Belgium - Elemental Quests

Belgium is part of the Low Countries, also known as Benelux, and is home to the Flemish and the Walloons. The Flemish speak a dialect of Dutch and mainly live in Flanders by the North Sea. The Walloons mostly speak French and live in Wallonia to the south. At this convergence of Germanic and Latin speakers, enjoy unpacking the cross-cultural pollinations.

Adventures | Must Sees: Bruges | Must Sees: Brussels | Food

MUST SEES: BRUGES

Bruges is the perfect place for getting lost. The old town is shaped like an egg threaded by canals. Discover a zig-zag path across bridges and along its colorful medieval homes. As you wander, snap photos of all the charming corridors, gables, spires, and swans.

Belfort

The Belfry, or Belfort, was built in 1240 with 366 steps to the top at 272 feet high. In the Drum Room, a giant brass drum controls the 47 carillon bells. The drum plays a melody every quarter of an hour and a musical note every eighth of an hour. At the top, you have a 360 view of the city.

Rozenhoedkaai

From the Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay), take a canal cruise. This might also be the most photogenic spot in Bruges because you can see where the Dijver Canal bends. It looks stunning at any time of day or night.

Markt

When you walk into Market Square, you notice the grandeur and scale of this space. The restaurants and outdoor tables all face the center. There’s a large statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck. Breydel, a butcher, and de Coninck, a weaver, led Flemish rebels in uprisings against Philip of France.

Burg

Burg Square holds the grand City Hall (the former Count of Flanders’ castle) at the southern end. The Blinde-Ezelstraat (blind donkey street named after a famed pub) starts at a narrow archway. It follows a tunnel, passes a canal, and enters the Huidenvettersplein.

Sint-Janshuismill

Bruges once had 23 windmills along the city walls. Walk by the four windmills between the Dampoort and the Kruispoort by the canal on the eastern edge. Sint-Janshuismill is the only one open to the public and you can climb up the ladder for five euros.

Beguinage

Beguines were women who lived in semi-monastic communities, didn’t take vows, and were free to leave as they pleased. Inside the Beguinage, there are white houses and a garden. Near this junction of canals, there is a lawn where dozens of swans congregate.

Huidenvettersplein

The Huidenvettersplein is a small plaza between the Burg and the Rosary Quay. The narrow walkway is lined with restaurants and has a column with a statue of a lion and a bear. It’s the best place between bigger places.

MUST SEES: BRUSSELS

Grand-Place

The Grand-Place is the main square in Brussels. The decorated Baroque guildhalls form the walls of the plaza. In August, there’s a giant flower carpet in the center. During the light shows, the projections on the buildings are synchronized to the music.

Atomium

The Atomium was a tribute to Belgian engineering at the time of the World’s Fair in 1958. The 335-foot structure represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Belgium hoped to apply atomic research peacefully to improve lives.

Manneken Pis

A legend tells of a boy who saved Brussels from invasion. The enemy was at the gates ready to bring down the city walls. As luck would have it, a little boy relieved himself and extinguished the fuse. Now, there is a tradition of dressing his statue in different outfits throughout the year.

FOOD

Carbonnade

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Moules-Frites

The hot and steamy pot contains mussels, onions, celery, and black peppercorns in a butter garlic broth. The orange mussels are small, but plump, tender, soft, and tasty. Dip the crispy twice-fried fries in mayo. Breydel De Coninc is the best place for moules-frites.

Liège Waffles

At Chez Albert, they transform lumps of dough into Liège waffles. The waffles are crispy and sugary on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Top them with chocolate and strawberries, or Chantilly whipped cream.

Waterzooi

Chicken Waterzooi is a classic Belgian dish. The creamy stew contains diced onions and carrots with chicken breast and young potatoes. Waterzooi also has a seafood version.

Belgian Chocolate

Belgium produces the best chocolates in the world. It seems like there are chocolate shops on every street. Pralines are chocolate shells filled with a soft filling. Truffles are chocolate ganache coated in cocoa powder or nuts.

Belgian Beer

Belgium might also have the best beer in the world. Trappist beers are certified as beers brewed in a monastery by monks with the profits used for social programs. There are only 12 Trappist monasteries, 6 of which are in Belgium.

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