Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with belgium

Vegetarian seeks tasty food in Western Europe

embrangled — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:57:04 -0800

What tasty foods should an adventurous vegetarian eat in the UK and Western Europe? I eat eggs and dairy, but not meat and only rarely fish. I'm not overly uptight about trace animal products or stock. I'll be travelling through England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. These countries aren't generally known as hotbeds of vegetarianism, but I'd still like to try as many interesting local foods as I can.

A meat-eating friend has been joking that I'll starve - I'm more optimistic, so help me prove him wrong. I'm not worried about what I'll eat, but I'd like to expand my culinary horizons beyond "That one vegan cafe in the hippy district". Which quintessential European meals and snacks just happen to be meat-free?

Writer needs to spend time with an Asperger's. In Belgium.

Baud — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:19:37 -0800

Writing an Asperger character : how can I get to know enough about Asperger's syndrom ? Please bear in mind that I live in Belgium. I'm in the research phase of a writing project. One of the characters must be an Asperger's. Now...

Research so far : I've read "I was born on a blue day" and "The curious incident of the dog". But words on a page are one thing, meeting a breathing person, getting to ask questions, discovering what kind of non-verbal language they is much more interesting to me.

Now, bearing in mind that I live in *Belgium* and that most of yo are living in US/Canada i.e. an ocean away from where I live, does the hive have generic advice on how to spend some social time with an Asperger ?

I don't want to betray the Asperger and I'm not centering the text around that characteristic. it's a narrative obligation that my character is an Asperger.

Oh, and if Barry - Rain Man - is lurking here, can he please direct-message me ? (I tried to contact him through Gersher agency's email address.
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Standard MeFi caveat : english is not my mother tongue.

Mummy ! They won't ship my new toy to Belgium !

Baud — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:03:27 -0800

The Flip Mino HD with my own image will not ship outside the US. How can I have it reshipped to Belgium ? This has me dropping of small river of saliva on my laptop keyboard.

Alas, the personalised design will not ship outside the US. I live in Belgium. How can I have it reshipped to Belgium in a reliable, affordable way ?

How long will it take ?

Thank You Gift for Landlord?

that possible maker of pork sausages — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:30:52 -0800

I need some suggestions for a small thank you gift for my landlords of the past month. I've been renting a room from a really nice family for the past month, and I am due to move out at the beginning of next week. The family has been been really gracious and kind to me, and I would like to give them a gift to thank them for their hospitality.

I am looking to spend a maximum of 20 or 30 dollars, and chocolate and wine are out for various reasons. Also, I'm in Belgium, if that influences people's suggestions at all.

I'm a giver of sub-optimal gifts at the best of times, so any and all ideas are welcome!

Hippest Woman in Seattle

tejolote — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:04:53 -0800

Help me fly to Belgium for surgery next month: I'm scheduled for hip surgery in Ghent on the 29th of April, and I have no idea how to schedule my flight. My leave and return dates are flexible, and I plan to go a few days before surgery to do some sightseeing (my first trip to Europe!), but I'm very, very worried about leg room after the surgery.

Business class tickets from Seattle are looking to be $4000 round trip, which I can't afford, nor can I borrow. Coach is around $670 (Continental Airlines) and up. The money I have to spend on a ticket is around $1500. I've heard there's a possibility of buying an upgrade the day of the flight for something that approaches my total budget, but I don't know if this is a rumor, or if not, what the chances are of space being available to purchase an upgrade.

I'm using ITA software to check prices. Should I call an airline directly to buy a ticket? Should I suck it up, and ask the doc for more painkillers for the flight back in coach? Should I find a travel agent? I've never flown internationally, so I have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm nervous as hell.

I'm so very excited about finally having surgery and about going to Europe and seeing Ghent. Help me get there safely, and get back as comfortably as I can after surgery.

I recall in the original Quest for Glory, a creature of the name...

vernondalhart — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:35:46 -0800

I'm going to be in Antwerp, Belgium for a few days this coming week. What should I do? Where should I do it? Who should I see? I should be arriving on the evening of the 18th, and I leave Monday morning, the 23rd. I will be staying at a friend's place, which appears to be a little to the south-west of the centre of the city. I'm not certain how mobile I will be beyond whatever public transit exists within the town. So what should I do? Are there any good concerts, theatrical performances, restaurants and pubs I should see? Where have you had your good times?

Also, while I'll admit this to be the wrong forum, would anyone be interested in having some sort of meetup while I'm there?

Belgium for Two Weeks: What Should I Explore?

fantine — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:48:39 -0800

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?

Uniquely Belgian liquor?

scblackman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:51:49 -0800

Liquor-is-QuickerFilter: I'm going to Brussels and Leuven next week and will be doing some holiday shopping. One of my relatives enjoys a drink (now and then) and I was thinking about bringing back a bottle of something unique -- that is, something one can't find readily in the US.

Any suggestions on a liquor that is uniquely Belgian and unique to Belgium? A one-line description would be great.

