This proud World Heritage city is best explored on foot so that no detail can escape because there’s nothing better than getting lost in the hidden alleys of Bruges.

Its history in a (very tiny) nutshell

Because of its convenient location, the city grew to be an economical bloomer. In the past, the region was sometimes flooded with salty seawater, turn provided suitable vegetation that promotes sheep farming. Sheep farming resulted then in wool production, which finally grew into a prosperous textile industry.

Thanks to the favorable connection with the sea, the port of Bruges was characterized by many international influences. Even the world’s very first trade fair was created here! Over time, trade was no longer the primary aspect, but cultural developments were also put in the spotlight. Bruges became a famous place for some Flemish primitives, such as Jan Van Eyck and Hans Memling.

De Vesten

The most beautiful places in Bruges (for example the Minnewater – aka the Lake of Love -) are located along the 7 km long green belt around the city. This route is also known as De Vesten. Along the way, you will encounter some more: ancient mills, city gates, parks, and the harbor on the Coupure canal.

In the past, the route counted as many as 30 mills whose purpose was to produce bread, but many disappeared due to the rise of steam engines. Today, only three remain.

Tip: Be sure to climb the hills for a nice view.

The inner city

De Markt, a must-see in Bruges. The 83-meter high Belfry dominates the square, which has been there since the 13th century and can still be climbed today. You have to sacrifice some energy for this though: the stairs to the top count 366 steps. This of course not without a reward! At the highest point, you enjoy a panoramic view overlooking the city and its surroundings. Maybe spot your next stop?

The Belfry is not the only thing the city square has to offer: the Historium takes you back to Bruges in the Middle Ages. At the top of the museum, you see the Duvelorium, the terras with a view over the market where one can enjoy a good, fresh Duvel. (Duvelorium: enter through the entrance of the Historium and follow the signposts)

To the right of the Historium, the Provincial Court has a significant redevelopment story. In the past, it has served as Waterhalle – there’s no direct translation but you could imagine it as a storage warehouse – (13th century) and later as a monumental housing complex (18th century). In 1878 the building caught fire, after which it was repurposed as the Proveniaal Hof.

Furthermore, three things will stand out on the market:

It is the departure point of many horse-drawn carriages. From here the coachmen guide curious tourists around the city with a smile.

Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck proudly look out over the market. Two celebrities from the battle of Flanders.

Numerous restaurants & cafes and their colorful buildings (the perfect insta photo)

Although the Markt appears to be the city’s most significant square, the 14th-century town hall is located on the Burg, the square behind the Markt. From here, Bruges has been governed for more than 600 years. The Burg is therefore the oldest core of the city.

The town hall shares the square with the Mansion of the Brugse Vrije, the former civil registry, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

With this we have discovered the heart of the City. Of course, there is much more on offer:

The Beguinage (aka the Princely Court Ten Wijngaarde)

Like many other Flemish cities, the former Bruges also has its own section intended for the Beguines. Today, the Beguinage is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Jan van Eyckplein

As mentioned earlier, the city was an important trade hub for the region. This spot is also called the Hanseatic Quarter and between the 13th and 15th centuries was the place for international merchants and trading nations to come together.

Tip: order a takeaway pasta (from Bocca) and sit at the water’s edge.

Churches & Museums

The city is rich in museums, which is logical since art, culture, and religion were very present in the past. Some interesting things at a glance:

Onze Lieve Vrouwwekerk: one of the iconic towers of the city. It is 115.5 meters high, making it the second-tallest brick church tower in the world. The showpiece on display in this church is Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child.

Concergebouw circiut: active children at? No problem. Let them enjoy the contemporary and educational experience trail in the concert hall.

Diamond Museum: believe it or not, modern diamond cutting was invented by a native of Bruges in the 15th century. All necessary details and more can be found in the museum itself.

Groeningemusuem: here you will find a collection of Flemish Primitives, including Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, and Gerard David.

Gruuthusemuseum: under the motto ‘plus est en Vous, the museum (former city palace of Lodewijk van Gruuthuse) presents many pieces that are linked to a Bruges story.

Historium: when you step inside you are immediately transported through time. Back to the Middle Ages. Discover here how it used to be.

