Brussels, the capital city region in north-central Belgium, is known for its aesthetic and charming chaos. Walking through the city, you are likely to wander past a souk-like bazaar alongside a glitzy modern shopping mall, a medieval crow-step gabled house beside an elegant art deco building designed by Victor Horta himself, or shabby rows of tenements adjoining an upmarket square of expensive boutiques and restaurants. Add to this maelstrom a diverse culinary scene and a wide variety of multicultural locals and it is easy to see why Brussels is one of Europe’s most misunderstood and underrated cities. Make sure to visit the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, a prestigious dual-gallery home to both ancient and modern art; and the legendary Music Village, a chic 100-seater jazz venue.
Set at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers in northwest Belgium, Ghent is a marvellous melting pot of contrasts and contradictions. At first glance, this small, compact city resembles a medieval masterpiece, but dig a little deeper and you will discover a thriving, modern community rich in innovative design, edgy underground music, and groundbreaking sustainable development. Historical treasures include ornate historic buildings, an impressive cathedral housing the famous Van Eyck altarpiece, and fabulous canal-side architecture. The city’s heritage is interspersed with contemporary art and design museums, quirky shops, and uber-trendy restaurants and cafes. With all of this diverse culture on offer, it is rather surprising that Ghent has managed to dodge the tourist hordes typically headed for the bright lights of Bruges or Brussels.
The attraction-filled Belgian province of East Flanders is wedged between the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut and West Flanders. The province’s festival capital, Ghent, is rightfully named a UNESCO Creative City of Music, offering mega-events like the Ghent Jazz Festival among others. Nature lovers delight in the gorgeous rolling hills and alluring scenery of the Flemish Ardennes, on the province’s doorstep. However, it is the province’s architecture and art which truly take the cake as its major drawcards: swoon at the skyscraping, UNESCO-listed, 14th-century Belfort Belfry, decorated with dragons; and meander through the fairy-tale like Gravensteen Castle, complete with moat, turrets and guillotine. Numerous artist mecca spots include the lavish Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, one of the earliest known oil paintings; and the massive Verbeke Foundation, home to ‘living’ eco-art, giant sculptures and art-science hybrids.
Péronnes-lez-Antoing, a village in Belgium’s Hainaut province, sits at the junction of the Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes and the River Escaut, making it an important link in the country’s inland waterway network. With roots dating back to Roman times, the village has a long history reflected in its evolving name and preserved heritage. Today it is a quiet community of about 1,300 residents, known for its war memorials honoring local victims of the World Wars and for its pastoral setting within the municipality of Antoing.
Mons is located in the eastern region of Belgium, near the French border. Voted European Capital of Culture in 2015, the city is a delight for travellers interested in cultural and historical sights. Walk from one of the cafes fringing the Grand Place (the historic town centre) to the nearby Belfry, the only Baroque bell tower in Belgium and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or to the Collegiale Sainte-Waudru, a church housing the golden carriage of Sainte-Waudru with her remains contained inside it. From there, explore one of Mons’s many museums or galleries, like the Doudou Museum (documenting the city’s heritage), or visit Vincent Van Gogh's former country home. Visitors can also spend a leisurely afternoon strolling and picnicking in the gorgeous leafy Parc du Chateau, home to the eleventh-century Chapel Saint-Calixte.
The Thieu Leisure Marina can be found on the historical Canal du Centre (350 tons), between the boat lift number 4 and the lock number 1, towards Havré.
Halle is a charming city located in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium, just southwest of Brussels. Known for its rich history, Halle features a beautiful medieval city centre, highlighted by the impressive Gothic-style Basilica of Saint Martin, a pilgrimage site dedicated to the Black Madonna. The city comes alive each spring during the Hallerbos bluebell season, when its nearby forest transforms into a magical carpet of violet-blue flowers, attracting visitors from around the world. Halle also boasts vibrant local markets, friendly cafés, and scenic walking and cycling routes along the Zenne River and the Pajottenland countryside. Charming, Halle offers a peaceful yet engaging escape from the bustle of nearby Brussels.