Mystery building

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:44:46 -0800

Can anyone identify this modernist looking building in, probably/possibly in Belgium from 60ish years ago? My father found a cut-off corner of a postcard under some floor boards, about an inch and a half/35mm square. The stamp on the other side is a 3F 'Poortman' Leopold III from Belgium which dates it 1936-51. He's curious to know what the view might have been off.

Screw Chevy Chase

Christ, what an asshole — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:03:51 -0800

I'm looking for underrated, obscure European vacation stops. A couple friends and I are going to Europe for a month (Nov/Dec), and we plan on doing the whole Eurorail/hostel thing across several countries. 1/3rd of the destination stops are for my choosing, and while I know they'll be making the saturated, obvious choices like Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, etc., I'd like to spice things up with places that don't automatically spring to mind but offer the same level (if not more) of awe. Ideally, cities that aren't automatic tourist stops where most everyone speaks English and there's a McDonald's on every corner (but also not so far out of the way from mid-Europe like some hole-in-the-wall, Eastern-European Caspian city).

What sort of places have you visited that you would recommend?

Help me see some of Europe!

bDiddy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:07:06 -0800

I need advice for planning a trip to Europe next summer. The wife and I are looking to see some of Europe next summer. Neither of us have ever gone. She wants to see Prague and I want to drink beer in Brussels. So, here's what I think is the best plan, but I don't know. This is where I need advice.

Fly into Prague and spend a few days there. Take the train through Germany, spending a night in some of the cities the train goes through. (Berlin, maybe Koln?) Then continue on to Brussels for a few days there. Then, if time permits maybe continue on to France.

So, as I've never planned a trip like this ever, I have a few questions.

Is it easier to fly in and out of the same city or can I land in one city and depart from another? Would it be significantly cheaper to do it one way vs the other?

Should I book train tickets in advance or when we're there? I've seen the seat61.com site so I know the Eurail pass isn't always the best bet, but maybe it will be for us.

Is it worth renting a car in Belgium? I want to see more than just Brussels. I'd LOOOOOVE to see some of the abbeys and some of the smaller breweries there. And getting up to the coast would be nice too.

How early should I be looking at booking this? And would a travel agent be any help to me? I've used a travel agent twice and I find them somewhat helpful, but not sure if it would be worth it for a trip like this.

Any other advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Speculoos

anonymous78 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:32:22 -0800

Where can I get those delicious Belgian cookies, Speculoos, in the US? I'm looking for store recs. in New York or mail order options.

The old red, white and blue.

vernondalhart — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:01:51 -0800

Where can I find Trappist beer in Canada? Vancouver, specifically. The best beer I've ever drank is Chimay blue. It's amazing. Every time I drink it it's better than I remember it being. Chimay red, not so much, and Chimay white, somewhere in the middle.

There's a liquor store nearby that also sells a couple other trappists: Tripel Westmalle (good, but I'll have to give it another try) and Rochefort 8 (Possibly about even with the Chimay---again, I need to drink this one again to settle this dispute). Apparently Orval is also available at the BCL stores; I've never tried it.

So here's my question. Where can I get other Trappists? In particular, is it even possible for me to get any of the Westvleteren beers? From the wikipedia page's information about its limited distribution, this seems unlikely, but I can hope.

The next question is the following: What other beers like these are there? Seriously, Chimay blue sends me to whole new levels of delight. There must be other beer like it, somewhere. Somehow.

Cheap hotel/hostel near Brussels airport

soulbarn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:30:08 -0800

My college-age niece (MEANING: broke, almost!) needs a cheap place to stay near the Brussels airport. She's going to be spending US dollars, so I know "cheap" is relative. She's an inexperienced traveler and a little timid. Any ideas?

Belgian Beer Road Trip

srboisvert — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:17:37 -0800

I am planning a Belgian beer road trip for the fall. Any tips? The only items that I know I must do is to visit Bruge and get a case of Westvleteren (I am very familiar with the other Trappiste delights so there is less need to hunt them down). Any other must see and do things? Is it worth making the trip to other breweries?

I'll be driving from the UK and might be considering some camping as well. If others have done this kind of thing I would love to here about the routes taken.

brussels for the first time

purplefiber — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:15:54 -0800

Brussels: Where to stay, what to do, what to avoid, what to eat, etc. I'll be in Brussels, Belgium, this Saturday evening through Tuesday morning.
I am: female, 25, traveling solo, speak English and French, and it's my first time in Belgium.
I love: music, art, food, people watching, talking with strangers, walking, exploring.
I have: a tight budget, a mostly-vegetarian diet, a curious mind.
I need: a place to stay (favorite hostels?), and some suggestions of places to explore, good places to meet people, places to stay away from, your favorite beer, etc.
Your recommendations will be much appreciated.

If there are any Brussels mefites around- hey, a meetup would be great fun!

Cost of living in Brussels?

starscream — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:36:15 -0800

Migrating from Los Angeles to Brussels: My girlfriend is entertaining a job offer in Brussels; is she being offered enough to live comfortably there? My girl has been offered 80K/year Euro for a job in Brussels. The company is willing to pay moving expenses and so on, but is 80K/year enough to live there? I'm seeing wildly different prices on apartments and am unsure of the general cost of living in Brussels. I guess my question is: what wage does one need to earn to live comfortably in Brussels, Belgium? We don't wanna starve :)

Bonus questions: The company is in the area of the Belgian Parliament & Brussels Park. How is public transit in that area? Also, how difficult is it to find work in the IT industry in Brussels?

