|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Bruges (Brugge) – Ride the canal
boats (boottocht) around Bruges. One place to get the boats is G. Stael,
Katelijnestraat. There’s also a very nice park to run around next to
the Begijnhof (Beguine convent) near the canal. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Go to the beach (Knokke-Heist, Oostend) – Belgian families go to the beach all year round. Even in bad weather,
kids love a walk on the beach in the rain. Rent go-karts on the beach or
shop for unusual shells. In Oostend, watch the big ferries coming in from
England. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Abbaye de Villers-la-Ville –
This old abandoned 12th century abbey is what a ruined abbey
should look like – decrepit, covered in vines, open to the sky and
plenty of rooms to explore. A gem. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Battle of Waterloo – Even
if you don’t think you’re interested in battlefields, Waterloo
is not to be missed. Walk up the Butte du Lion and look out over the scene
of the battle (topography played an important role). The excellent visitor’s
center has a movie that shows the battle in detail. For more information, check out Waterloo
Battlefield. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Le Grand Hornu (near Mons) –
Le Grand Hornu is a coal mining town that’s been made into a tourist
site. This is a fascinating look into the Industrial Revolution, in a planned
city where people worked and lived. Visit the mines, climb on slag heaps
and tour these 19th century period houses. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Grotte de Han (Han-sur-Lesse) – The
Grotte de Han is a huge limestone cave with spectacular stalagmites and
stalactites. Truly memorable! Take the tram up to the cave entrance; then
walk down through the cave, about 3km. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Chateau de Bouillon (Bouillon) – Visit the medieval fortress
of Godefroy de Bouillon who went off to fight in the First Crusade. In
the castle, be sure to see the Godefroy de Bouillon room, hollowed out
of the rock, with a large cross carved in the floor. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Gorge de Loup (Echternach, Luxembourg) – This corner of Luxembourg is know as Luxembourg’s "Little
Switzerland" because of its amazing rock formations, caves and gorges.
Visit the Gorge de Loup – there are well marked footpaths and you can
take little kids on this walk. |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Belgian artist
Hergé is the creator of Tintin, boy adventurer. In King
Ottokar's Sceptre, Tintin and Snowy, a quick-witted dog, race
through Europe, eluding gangsters at every turn, to retrieve the
stolen scepter of Syldavia. Tintin is family favorite! (Cartoon
book)
For more adventures
of Tintin, The
Black Island, The
Blue Lotus, and Red
Rackham's Treasure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Step
in the puzzling and mysterious world of Rene Magritte, where stones
float like clouds, shoes have toes, day and night appear in the
same painting. A native of Belgium, Magritte's works are on display
in Brussels, and this is a lovely introduction to a surprising
and enchanting painter. (Picture book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Wonderful
exploration of a single painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The Tower of Babel, set in mid-16th century Antwerp, is a microcosm
of the city itself. Fabulous detail of daily life and builders at
work. (Picture book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
"And Prince Silencio returned softly, between the laughter and the songs. Between the words.” Can you spot pictures of phrases (talk until the cows come home, cat got your tongue, eat your words, and more) in the illustrations? A completely original children’s book by Belgian artist Anne Herbauts. (Picture book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Nancy Drew and
her two friends travel to Belgium, following an old mystery –
lace cuffs with a secret message, a cavalier and his true love,
a hidden room in a house along the canals in Brugge. (Chapter book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Sweet
story of a farm cat, by Belgian author Jean-Baptiste Baronian. Taking
his afternoon nap, Figaro snores so loudly, it's too much for the
rooster, the donkey and the dog. Lovely pastel illustrations will
delight toddlers. (Picture book)
|
|
|
|
(Nancy Drew)