Sint Jans Hospital: one of the oldest preserved hospitals in the region, shows how medical care was provided in the past. (!Due to work, not everything will be exhibited, the reopening is planned for autumn 2023!)

The Town Hall: the interior walls here represent history. It is therefore one of the oldest town halls in the Netherlands.

Beer, beer, beer

It wouldn’t be a Flemish city without a brewery. The city has no fewer than 3 breweries in the center. The Halve Maan is the most famous of these because the delicious Brugse Zot is brewed here. Furthermore, Bourgogne des Flandres and Fort Lapin are the additional ones.

In addition to a visit to the brewery(s), you can also find out everything about our delicious Belgian beers in the Bruges Beer Experience museum located on the market.

Shop till you drop

Bruges is a real shopping city. The two largest shopping streets are Steenstraat, Geldmuntstraat, and Noordzandstraat. There is something for everyone: it ranges from souvenir shops to large chains to designer shops.

Tip: No time during the week? Every first Sunday of the month, the streets become car-free and the shops open.

Refuel: Coffee

Being touristy all day can be tiring, so refuel in time in one of the coffee bars in the city. Listed here are my personal favorites:

 Olivier’s Chocolate (coffee & artisanal chocolate): Nothing better than enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and artisanal chocolate with the sun on your face. However, you must get lucky to find a spot on their terrace. Location: Sint-Amandsstraat 14

 Cafune (specialty coffee roaster): where you’re always welcomed with a smile. Try their Moh! coffee, you won’t regret it! Location: Academiestraat 8

Cherry Picker (record store & coffee): maybe it’s not obvious to look for coffee in a record store, but you’ll find this great combo here! Location: Langestraat 74

Refuel: Drinks

La casita (bar with snacks): Good vibes en delicious cocktails guaranteed. Locatie: Sint-Salvatorskerkhof 5

Groot Vlaenderen (cocktail bar): are you looking for a fancy environment? Not a problem! Groot Vlaenderen is known for its appetising cocktails. Locatie: Vlamingstraat 94

Basement cafes (bar): the name speaks for itself. In Bruges, you may encounter cafés that are located in a cellar. It sometimes takes some searching to find the entrance, so keep your eyes open. Two examples of cellar cafes are ‘t Poatersgat and Le Trappiste.

Refuel: Food

That’s toast: all-day breakfast. But no bokes with chocolate, this is about delicious and creative dishes. Please note: it is usually a queue for a table. Location: Dweersstraat 4

Sanseveria: A vintage interior and top bagels. Location: Predikherenlaan 11

Hap: Great place for a quick and filling bite. Location: Zilverpand 16

The Republic: This bar/restaurant is part of the city’s cultural center. Enjoy a dish on their terrace before or after a visit to the city cinema in the same building. Location: Sint-Jakobsstraat 36

Annual events

Bruges is vibrant. Every year there are unmissable (musical or not) experiences. Here are some summarized:

Enjoy!

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Sister Bean

This breakfast-, lunch- and brunch bar is a cozy establishment where you’ll be welcomed with a smile. Serving homemade food and sustainable coffee & tea – empanadas, chai lattes, desserts, healthy salads: these sisters and misters can bring it all. Sister Bean is located at the Vismarkt, Mechelen’s hotspot for the hedonist.

Located at: Vismarkt 26
Find them on the web & Instagram

Funky Jungle

In the shadows of the city’s cathedral, you’ll encounter a paradise for the vegan. Funky Jungle’s menu is 100% plant-based, which is quite exclusive for the city Let me not forget to mention their friendly service and cute interior!

Find them on the web & Instagram
Located at Onder-Den-Toren 7

Beastie Burgers

Ah, my absolute favorite. I like Mechelen even more ever since Beastie Burgers opened up. They offer an extensive assortment of vegan/veggie-friendly recipes on their menu. I recommend you to grab a seat upstairs and enjoy the overview of the Ijzerenleen from the window. Or just… appreciate their cute interior (food truck inside alert!) and focus on the delicious burger in front of you.

Find them on the web & Instagram
Located at IJzerenleen 45

Kato Gateaux

At the corner of the Korenmarkt, you find Kato Gateaux: a plant-based cake & coffee bar. I personally love to sit on their terrace and do some people-watching while enjoying a cup of coffee or sit inside to have a quiet lunch.

