Belgium attractions

Escape the bustle of the Belgian capital in this English-style royal park, just north of central Brussels. Sprawled between the Brussels Expo and Notre Dame de Laeken, the 459-acre (186-hectare complex boasts expansive lawns, world-famous greenhouses, and some surprising architecture, making it a top draw for families, nature lovers, and sightseers in the city.

Famous for one of the world’s largest collections of work by Flemish baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp(KMSKA) showcases art by Flemish masters such as van Dyck and Jordaens. The acclaimed gallery, which opened in 1890, exhibits 15th-century masterpieces beside more-modern works by Titian, Modigliani, and Rodin. Please note: The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp is currently closed for renovation. The reopening is scheduled for 2020.However, most of the art can still be viewed at different venues throughout the city.

If you want to know all about the city of Brussels, hidden gems and all, the Brussels City Museum is the place to visit. Packed with exhibits from the medieval period to the present day, it’s a complete guide to the life and times of Belgium’s capital city through enemy occupation, border changes, and the industrial revolution.

Hougoumont Farm was the scene of heavy fighting in the Battle of Waterloo. Today the farm’s bucolic setting is a popular historic attraction in Belgium, especially for people interested in the Napoleonic wars. The farm is one of seven sites to visit in the larger Domain of the Waterloo 1815 Battlefield, which includes a memorial, museum, and more.

Plopsa Indoor Hasselt is a theme park with a wide range of rides, play areas, and water attractions for kids of all ages. As many of the facilities are indoors, the park is a popular place to hang out on a rainy day.

One of Belgium’s top outlet shopping destinations, Maasmechelen Village is home to over 100 boutiques and restaurants, with designer duds trading at 30 to 60% off list price. Individual buildings mimic local architectural styles, creating a characterful open-air feel that’s miles away from the traditional covered mall.

Radically transformed by the opening of the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp in 1987, the former industrial zone of Het Zuid is now fashionable, replete with independent boutiques, cozy cafés, and craft-beer breweries. Its location a short walk along the river from Grand Market Place makes it easily accessible from central Antwerp.

The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp is a treasure trove of art and history, with work by baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens and other renowned artists such as Otto van Veen and Jacob de Backer. This impressive Gothic structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visitors flock here to see its paintings, stained-glass windows, and impressive belfry.

Belgium is famed for itsfrites (fries), and the Frietmuseum in Bruges pays homage to this quintessential—and delicious—national dish. Founded in 2008, it claims to be the world’s only museum dedicated to potato fries and offers visitors the chance to learn about the history of the ever-popular snack.

The Hooge Crater Museum, outside of Ypres, is known for its life-sized representations of battle scenes that help visitors better understand the history of World War I, especially in Flanders. The scenes include German bunkers, British trenches, and full-scale horses with cavalry troops on their backs. Other displays include an extensive collection of weapons, uniforms, photographs, and other military artifacts.

Amid Quartier du Châtelain is Hotel Tassel—acclaimed architect Victor Horta’s first Art Nouveau residence, and indeed what’s known as the first building ever to be created in the iconic turn-of-the-century style. As much a work of art as a functional and groundbreaking construction, visit Hotel Tassel to see a true Brussels hidden gem.

Reigning supreme over Antwerp’s medieval Grote Markt, the photogenic Brabo Fountain—which was created by famous Flemish sculptor Jef Lambeux—depicts a man holding a severed hand, from the base of which water spurts. The fountain relates to Antwerp’s origin story, where a Roman soldier cut off the hand of a Russian giant who once guarded the city gates.

The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken (Serres Royales de Laeken) is a rare treat for visitors, typically open to the public for just a few weeks each spring due to the residence of the Belgian royal family at the palace. Designed by architect Alphonse Balat for King Leopold II back in 1873, these monumental heated greenhouses house a stunning collection of tropical and subtropical plants.

Discover the Art Nouveau heart of Brussels at the Ciamberlani House, and see architect and designer Paul Hankar’s work in place as an intricately detailed inner-city mansion. A collaborative work with Italian symbolist painter Albert Ciamberlani, his bold frescoes were restored by the only artisanal sgraffito artist remaining in Brussels.

Formerly known as the Art & Design Atomium Museum but now simply called "The ADAM," this museum focuses on design from the 1950s through the present, with a particular emphasis on plastic design. Here visitors will find a variety of permanent installations and exhibitions, along with a rotation of temporary exhibits and other programs.

