand Place is decorated with an amazing
flower carpet, made up of one million begonias.
The Atomium of Brussels was
built for the expo in 1958 and still is Brussels' landmark. With its nine
spheres, it represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Take the
stairs or just ride the elevator to the top and enjoy the spectacular view over
Brussels.
Manneken-Pis, a 17th
century bronze statue by J.
Duquesnoy, is an iconic
symbol of the absurd, ironic Brussels spirit. Manneken Pis, which means 'little
peeing man' in Marols, a dialect spoken in Brussels, is also sometimes called
'Kleine Julien' and known in French as 'le Petit Julien'.
BRUGES HERITAGE AT ITS BEST
The historic centre of
Bruges is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With the city centre
closed off to cars, all the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable
city can be easily explored on foot, by boat , or by horse-drawn carriages.
FOOD CORNER
Visit Choco-Story, the
chocolate museum, and learn how chocolate is made. The museum is located close
to the central square of Bruges and it takes a short walk from the market to
the museum. If you're still hungry for more, you can head for the Frietmuseum
and learn about the national dish: Belgian Fries. Frietmuseum in Bruges is the
only museum in the world dedicated to potato fries
DID YOU KNOW?
The Antwerp Zoo is the
oldest and the largest in Europe, housing more than 4000 animals. Right across
the street from the zoo, one can visit the underwater world of Aquatopia
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Rakesh Malik2
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ET23FEB16
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