Flanders attractions

The historical and cultural heart of Antwerp, Grand Market Place (Grote Markt van Antwerpen) is surrounded by lavish 16th-century guild houses and the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal). Although many of the buildings burned down in the 16th century, they were rebuilt in the same style and showcase Flemish architecture.

The medieval-style Markt (Market Square) is the setting for Bruges’ most photogenic landmarks, including the belfry (Belfort) and the Provinciaal Hof. At its center stands a statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, who played leading roles in the Flemish resistance against the French in the 1302 Battle of the Golden Spurs.

A museum devoted to all things chocolate Bruges’ Choco-Story is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. Learn how Belgian chocolate is made—and then sample some freshly made treats before you leave.

No introduction to the architectural marvels of Ghent would be complete without checking out the Belfry and Lakenhalle (Bell Tower and Cloth Hall). The Unesco-listed Ghent Belfry, topped with a gilded dragon and home to bells that have rung for more than six centuries, offers sweeping views over the city and its gabled buildings from the top of the bell tower. Like Graslei and Korenlei, the Belfry looks spectacular when floodlit at night.

Note: Sint-Janshospitaal is temporarily closed. Dating back to the 12th century, Sint-Janshospitaal (or Saint John’s Hospital) housed the sick for more than 800 years. Today, it’s one of the oldest surviving hospitals in Europe—and it’s open to the public. Lucky visitors can tour the chapel, explore the collection of artwork and vintage medical supplies, and even wander medieval wards where monks and nuns did their best to nurture patients.

Antwerp’s main railway station, nicknamedSpoorwegkathedraal (Railway Cathedral) by locals, features glass-and-iron vaulted ceilings, an ornate central dome, and hundreds of gilded flourishes. An extensive restoration of the station was completed in 2009, when a shopping mall and two further platforms were added to the complex.

Hill 60 was a World War I battlefield in the Ypres Salient battlegrounds of Flanders, named for its height of 197 feet (60 meters) above sea level. It was the site of intense fighting between British and German troops in 1915. Several memorials and monuments are located at Hill 60 to honor the soldiers who fought here during the war.

Spearheading the rejuvenation of the Willemdok harbor area, Museum aan de Stroom (which translates as “Museum on the River”) is acclaimed equally for its stellar architecture by Neutelings Riedijk and its well-curated exhibitions about the history and culture of Antwerp. Towering 60 meters (197 feet) above the harbor, the building comprises layers of bright-red sandstone bricks held together with glass and steel.

Rich in medieval architecture and home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, Ghent’s city center is replete with canals, cobblestones, and classic Flemish architecture. A European powerhouse during the Middle Ages, Ghent Old Town boasts soaring churches and well-kept merchants’ houses.

The Essex Farm Cemetery is a burial ground and memorial in the Ypres Salient commemorating approximately 1,200 service personnel from World War I. Buried in the cemetery are Commonwealth soldiers who died between April 1915 and August 1917 as casualties at a dressing station in the area, including 103 unidentified soldiers.

Forming the backbone of Antwerp’s artistic heritage, Rubens House (Rubenshuis) is a top draw for travelers. The former home of Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens, who lived in Antwerp for most of his life, is decorated with marble Roman busts and antique furniture that reflect the sumptuous lifestyle enjoyed by Antwerp’s most illustrious son.

Also known as the Bruges Beer Experience, this innovative exhibition in the heart of Bruges immerses guests in Belgian beer culture through interactive tours and an on-site tasting bar. Opened in 2014, the museum uses modern technology to bring Belgium’s brewing history to life, making it a top spot for young families and beer lovers alike.

The Memorial Museum of Passchendaele 1917 is devoted to one of World War I’s bloodiest offensives—the Battle of Passchendaele. Housed in a Norman-style château in the Belgian village of Zonnebeke, it uses artifacts, memorabilia, and reconstructions to chronicle the battle, those who fought in it, and how the conflict came to epitomize WWI’s misery and senselessness.

A candy-striped confection of white sandstone and red brick, the 14th-century Gothic Butcher's Hall (Vleeshuis) originally served as a meat market but now fulfills the more refined role of music museum. Today, you can admire exquisite antique musical instruments such as Delftware mandolins at Museum Vleeshuis.

