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Post by stearnz33 on Apr 5, 2006 14:20:00 GMT -5
I've got a little extra time in my schedule for one more stop after Munich and before Amsterdam. A friend told me to check out Brussels in belgium...although he's never been there. any advice?
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Post by me on Apr 5, 2006 14:27:28 GMT -5
my understanding, but i've never been, is that Brussels is not that interesting. Brugge, in Belgium, has a better rep.
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Post by Kim on Apr 5, 2006 15:33:46 GMT -5
Bruges over Brussels any day - definately hit Bruges!
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Post by me on Apr 5, 2006 16:35:47 GMT -5
yeah, you & Jules are the ones i was thinking of. ;D the pics i've seen of Brugge are beautiful! Bruges over Brussels any day - definately hit Bruges! |
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Post by LHR02 on Apr 5, 2006 16:58:01 GMT -5
Oh God NO! Search this board for Brussells...you'll find nothing but negative reviews. Please please believe us....do not waste your funds. Brussels is not worth your time or money. Find another stop in Belgium, there are many, not just Brugges. I can promise you, you'll be very hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere who has been there and will offer a reccomendation! It's horrid!
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Post by stearnz33 on Apr 7, 2006 15:38:54 GMT -5
what about antwerp, worth while?
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Post by LHR02 on Apr 7, 2006 16:07:58 GMT -5
I thoroughly enjoyed Antwerp. Couple of Reuben's museums, nothing special and mostly minor works, but still interesting. The diamond museum was fun. Beautiful central town square. Stayed at a great hotel....Alt Post if memory serves...right next to the cathedral (which is simply stunning!) and is quite the la-ti-dah place that also has 'student rooms' which are very tiny, but singles, and when I was there was like 20 euros a night. Also one of the most gorgeous train stations you will ever see. Worth a day or two, much more than Brussels! Be advised, it is quite a long walk from the station to the square! Easyeverything net cafe was closed due to 'crime' issues, at least when I was there 3 years ago.
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Post by Jules80 on Apr 7, 2006 16:09:58 GMT -5
seems david is expecting me to say something along the lines of "ick ick ick brussels"... so there you have it  very much enjoyed brugges tho!  jules |
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Post by me on Apr 7, 2006 21:56:51 GMT -5
no expectations, Jules.  seems david is expecting me to say something along the lines of "ick ick ick brussels"... so there you have it very much enjoyed brugges tho! |
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Post by madamtrashheap on Apr 11, 2006 23:58:54 GMT -5
Ok, confession time: I'm a Belgophile! There, I've said it! I feel better!
Brugge/Brugges is THE place that most people go to when they pass through Belgium, and with good reason - pretty, canals and cobblestones (not in an Amsterdam way though), chocolate, cathedral on the town square....and yes, a long walk from the station as Dustoffmom wrote. There's a Chocolate Festival on now until 1 May (or around that time) if you're going soon.
As for Brussels, I've been there far too many times to admit and never had a bad time yet. Each time was for no longer than 1-2 nights, and there are plenty of things to see/do during the day and night - great museums, cafes, bars (if you want a list, let me know!) - and quirky architecture (Horta) and comic (Tin Tin, etc) musuems if you're that way inclined. There...someone finally recommended it!
Antwerp - yep, same per Dustoffmom's post.
If you wanted to spend the time, you could go out to Ypres/Iepre to the WWI battlefields (easily reached by train then walk through town to the Menin Gate or do a tour). The town was virtually distroyed during WWI fighting and has been rebuilt in its original style (middle-ages cloth-trading town). If you're interested in WWI then it's worth a visit.
Guess it all depends on what timeframe you're looking at as to where to spend your time. If it's only short, then choose Brugge over Brussels or Antwerp.
Have fun! I'll await the ridicule for defending Belgium! ; )
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Post by me on Apr 12, 2006 0:59:00 GMT -5
to clear any confusion: my understanding is that Brugge is the Dutch name for the city, Brugges is the French name. and, as Brugge is in the Flemish part of Belgium, where Dutch is the lingua franca, i refer to the city by it's Dutch name. |
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Post by madamtrashheap on Apr 12, 2006 20:28:37 GMT -5
Correct David!
Although Belgians will tell you they speak Flemish rather than Dutch, even though the differences are mainly dialetical and the Flemish language is officially refered to as Dutch. As Belgium has two official languages, most signs are written in both, with the local language (depending on whether you're in Wallonia or Flanders) written first.
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Post by me on Apr 13, 2006 10:50:38 GMT -5
actually, it was Americans who've told me that the language spoken in Belgium is "Flemish." i'd therefor thought Flemish & Dutch were different languages. it was a pair of Belgians, with whom i shared a train compartment, who told me that they speak Dutch. when i then asked about Flemish, i was told that the Flemish people are one of the two nationalities in Belgium, the ones who speak Dutch. also that the Walloon people speak French, not "Walloons." they asked, rhetorically, what language i speak in America: "English or American?" [this was before Robin MacNeil's TV special on PBS "Do you speak American?"] Correct David! Although Belgians will tell you they speak Flemish rather than Dutch, |
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Post by herrbert on Apr 13, 2006 15:04:25 GMT -5
Dutch and Flemish are the same language, and Holland and the Flemish speaking part of Belgium have a common history (It was one country till 1830). There are a couple of words that are different in Flemish because they stick more to their own language than the Dutch, who use more foreign (read English) words in there language.
But if you want to make friends in Brugge, than stick with Brugge, because (like David wrote) is in the Dutch/Flemish speaking part of the country.
To make language problems even worse in Belgium, there is also a small piece of the country that have German as their language. It's a small piece in the east of the country, that went over from Germany to Belgium just after WW-1. (as compensation).
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very much enjoyed brugges tho! 
