Belgium for Two Weeks: What Should I Explore?

December 14, 2008 6:48 AM

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?

posted by fantine to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Study the trains.
posted by rokusan at 6:54 AM on December 14, 2008

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

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

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. [phone]. DeCap dance organ.

BRUSSELS MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, 1 rue villa Hermosa, B-1000 Bruxelles, [phone] Fax [phone] Director: Mme. Malou Haine.

COLLECTION GHYSELS, Waelhemstraat 104, B-1030 Bruxelles (Schaerveek) [phone]. Monsieur Ghysels.

MUZEUM VAN MUSIEKDOOS TOT GRAMMOFOON, Exlibriscentrum, Regentiestrasse 61, B-9100 Sint-Niklaas. [phone]. Fax: [phone]. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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