Flanders

On an area barely larger than Schleswig-Holstein, Flanders packs in so many historic cities that you can visit them by train at nearly half-hour intervals. A vacation in Flanders means Gothic belfries, paintings by Van Eyck and Rubens, fry shacks, abbey beer, and a flat North Sea coast with wide sandy beaches. The Dutch-speaking region in northern Belgium is economically strong, densely populated, and enormously rich in culture.

Antwerp: Port, Diamonds, and Fashion

Antwerp, the largest city in Flanders, owes its wealth to its port on the Scheldt, one of the biggest in Europe. In the 16th century it was one of the most important trading cities in the world; evidence of this can be seen at the Grote Markt with its guild houses and the Brabo Fountain, as well as at the Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses four paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens House shows the painter's home and studio, and the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a Renaissance printing house, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The central train station is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and the adjacent neighborhood is the center of the diamond trade. In the south of the city, fashion designers of the Antwerp Six have left their mark, and at the harbor the Museum aan de Stroom towers over the waterfront with its rooftop terrace.

Ghent and Bruges: The Middle Ages at Two Tempos

Bruges is the best-known of Flanders' destinations. Canals, brick houses, and the belfry above the market square have made the old town a World Heritage Site; in the Middle Ages, Bruges was a trading hub of the Hanseatic League. The Groeninge Museum holds works by Flemish Primitives such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, and the Church of Our Lady contains a Madonna by Michelangelo. If you're looking for quieter hours, come early in the morning or stay overnight. Ghent feels livelier, thanks in part to tens of thousands of students. St Bavo's Cathedral houses the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers, one of the masterpieces of European painting. Gravensteen Castle, the rows of houses along Graslei and Korenlei, and the Patershol pub district make up the city's charm, and every July it celebrates the ten-day Gentse Feesten.

More Sights in Flanders

Leuven has one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1425, a late Gothic town hall with rich sculptural decoration, and the brewery of the global company AB InBev. In the early 16th century, Mechelen was the residence of the Habsburg regent Margaret of Austria; the tower of St. Rumbold's Cathedral offers sweeping views, and the city is known for its carillon. Kortrijk in the west was the site of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, whose anniversary on July 11 is observed as a Flemish holiday. Hasselt in Limburg is the capital of genever, a juniper-flavored spirit. In West Flanders, the battlefields around Ypres, with the Menin Gate, where the Last Post is sounded every evening, recall World War I.

The Belgian Coast

Flanders' coastline is roughly 67 kilometers (42 miles) long and is served along its entire length by the Coast Tram, considered the longest tram line in the world. Ostend, once a seaside resort of kings, has a long beach promenade, the Mu.ZEE art museum, and the home of the painter James Ensor. Knokke-Heist in the east is elegant, De Haan with its Belle Époque villas is peaceful, and in Oostduinkerke shrimp fishermen ride horses into the sea, a tradition that is part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage.

Food and Drink

French fries, fried in beef fat and served with mayonnaise, are considered Belgium's national dish. Typically Flemish are stoofvlees, beef braised in beer, waterzooi, a stew from Ghent made with chicken or fish, and shrimp croquettes on the coast. Belgium's beer culture is UNESCO cultural heritage; in West Flanders, Sint-Sixtus Abbey brews the legendary Westvleteren. Add to that pralines, speculoos cookies, and waffles.

Best Time to Visit and Getting There

The best time to visit is April through October, though the cities are also charming during Advent with their Christmas markets. The weather is maritime and changeable, so an umbrella is a must. From Germany, you can reach Flanders easily by train via Aachen or by car. Brussels Airport (BRU) is in Zaventem, on Flemish territory. Within the region, the train is ideal, and the many well-developed bike paths make it easy to explore the flat countryside.