There were some great tips on this thread, but I'm looking for a bit more info. Thanks :)

Should I move to Belgium?

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:27:09 -0800

What should I know about moving from Boston to Brussels, Belgium? I recently got a job offer in Brussels, Belgium (posting anonymously because it will cause problems for me if my prospective employer finds out I am uncertain about making the move). My wife and I are both around 30, living in Boston. We've traveled plenty, but never lived outside the country and have never been to Belgium. Neither of us speaks French or Dutch.

So the question is, what do we need to know about moving from the US to Belgium? We've read all about visas and national health insurance and such. We're really wondering more about what life is like. Will we feel isolated, being only English speakers? What are good neighborhoods for a couple of expats to live in? How likely is it that my wife could find a job if we move there before she is able to arrange something? How expensive is it; how much money do two relatively young people need to make in order to live comfortably in or around Brussels? If you are someone who has moved from the US to Belgium, what did nobody tell you that you wish you had known? We will probably visit for a few days before making the decisions about whether to make the move or not. What should we do while we're there in order to help make the decision?

We're really just looking for any information at all about what it's like to live in Brussels, since we have never been there and don't know anybody there. If you have questions, you can send them to belgium.ask.mefi@gmail.com.

Bonus points if anybody can tell me what an American (USCF Cat. 2) would have to do to be eligible to race road and cyclocross in Belgium. Do you need an international license from USA cycling or a license from the Belgian Cycling Federation?

Accomodations in London, Belgium & The Netherlands

dhammond — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:49:14 -0800

I'm going to London, Belgium and the Netherlands from May 10th-24th, and I'm looking for great places to stay. My tentative itinerary:

London (5 nights - 5/10-5/15)
Brussels (1 night - 5/15-5/16)
Bruges (2 nights - 5/16-5/18)
The Netherlands (6 nights - mostly Amsterdam, but other cities as well - 5/18-24)

I'm traveling alone, and I'm interested in hearing from those who are quite enthusiastic about a certain place and want to tell me how great it is.

My basic requirements:

-- Located in or very to close to the city center, preferably away from tourist areas as much as possible.

-- Decent value. Less than $200 a night in most places, though I will go up on that in London or if it's a really spectacular place and gives a nice bang for my (floudering) buck.

-- No hostels.

--Big bonus points for buildings with nice, old-timey architecture.

For the Netherlands, I'll be spending a good deal of time in Amsterdam, but I would also be interested in hearing about other towns and cities that might be worth an overnight stay or long day trip.

As a point of reference, I stayed at the Strand Palace in London last year and, though I found it a bit shabby, it was a steal at under $200 in an incredibly central but not too touristy area. I don't mind staying there again, but would love to try something different if you can recommend something.

Thanks, y'all!

What to do for a working week in Brussels?

jkaczor — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:39:33 -0800

What to do for a working week in Brussels? Finally - work sends me somewhere interesting. So, what can I do after 6pm on a weekday? I will maybe have 1-2 weekend days depending on logistics. Should I try to head out-of-town for one of those weekend days?

Lookout Europe, here I come

barrakuda — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:20:01 -0800

What are some good job search websites/engines for Europe? I'm interested in jobs in international affairs, public relations, business and finance, advertising and marketing. I'm mostly looking for resources for Germany, Belgium, France and the UK, but pan-European websites are good too.

Where to buy fancy Belgian beer glasses in the US?

smackfu — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:37:32 -0800

Where to buy fancy Belgian beer glasses in the US? I visited Belgium recently and fell in love with the whole Belgian beer tradition. Each brand of beer has its own unique glass, and only that glass is appropriate for that beer (in theory). I'd like to buy some glasses for my favorite beers, but I have no idea where you'd get them outside of Belgium. Half the results on Google are UK shops priced in pounds, and the other half look like e-commerce sites from the mid 90's whom I wouldn't think of giving my credit card # without an endorsement.

Can anyone personally recommend somewhere online, or at least relate a story on where they found them in the real world? In particular, if it helps, I'm looking for Chimay and Rochefort glasses, among others.

Help me find cheap Chimay!

nitsuj — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:21:34 -0800

I'm completely addicted to Chimay Blanche (white label, or Cinq Cents), but it's so expensive! Does anyone know of A) a reputable place online to buy the 750ml bottles cheaper than, say, USD $10 a pop or B) a cheaper beer that is similar in taste, alcohol content (8%), and body?

Thanks.

Zij zullen hem niet temmen, de fiere Vlaamse Leeuw!

phrontist — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:51:13 -0800

Where can I buy an official-design full-size Flemish Flag online? If the official version isn't available, I'd settle for the all-black type.

Can you recommend a good restaurant in Bruges?

janecr — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:29:52 -0800

Can you recommend a good restaurant in Bruges? Am visiting for 2 days and want to make the most of the four eating out opportunities. Would prefer local cuisine and not too expensive, but any cuisine and budget considered...