Belgium for Two Weeks: What Should I Explore?
December 14, 2008 6:48 AM Subscribe
What's a steampunk/crafter/writer/etc. to do in Belgium for two weeks?
I'll be spending Christmas and New Years with family friends in Waterloo, Belgium.
I would love to explore not only Waterloo and Brussels but other cities nearby. As Belgium seems fairly compact, I figure taking trains to various places for day trips around the country will be quite doable.
What recommendations would you give someone who is interested in (but not limited to): steampunk, the Middle Ages, lace-making, knitting, art history, tea, writing, literature, beer, classical music, and cemeteries?
Museums, shops, gardens -- what are the must-sees of Belgium?
I'll be spending Christmas and New Years with family friends in Waterloo, Belgium.
I would love to explore not only Waterloo and Brussels but other cities nearby. As Belgium seems fairly compact, I figure taking trains to various places for day trips around the country will be quite doable.
What recommendations would you give someone who is interested in (but not limited to): steampunk, the Middle Ages, lace-making, knitting, art history, tea, writing, literature, beer, classical music, and cemeteries?
Museums, shops, gardens -- what are the must-sees of Belgium?
Brussels has scads of Art Nouveau architecture and art.
And check out the BD artist Schuiten. You'll like him.
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:37 AM on December 14, 2008
And check out the BD artist Schuiten. You'll like him.
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:37 AM on December 14, 2008
Best answer: I think you would adore Bruges as much as we did. Scroll down to the photos on that page and take a look. It can be a little touristy, but it's really incredibly beautiful there, and not nearly as touristy as many other places in Europe.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 8:10 AM on December 14, 2008
posted by TochterAusElysium at 8:10 AM on December 14, 2008
Best answer: I'm guessing the world of automata might be of interest to you. The Music Box Society International (MSBI) recommends the following museums in Belgium:
* * * * *
ART JOSÉ, 53 Rue De L`Eau, B-5030 Gembloux. +32 8 161 27 17. DeCap dance organ.
BRUSSELS MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, 1 rue villa Hermosa, B-1000 Bruxelles, +32 2 545 01 30 Fax +32 2 545 0178 Director: Mme. Malou Haine.
COLLECTION GHYSELS, Waelhemstraat 104, B-1030 Bruxelles (Schaerveek) +32 2 241 27 91. Monsieur Ghysels.
MUZEUM VAN MUSIEKDOOS TOT GRAMMOFOON, Exlibriscentrum, Regentiestrasse 61, B-9100 Sint-Niklaas. +32 3 777 29 42. Fax: +32 3 766 50 57. Curator: Mr. Tony Oost. Collection contains more than 250 music boxes, gramophones, phonographs and jukeboxes.
* * * * *
I've heard quite a bit about the Museum of Musical Instruments (here's a short review from Geekdad), and I'm dying to pay it a visit. If you do end up going there, I'd love to hear your steampunk-loving thoughts on it!
posted by Hellgirl at 8:49 AM on December 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
* * * * *
ART JOSÉ, 53 Rue De L`Eau, B-5030 Gembloux. +32 8 161 27 17. DeCap dance organ.
BRUSSELS MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, 1 rue villa Hermosa, B-1000 Bruxelles, +32 2 545 01 30 Fax +32 2 545 0178 Director: Mme. Malou Haine.
COLLECTION GHYSELS, Waelhemstraat 104, B-1030 Bruxelles (Schaerveek) +32 2 241 27 91. Monsieur Ghysels.
MUZEUM VAN MUSIEKDOOS TOT GRAMMOFOON, Exlibriscentrum, Regentiestrasse 61, B-9100 Sint-Niklaas. +32 3 777 29 42. Fax: +32 3 766 50 57. Curator: Mr. Tony Oost. Collection contains more than 250 music boxes, gramophones, phonographs and jukeboxes.
* * * * *
I've heard quite a bit about the Museum of Musical Instruments (here's a short review from Geekdad), and I'm dying to pay it a visit. If you do end up going there, I'd love to hear your steampunk-loving thoughts on it!
posted by Hellgirl at 8:49 AM on December 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Seconding the Museum of Musical Instruments... it was brilliant and incredibly informative. You'll probably get a lot of inspiration from it so take a note book.
Um. I think that frites and amazing chocolate should be experienced even if you aren't specifically interested.
posted by pipstar at 10:49 AM on December 14, 2008
Um. I think that frites and amazing chocolate should be experienced even if you aren't specifically interested.
posted by pipstar at 10:49 AM on December 14, 2008
I recall stumbling across some awesome micro-breweries that were all copper vats, piping, and stuff - may give you some inspiration for some kind of steam-punk brewery? Plus the beer is fantastic, but that's obviously just an incidental... :)
posted by Chunder at 11:53 AM on December 14, 2008
posted by Chunder at 11:53 AM on December 14, 2008
Best answer: Well, you'll be in the Delicious Beer Capital of the universe. Be sure and hunt out some of the Trappist abbey breweries in the area.
posted by nitsuj at 1:15 PM on December 14, 2008
posted by nitsuj at 1:15 PM on December 14, 2008
Glad to see that the Museum of Musical Instruments has gotten some mentions here. It's a fabulous museum set in a fabulous Art Nouveau building. Go see it!
posted by col_pogo at 1:52 PM on December 14, 2008
posted by col_pogo at 1:52 PM on December 14, 2008
Seconding Bruges. It is a bit touristy, but for good reason - its an absolutely beautiful city. There are some good restaurants, and of course you can eat some delicious chocolate too :)
posted by Joh at 9:06 PM on December 14, 2008
posted by Joh at 9:06 PM on December 14, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions y'all! Looks like I have some good places to start.
The Musuem of Musical Instruments sounds particularly excellent -- Hellgirl, should I end up there, I will blog about it and send you the link. : )
And I also assumed frites and chocolate were must-dos, so that is why I hadn't listed them -- they will both be consumed in serious quantities.
Keep 'em coming!
posted by fantine at 9:54 AM on December 15, 2008
The Musuem of Musical Instruments sounds particularly excellent -- Hellgirl, should I end up there, I will blog about it and send you the link. : )
And I also assumed frites and chocolate were must-dos, so that is why I hadn't listed them -- they will both be consumed in serious quantities.
Keep 'em coming!
posted by fantine at 9:54 AM on December 15, 2008
Response by poster: Follow-up -- I had a great time in Belgium, with day trips to Amsterdam and Brugge and a couple of trips to Brussels. The Museum of Musical Instruments was especially awesome.
Thanks for all the guidance --
posted by fantine at 12:22 AM on January 14, 2009
Thanks for all the guidance --
posted by fantine at 12:22 AM on January 14, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rokusan at 6:54 AM on December 14, 2008