Just as Covid was beginning to wreak havoc across Europe we managed to sneak in a few days on the north coast of Belgium. We took the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, and then took a local train about an hour north past Bruges, and on to a Belgium seaside town called Blankenberge.
February on the North Sea coast is a blustery affair, the wind was whipping up a storm, it was cold and wet, it seemed like a silly place to be at that time of year. Little did we know it would be our last experience of life pre-Covid.
The news was full of stories about what was happening in China and we were hearing stories about bad things in Northern Italy, but life was going on as normal everywhere else, Restaurants, bars, supermarkets were as busy as normal with no facemasks or hand sanitizers present. Public transport was busy, a world apart from what we take as normal now.
I was surprised to also see David Cerny's giant fibreglass babies climbing up a casino. I'd seen them before on a telecommunications tower in Prague but didn't know they'd crawled all the way to the Belgian coast. It's a small world!
So what is there to recommend in Belgium? I can sum it up in one word - Beer! Going into an everyday supermarket and looking at all the weird and wonderful brews on offer was a delight. You easily get used to the selections available in your own part of the world, England can offer lager, traditional ales, and now there's a massive choice of brewery offering the same overhopped IPA's in colourful tins.
Belgium has a different brewing culture, with a different choice of stronger lagers, dark beers brewed by monks, malted beers, blonde beers, it feels like a totally different experience. I experimented and found some absolute stunners for sure!
Travel Resources for your trip to Belgium
Recommended by TravelFeed
Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Belgium.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Belgium on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Belgium. Chat now.
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