Set back from a main street in a small park behind a medieval gate, the Groeningemuseum is one of the finest art museums in the country. It holds a collection that covers around 600 years of Flemish and Belgian painting, from the 14th through the 20th century, with 11 rooms arranged in chronological order.

Located inside the Historium Brugge building in the center of Bruges, the Duvelorium Grand Beer Café offers a relaxing space to have a drink and a bite following a Historium tour. Belgian-beer aficionados will want to spend some time at the bar, which is open to the general public and offers excellent people watching and Market Square views.

A historic event center that's used for everything from business meetings to private functions, the Old St. John Site (Site Oud Sint-Jan) is also a tourist attraction. Along with a variety of temporary exhibitions held by XPO Center Bruges, the site attracts visitors with a permanent exhibition featuring hundreds of works by Picasso.

Dedicated to Antwerp’s rich history of books and publishing, the Plantin-Moretus Museum explores the life and legacy of Christophe Plantin, who established a printing workshop in his 16th-century townhouse. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been designed to appear as if the workers have just left it and is a top draw for bibliophiles.

Historium Brugge lets you travel back in time and experience Bruges as it was during its Golden Age. Through multimedia and special effects, medieval history comes alive in this interactive museum—one of the city’s most popular attractions—as you explore themed rooms with an audio guide, climb a Gothic tower, and peruse historical exhibits.

Located in central Ypres, the In Flanders Field Museum chronicles the history and horrors of World War I as they were played out in the Flanders’ countryside surrounding the city. Named after the WWI “In Flanders Fields” poem; it tells the story of the key battles that occurred nearby through artifacts, testimonials, photographs, and audio-visuals.

One of Bruges’ most distinct churches, the Jerusalem Church (Jeruzalemkerk) is part of the Adornes Estate, built by a wealthy merchant family 600 years ago, and still in the care of the family’s descendants. Consecrated in 1429 and said to be inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the chapel is an architectural standout.

A major World War I battle site, Sanctuary Wood stands in what was the Ypres Salient–a bulge of land taken by Allied forces that protruded into the German frontline. Visitors roam the Sanctuary Wood museum and its adjoining British-built trenches before visiting the nearby military cemetery and memorial to Canadian forces, all of them sad testament to the horrors of the war.

About 85 percent of the world’s uncut diamonds pass through Antwerp’s Diamond District, a compact commercial enclave jammed with diamond dealers, cutters, polishers, and showrooms. It's a fascinating place to see Belgium’s centuries-old diamond trade in action, browse jewelry displays, or pick up an engagement ring or other sparkly bauble.

Often overlooked in favor of its bigger and bolder neighbors, Mons is a Belgian city with timeless charm. A former mining town and the site of the notorious Battle of Mons in World War I, it has a long history, but today, it’s best known for its lively art scene—Van Gogh once called the city home—and its annual dragon festival, the Ducasse de Mons, which is held each spring.

Antwerp's status as a global fashion capital makes MoMu - Fashion Museum Antwerp an essential stop for those interested in Belgium's stylish evolution. The museum continually rejuvenates its exhibits using its vast collection of 25,000 objects, which spans clothes, shoes, and accessories—some of which date back to the 16th century.

The Dodengang (Trench of Death) was one of the most dangerous locations for Belgian troops on the Western Front during World War I. It is a network of revetments, saps, and dug-outs near Diksmuide in Flanders and was only 164 feet (50 meters) from a German bunker. The Belgian Army was here to prevent the German troops from advancing toward France.

Antwerp’s Red Star Line Museum is dedicated to the 2 million Belgian citizens who emigrated to the United States between the late 19th century and World War II. It takes its name from the shipping company transporting the migrants and presents a moving selection of letters, photos, and multimedia presentations in red-brick buildings with protected status.

There are two cities synonymous with the diamond trade in Belgium: Antwerp and Bruges. Diamonds have been polished and traded in the city of Bruges for centuries—and in fact, the technique of polishing diamonds is thought to have been invented in the city in 1450. Learn more about this history of the Diamond trade in Belgium at Bruges’ small yet informative Diamond Museum.

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.

Ghent, or Ganda as it was originally called, is full of scenic places with water views. Portus Ganda Marina is one such spot where yachts bob alongside riverside boardwalks packed with restaurants and bars. Pedestrianized plazas and promenades in the revitalized marina, opened in 2005, offer space for strolling and picnics. The Van Eyck swimming pool is another draw.