Find Kato Gateaux on the web & Instagram
Located at Korenmarkt 11

Merad

This delicious Turkish restaurant offers a big variety of veggie and vegan-friendly dishes. These dishes are clearly marked on their menu, so it won’t be a hassle to find your plate of the day. Merad is located at the Vismarkt (near Sister Bean!), Mechelen’s hotspot for the hedonist.

Find Merad on the web & Facebook
Located at Nauwstraat 11

Sava

Tapas are always a good idea, especially here. Sava is located at the Grote Markt, surrounded by beautiful and historically significant buildings. From their terras (or seat by the window), you can enjoy the ambiance of Mechelen. Ps, may I advise you to try their sangria?

Located at Grote Markt 13
Find them on the web & Facebook

Extra tip: De Vleeshallen

Usually, it’s a challenge for me to find a spot where everyone finds something they like – especially when I’m visiting with a bigger group of people (the herbivore, the veggie, the vegan, along with alllll the other diets that exist). If you are not able to decide where to go this time, you can consider the Vleeshalle. Here you find a mix and match of different restaurants offering a variety of options. My personal favorites are Bubba krokketten and the tacos at Alma Libre.

In the past, the Vleeshalle used to be a place where butchers would sell their meat. Today, it’s a hotspot for the young and the old.

Located at Huidevettersstraat 7
Find it on the website & Instagram

Enjoy your stay in beautiful Mechelen Find more articles about traveling in Belgium here.

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From the airport of Vilnius to Klaipeda

The commute from Vilnius Airport to Klaipeda takes about 3 hours so I wouldn’t recommend taking a cab. However, you could get there by bus (or more specifically by minivan). I traveled with the company Ollex and had a good experience (tickets are bought online through their website). Once you reach the airport, you’ll walk out and head to your right. There you’ll find a small parking lot for the minivans that are used for this type of transportation.

1. Klaipeda and its beaches

My friends and I visited the Melnarage coast to watch the sunset. HIGHLY recommended! Getting there is rather easy as a public bus takes you right at the entrance of the beach. My local friend also recommends ‘Dutchman’s Cap’, as it shows a great forest and beach. There are lots of beaches to find north of the city, so go ahead and find your favorite one

2. Have dinner @ Friedricho pasažas

A picturesque street with a couple of cozy restaurants. During my trip, I passed by and stopped at the Gurman’s to get myself a delicious bun.

3. Second-hand shopping

I’m a real thrifter, and I minimalize my fast-fashion purchasing. Also in Lithuania, I felt like shopping so my friends and I went to visit the store Humana. I absolutely loved this store. It became one of my favorite second-hand shops of all time.
Address:
– Taikos pr. 29
– Turgaus a. 2
– H. Manto g. 36

4. Stroll along the Dane river

You wouldn’t be able to miss the Dane River. It’s the river that crosses the city and is connected to the Baltic Sea. Along the water, you’ll find a lot of cute restaurants, coffee bars, and shops.

5. Visit the Curonian Spit

The Curonian Spit is a peninsula located 10 minutes by boat from the border of Klaipeda city. The particular piece of land is still Lithuanian country and is bordering to Russia. The easiest way of getting there is by traveling by boat. There are two terminals. Visitors on foot and bike can go to the old terminal, which is the closest to the city. There, you can embark for only 1 euro. Once embarked, you’ll get to the island within 15 minutes.

I haven’t visited the following place myself but my local friend recommended to write about the Nida sand dunes. This area consists of kilometers of sand dunes which offers a beautiful landscape. Can’t give any tips on that, but it’s worth the try

Cheers!

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Amsterdam has it all: canals, a nice atmosphere, sex shows, legal (soft) drugs, etc. It is the city where controversial freedom is present. Personally, I think Amsterdam is one of the most charming cities in Europe. It’s not a secret that I love the Netherlands -which isn’t common to say for a Belgian-, and after reading this article I’m sure you’ll love it too. 

And yes, you might think you know Amsterdam: It is the capital city of the Netherlands, you can buy weed legally (for personal use), the red light district is where you can find prostitutes, the house of Anne Frank, Vincent Van Gogh, … I’m sure you know it all. But what if I told you that Amsterdam is more than that? Let me enlighten you with fun facts about this precious city that you didn’t know. 