Tucked behind Antwerp’s grandiose railway station, Antwerp Zoo (Dierentuin is one of the oldest zoos in the world. Creative enclosures—which include a hieroglyphic-covered Egyptian temple for the elephants—harbor more than 5,000 animals across 950 species, while the zoo runs several conservation programs.

Mont des Arts, or Mount of the Arts, is a complex of gardens and sights located between Brussels’ Grand Place and Royal Palace. With meticulously manicured shrubs and esplanades, it’s the perfect vantage point from which to admire the city’s art nouveau architecture and Gothic Town Hall tower in the distance. Once you’ve taken in the setting, many of Brussels’ top museums are mere minutes away.

The Butte du Lion, or Lion’s Mound, was built in 1820 to commemorate the exact place where Prince William II of the Netherlands was injured in the battle of Waterloo. Ordered by his father, King William I, the mound used battlefield soil to create a pyramid-like hill where an imposing lion sculpture now sits to represent courage.

In the heart of Ghent, Vrijdagmarkt is both the name of this historic square and the weekly Friday market, where you can shop for food such as bread and cheese, plus souvenirs from clothing to shoes to books. (There’s a smaller version on Saturdays.) Known as a market primarily for locals, Vrijdagmarkt is an ideal place for people-watching in one of the many cafés that line the square.

You could think of Cantillon Brewery as like a beer-themed time machine, transporting you back to 1900. This family-run brewery, as well as the on-site Brussels Museum if the Gueuze, meticulously preserves traditional methods to craft Lambic, Gueuze, Faro, and Kriek beers. Visitors can explore the brewing process, see century-old barrels, and best of all, taste authentic beer. It’s a must-visit for those who appreciate history, craftsmanship, and traditional Belgian beer.

St. Bavo’s Cathedral is the current home of the Ghent Altarpiece, a multi-panel artistic masterpiece that dates back to the 15th century. Painted in oils on wood by the Van Eyck brothers, the altarpiece has a rich history, including being taken by the Nazis and stored in a mine during World War II. Today, the altarpiece is restored and back in the cathedral, where many visitors travel to see its intricate 12 panels featuring more than 100 characters.

With roots dating back to 1765, the Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery is a Bruges icon. Though it left the city after World War II, new doors swung open in 2015, bringing its famous red ale back to the canal-lined streets of Bruges’ Old Town. Visitors out for a pint, a picturesque beer garden, and a Belgian beer education need look no further.

One of four UNESCO-listed Brussels townhomes constructed by Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta, this beautifully preserved home provides an excellent window into the architectural and design aesthetic that dominated late 19th-century Europe. It's considered the most ambitious of the lot and was commissioned with an unlimited budget.

No trip to Belgium would be complete with a taste or two of Belgian chocolate. In Ghent, one of the finest places to sample this local treat is Chocolaterie Van Hoorebeke. This family business has earned a reputation for its artisan chocolates including truffles, chocolate bars, and pralines, and has an inviting storefront for savoring and shopping.

Opened in 1987 in the now-fashionable Zuid neighborhood, the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA)contributed to the rejuvenation of the formerly dilapidated district. Transformed into a cutting-edge gallery by architect Michel Grandsard, the museum exhibits more than 4,750 multimedia works by some of Flanders’ foremost contemporary artists.

As one of the official seats of the European Union, Brussels is where the European Parliament meets to make countless decisions for the residents of 27 countries. Make sense of the system—and how it affects daily life for nearly 450 million people—at Parlamentarium, a free visitor center with interactive exhibits about the EU’s structure, lawmaking practices, and current challenges.

Opened in 2012 and occupying a restored 16th-century guildhouse in Brussels’ beautiful Grand-Place, the Hard Rock Café Brussels is one of the city’s busiest eating spots. Guests come for the brand’s classic fusion of American food and rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia presented in a glitzy, boutique-style setting.

With its maze of cobbled streets and squares, striking old buildings, and network of scenic canals, the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Bruges is undeniably picturesque. A boat trip down the romantic canals of Bruges should be at the top of your bucket list for visiting Belgium. There’s no better way to experience this beautiful city than from the water’s edge.

Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum in Brussels offers a chance to expand your knowledge of the beloved sweet while trying out locally produced chocolates. This small museum is dedicated to the history and manufacture of chocolate and offers all sorts of chocolate-related exhibits, plus plenty of free samples.

Housed in a former waterside warehouse in the hipster district of Zuid, Antwerp’s FoMu (FotoMuseum) has earned its status as one of the most important photography collections in Europe. Its clean, white lines are perfect for presenting a rotating exhibition of cameras, equipment, and photos by internationally renowned photographers, which changes every four months.