Belgium

[Conchis]

I'm off to Belgium for a few days next week, stopping in Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels.


The big attraction for me is the production of Cardillac at Ghent Opera, but is there anything else musical/cultural I need to see, apart from the Jacques Brel Museum?

[richardfinegold]

I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to see Bruges.
As an avid WWII History buff and as an American, I’ve also wanted to see Bastogne

[MrGongGong]

The musical instrement museum in Brussels is wonderful

http://www.mim.be/museum

[Dave2002]

I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to see Bruges.
As an avid WWII History buff and as an American, I’ve also wanted to see Bastogne

Thanks - that has improved my education. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge I didn't really know much about this.

Now I'm going to have to add Belgium back on to my list of places to visit.

The musical instrument museum sounds very good - I've not been. I'm trying to think where there are others which are good - Leipzig perhaps.

Cardillac - I hadn't heard of that either - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardillac

I hope it turns out well.

[MrGongGong]

The musical instrument museum sounds very good - I've not been. I'm trying to think where there are others which are good - Leipzig perhaps.
.

Horniman in London
Bagpipes in Morpeth
Traditional instruments in Athens

There is (was?) a great cafe on the roof at MIM

[Pulcinella]

I'm off to Belgium for a few days next week, stopping in Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels.

Are you sure that this is entirely wise?
They might not all have heard of Kafka over there, you know.

[LMcD]

I'm off to Belgium for a few days next week, stopping in Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels.


The big attraction for me is the production of Cardillac at Ghent Opera, but is there anything else musical/cultural I need to see, apart from the Jacques Brel Museum?

There are reasonably priced guided walking tour of Bruges. You might also consider a visit to the 'In Flanders Fields' museum in the old Cloth Hall in Ypres, followed by supper before attending the 'Last Post' ceremony at the Menin Gate (assuming that you regard such things as cultural, of course).
There is a highly-rated Café Kafka in Brussels, by the way.

[Conchis]

There are reasonably priced guided walking tour of Bruges. You might also consider a visit to the 'In Flanders Fields' museum in the old Cloth Hall in Ypres, followed by supper before attending the 'Last Post' ceremony at the Menin Gate (assuming that you regard such things as cultural, of course).
There is a highly-rated Café Kafka in Brussels, by the way.

:)

I've heard that your Eurostar tickets to Brussels entitles you to an ongoing journey if taken on the same day as your London-Brussels one. Is this true, or just a rumour? I'd like to know, as I'm going directly from Brussels to Ghent.

[french frank]

:)

I've heard that your Eurostar tickets to Brussels entitles you to an ongoing journey if taken on the same day as your London-Brussels one. Is this true, or just a rumour? I'd like to know, as I'm going directly from Brussels to Ghent.

I'd certainly not heard about that last summer when I went to Brus … Oh, just remembered, I had a one-month 'global' interrail ticket, so I didn't pay anything to travel on to Namur anyway.

As you were.

[burning dog]

There is a highly-rated Café Kafka in Brussels, by the way.

Fricasseed Cockroach? Stewed Beetle?

[Alain Maréchal]

Are you sure that this is entirely wise?
They might not all have heard of Kafka over there, you know.

Of course we have! Don't you know about how our Government works?

You might visit the James Ensor Museum in Oostende - half-british painter, and the Fine Art Museum has many post-impressonists. Brugge and Antwerpen are themselves museums. Michelin is a reliable guide, but I note you are avoiding Wallonie.

ps don't try to use French in Flanders; it offends them when foreigners do, since it hints that their own language is negligeable. Stick to English - most Flemings speak it ( I cannot say the same for Francophone Belgians, unfortunately).

[Conchis]

Of course we have! Don't you know about how our Government works?

You might visit the James Ensor Museum in Oostende - half-british painter, and the Fine Art Museum has many post-impressonists. Brugge and Antwerpen are themselves museums. Michelin is a reliable guide, but I note you are avoiding Wallonie.

ps don't try to use French in Flanders; it offends them when foreigners do, since it hints that their own language is negligeable. Stick to English - most Flemings speak it ( I cannot say the same for Francophone Belgians, unfortunately).

Thanks for the advice. I was going to attempt French as it's by far the best of my languages but I'll stick to English, instead, then.

[Alain Maréchal]

Thanks for the advice. I was going to attempt French as it's by far the best of my languages but I'll stick to English, instead, then.

A few words of greeting, thanks and farewell in Flemish (NEVER call it Dutch, even though it is, at base) would be appreciated. Don't worry about the pronunciation too much, even within Flanders there are variations (and nobody understands Antwerpers at all!). I hope I am not beginning to sound like an old-fashioned guidebook. You will have a wonderful time, and do try to see the coast - 40km of pale sand.

[vinteuil]

.

.... to get you in the mood, some reading :

Pierre Mac Orlan - Le bal du pont du Nord. (La nuit de Zeebrugge)

Georges Simenon - Le Bourgmestre de Furnes


.

[teamsaint]

Bruges is as good as its hype. The Musical Instrument museum in Brussels is terrific, starting with a wonderful array of 60s electronics, although there are more serpents than you need in one go Allow half a day at least .

If you like tram rides, they have the longest tram line in the world, which runs along the coast for about 60 miles. Perfect for a cheap glimpse of everyday suburban Belgium.

Just get a train to Knokke ( which is a bit like a gigantic version of Lee on Solent with a big shopping area ) from Bruges, which IIRC is about 45 mins ride, and hop on and off the tram all day for about €7/8 .there is a nice stop about half way with a pleasant park and good ice cream to be had.

Did anybody mention Belgian cuisine yet ?it helps if you like chips ,waffles and mussels.