1. Amsterdam in the local mouth is ‘Mokum’. Mokum is derived from Hebrew, meaning ‘place’.
2. Amsterdam counts more canals than Venice. The total length of all canals together is 100 km
   (328084 feet). The century canal ring is declared to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010
   
3. There are more than over 2 500 houseboats floating on the canals of Mokum.
4. The ‘IAmsterdam’ sculpture has been captured on camera countless times. It is the city’s most photographed object. However, all these posers and photographers don’t know the purpose of the sculpture: In 2005 Amsterdam decided to start a campaign to rebrand the city. ‘Iamsterdam’ is one of the actions they took. The sculpture is located right in front of the Rijksmuseum.
5. Amsterdam counts more bridges than Paris.
6. Unlike other countries (for example Belgium) the royal family doesn’t live in the capital city Amsterdam. Yes, for the smartypants among us: The Netherlands is a kingdom.
7. The smallest house in Europe can be found in Amsterdam. It is 2,02 meters wide and 5 meters deep! (6,62 feet wide and 16 feet deep) The tiny house is located in Oude Hoogstraat 22.
8. The name Amsterdam originates from ‘een dam’ (English = dam) in the river Amstel. Amstel + dam became Amsterdam.

If you liked my article about A’dam, make sure to check out the city’s biggest rival: Rotterdam! Ps, make sure to check out part two of this article as well! (coming soon)

The post Amsterdam – things you might not know appeared first on Simply By Joy.

Markthal
Just a little sum up: beautiful building + good food + drinks + nice atmosphere. I don’t know about you but I do not need more to be convinced.

The Delfshaven
The Delfshaven gives an impression of how Rotterdam used to look like before the bombing in 1940. (read intro)

Euromast
The Euromast is a tower with a height of plusminus 185 meters (609 feet), which was built for the world’s biggest flower exhibition in 1960. A rotating elevator will bring you to the top that offers you a view over the skyline of Rotterdam. Entry fee is 9,50 euros (without discount).

Het Park
Rotterdam offers lots of parks but my favorite is ‘Het Park’. It’s a great place to escape from the city for awhile. Other parks are: Schoonoord, Vroesenpark, Arboretum Trompenburg and more!

Erasmus Bridge
The Erasmus Bridge is a beautiful landmark of Rotterdam built over the Maas River. This bridge, designed by Ben van Berkel, connects the northern and southern part of the city.
Reconsider crossing the bridge on a windy day! I did it and I really do not recommend it! Terrible idea

Old Harbor
The Old Harbor was built in the 14^th century. Old! The location of the Old Harbor offers beautiful views and a cozy atmosphere. By the way: the famous cube houses are located in this area!

Museums
There’s a variety of museums to visit:

Boijmans van Beuningen
Maritime Museum
Kunsthal Rotterdam
Het Nieuwe Instituut

Bars
The most popular bar-street in Rotterdam is Witte de Withstraat and its side streets.

Coffee shops
Just to make sure I’m not promoting drugs but for the potheads among my readers: yes, there are coffee shops in Rotterdam as well.

Shopping
Chains & boutiques: Rotterdam has it all. The main shopping street is the Lijnbaan.

Transportation

Transportation by public transport is very convenient @ Rotterdam. Buy a weekend pass or an OV card (top up money on these cards and scan it everytime you get on & off a bus, tram or metro). Other options are renting a bicycle, or walking.

Food

Thanks to the big variety of nationalities Rotterdams kitchen offers a wide range of choices. Compared to my latest trips in Europe I can say that I ate the best and the cheapest in Rotterdam. My favorite restaurants (and hotel) is Bazar. It was recommended by my dear cousin & Instagram influencer Roxanne. Check out her page for more tips on food in Belgium and neighboring countries.

Getting by

If you’d like to save money on your journey I advise you to rent a bike. It is a rather cheap, easy and fast way to move around.

Typical tourist

Heading to Rotterdam to gain some cultural experience? Get a welcome card. This offers quite a bit of discount at museums and other sightseeing spots.

Best time to visit

The most pleasant time to visit is spring & summer… March until October. Other months are nice too, just wear warm clothes and hope the weather gods are in a good mood!

Cheers

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