Belgium – country, towns and waterways

[CPT Trips]

On 3/20/2022 at 4:24 AM, Canal archive said:

Now I have to send all this information to our friends fellow narrowboaters he is the master at sourcing exceptional beers this lot will get him hopping. By the way narrowboaters have been accused of navigating by pubs ( sellers of particularly beer)

Oi, I just got it. He is a man who enjoys IPA with high IBU for sure.

[Canal archive]

We’re all off in May to the Canal du Nivernais self cruising now the debate is about Scotch. French beer and of course wine we can deal with but we’re not all fans of Brandy so do we take some especial Scotch with us?

[CPT Trips]

On 4/5/2022 at 4:27 AM, Canal archive said:

We’re all off in May to the Canal du Nivernais self cruising now the debate is about Scotch. French beer and of course wine we can deal with but we’re not all fans of Brandy so do we take some especial Scotch with us?

Seriously? 🙄 You need to ask?

[Canal archive]

I do appreciate a second opinion thank you.

[CPT Trips]

All about beverages of choice. https://www.afar.com/magazine/belgian-beers-explained-from-trappist-ales-to-fruit-beers?utm_campaign=tw_fb&utm_content=1649248812&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=Daily Wander (Have opened newsletter before)

[Canal archive]

Oooooo thank you CPT Trips have sent it off to our partners in barging through France.

[CPT Trips]

Avec plaisir 

[notamermaid]

Bruges, a popular excursion on river cruises and a very popular town as such. Can there be such a thing as off the beaten path in such a place? A contributor on travel weekly tried to find a quieter side of Bruges: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/On-a-quest-to-find-the-quieter-side-of-Bruges

 

notamermaid

 

[doreman]

WE are considering a pre cruise side trip to Brussels before our Amsterdam to Basel cruise next June. Can anyone suggest a good hotel close to things for a 2 night stay? Also is Brussels a better place to stay than Antwerp? I guess we'll ride the train to our boat on our departure date. Also , any suggestions of things to do and see in Belgium? I would like to go to the Waterloo Battlefield.
 Thanks in advance for any input.

[d9704011]

1 minute ago, doreman said:

WE are considering a pre cruise side trip to Brussels before our Amsterdam to Basel cruise next June. Can anyone suggest a good hotel close to things for a 2 night stay? Also is Brussels a better place to stay than Antwerp? I guess we'll ride the train to our boat on our departure date. Also , any suggestions of things to do and see in Belgium? I would like to go to the Waterloo Battlefield.
 Thanks in advance for any input.

I like Novotel Brussels off Grand Place.  Close to the Grand Place and main train station.  Can't help you with the rest, sorry.

[jpalbny]

The Rocco Forte Hotel in Brussels was great for a few nights. It was called the Hotel Amigo. Location was great; also right off Grand Place, and an easy walk to/from the train station. It (was, may still be) an AMEX preferred hotel so we got a bunch of nice perks while staying there.

 

We had plenty to do in Brussels itself for 2+ days. There are some pictures in my SmugMug gallery from that trip (January 2018; link below).

 

Antwerp is very pretty too, but we only spent an hour or so there at a later time while on a cruise stop. I can't say which is "better" between those two. Of course Bruges is famously pretty, and a must-see while in the area. We visited Bruges from Antwerp.

[CPT Trips]

Antwerp is an interesting city. The Grote Markt, pedestrian tunnel, Red Star Line Museum, and the MAS will definitely keep you occupied. Just remember, there’s a drought!

[notamermaid]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:48 PM, doreman said:

Also is Brussels a better place to stay than Antwerp? I guess we'll ride the train to our boat on our departure date.

I have been to Brussels but not Antwerp. I have heard so far one comment personally that Antwerp is a somewhat more interesting and nicer place. I know for sure that the cities differ in their feel and architecture, Brussels is in the middle of the country, Antwerp is on the coast. Just one difference but a major one. I suppose it depends on what you want to see, is there something outstandingly attractive/of interest to you? Well, you have partly answered that already:

On 8/24/2022 at 9:48 PM, doreman said:

Also , any suggestions of things to do and see in Belgium? I would like to go to the Waterloo Battlefield.

Funny you should mention that, I have a brochure here at home which I looked at a couple of days prior to your post. Quite detailed info in there, I have learnt that there are several sights and all can be reached by public transport, train or bus. I would like to see the battlefield and the museums. There are also hotels nearby.

http://www.waterloo-tourisme.com/de

 

From Brussels I recommend the Thalys train to Amsterdam: https://www.thalys.com/be/en

 

Antwerp is the city of diamond trade, that is a unique attraction. Here are some suggestions from the tourist board: https://www.visitflanders.com/en/stories/destinations/only-48-hours-in-antwerp-make-the-most-of-every-moment.jsp

Brussels I like for its famous Art Nouveau architecture: https://www.visitflanders.com/en/stories/arts-and-heritage/brussels-cultural-crossroads.jsp?country=en_US

Brussels is the city of comics and cartoons: https://www.visitflanders.com/en/themes/comics/index.jsp

 

notamermaid