Hey everyone! When you travel back from Belgium, what do you usually bring as gifts for friends abroad? I'm just looking for ideas in a reasonable/adequate price range. Also, if you have any hidden gems or specific places to buy (shops, markets, supermarkets), please share! Would be so thankful for your tips. 🙏

I’m really interested in Gothic/Victorian architecture (cathedrals and such) and old town vibes (ex. I visited Ghent last year and really enjoyed). I’m looking for any non-touristy small towns/cities that meet any of this criteria and won’t have too much foot traffic.

Any advice would be appreciated! :)

Hi,

My girlfriend and I (both 28) are planning a trip to Brussels and will be staying in an AirBnb in Saint-Gilles. We're wondering where we can park safely for several days.

I've looked at reviews of some parking garages and noticed that many of them have a high rate of car break-ins 😳

Can you recommend a good parking garage or share your experiences?

Everyone squeezes onto the corner of Rue de l'Étuve to see Manneken Pis. Fewer people know he has a sister and a dog nearby. Both are free to see and much quieter.

🐕 Zinneke Pis, the dog

On the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Grains, near the Halles Saint-Géry, a bronze mutt lifts his leg against a bollard. He's the work of Brussels sculptor Tom Frantzen and has stood there since 1999.

The name is the best part. In Brussels dialect, a zinneke is a mongrel. The word goes back to the stray dogs that hung around the Lesser Senne, the river channel that ran along the old city walls. Today it's a proud nickname for Brussels people of mixed origins, and the statue is a nod to the city's multicultural character.

Unlike the other two, he isn't a fountain, so there's no actual water. He's also had a rough life. In 2007 he was reported stolen, but it turned out the local residents who own him had taken him for repairs after vandals tried to rip him out. In 2015 a car hit him and broke two of his legs. Frantzen fixed him, and less than two months later he was back on his corner.

👧 Jeanneke Pis, the sister

Jeanneke hides at the end of the Impasse de la Fidélité, a short dead-end alley off the restaurant-lined Rue des Bouchers, a few minutes from the Grand-Place. She's a 50 cm bronze girl crouching over a fountain basin, now behind iron bars to protect her from vandals.

She was the idea of Denis-Adrien Debouvrie, who owned buildings in the alley and wanted to bring visitors back to it. He also liked the idea of giving Manneken Pis a female equal. The artist Lucie Genard sculpted her, and she was unveiled in June 1987.

Local legend says that if you throw a coin into her basin, you'll stay faithful to the one you love (the alley's name means "Fidelity Alley"). The coins don't go to waste. Since 1987 they've been collected for charity: first for AIDS research, later for causes like the FNRS (Belgium's national research fund) and UNICEF.

Today the alley is better known for Delirium Café, which opened there in 2003. It gets very busy in the evening, so come during the day if you want a clear photo. If you end up staying for a drink, our beer guide has more places worth your time.

Practical info

Zinneke Pis: corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Grains, 1000 Brussels. Free, on the pavement. visit.brussels

Jeanneke Pis: Impasse de la Fidélité 10, 1000 Brussels. Free. Official site

All three statues are about 10 minutes' walk from each other, so you can see the whole family in under an hour. Expect cobblestones at both spots. On Rue des Bouchers, waiters will try hard to pull you into their restaurants. Just smile and keep walking.

Which other odd Brussels statues would you like to see covered next?

I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to Belgium next year. My travel companion and I enjoy historic sites and have toured many battlefields. We are interested in doing either Ieper/Ypres or Waterloo and can't decide between them. Which would you choose? We will be using public transport and do not want to rent a car, which may influence our decision. Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

My wife and I are going to be traveling to Belgium for eight days at the end of February/start of March. The primary motivation for the trip (and its unusual time) is to attend the Reverze festival in Antwerp on 26 and 27 February. We are IHG members with their US credit card, so for every three nights that we book on points then we receive a fourth night free. I had initially booked all eight nights in Antwerp because the festival is a night festival that runs from 20:00 to 5:00. Our hotel is not far from the arenas, so it worked out perfectly.

However, Bass Events has now changed up the format and only Friday is nighttime and Saturday has changed to 14:00 to 1:00. With this change, we can now depart Antwerp at the end of our first four nights rather than getting back to the hotel and sleeping until the afternoon with the original format. I am planning on booking the final leg of our stay in central Bruges. I was thinking that we would do two days in Bruges, one day in Ghent, and the third day in ??? For the first leg of the stay I was planning on doing Brussels for the first two days and then Antwerp the festival days.

Is there any place around Bruges that would make a good day trip to fill in that fourth day? A few years ago, we toured Ireland by car and I have absolutely zero interest in ever renting a car in a foreign country after that PTSD-inducing experience. Therefore, any excursion would need to be fairly easily accessible by public transport. From what I have read in my research, two days in Bruges is a perfect amount of time. Do you agree with that sentiment? Is one day in Ghent enough?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

I am a student 24 years old currently living in the UK. I will be visiting Brussels, Belgium, on 28th October for sightseeing and exploring the city. It would be wonderful to connect with someone who could kindly show me around or offer some guidance on the best places to visit. I would really appreciate the help and the opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the city. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support!

This is the spot to post your low-effort content!

Got a great photo you want to share, but don't want to make a bigger post? This is the place for it!

1. It should be your own original photo.
2. Include the location and what it is we're seeing. Why did you like it or want to share it?
3. Any (SFW) subject matter is allowed, as long as it features Belgium (it could be a train station in Antwerp or your favourite spot in Brussels). As long as it's Belgium, it's fine.

Hey folks, I am in Brussels until Sunday and am wondering if there is a list of Pub Quizzes or Trivia Nights available. Preferably ones which are hosted in English

Many thanks in advance!

How safe is it? What might happen?

These are from La Brasserie on Place de la Cathédrale in Liège: boulets à la liégeoise in sauce lapin, the sweet-sour sauce made with sirop de Liège and onions. Be ready for the portions: a big pile of fries, a proper salad and mayo on the side.

Let's put together a list of the best boulets in Belgium. Where do you go for yours? Tell us the place, the city and what makes them worth the trip. Photos are very welcome.

And the big question: sauce lapin, tomato sauce, or something else? Choose your fighter!

We'll add the best tips to our Belgian Dishes wiki page, credited to the people who shared them.

Hey guys,

I’m heading to Ostend next week for a quick day trip and could use a few local tips.

First off, where is the best spot to watch the seals without bothering them?

Also, do you have any recommendations for lunch and dinner?

Any hidden gems or go-to places would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi all! My wife and I are visiting Belgium in April 2027 and will be staying in an Airbnb in Oostkamp on our 5th wedding anniversary (Wednesday, 21 April). We'll have a rental car, so we're flexible on where to go.
We are going to Stay 3 Days in Gent before this and do a Day Trip to Bruges already

So far we're considering:

• A relaxed day in Bruges (canal boat, Minnewater) with a nice dinner
• Damme in the morning, then Bruges in the afternoon and evening
• A coastal day at Ostend or Blankenberge
• Drive to Lille, France

Questions for locals:

1. Which of these would you pick for an anniversary dinner, or is there somewhere better that's vegetarian-friendly?
2. Is there a hidden gem near Oostkamp or Bruges for a romantic evening?
3. Any tips for a mid-week visit in April, such as crowds, parking, or booking ahead?
4. Is the coast worth it in April, or would you stick with Bruges and Damme?

Thanks in advance!

I heard there is a general strike Nov 5th and that the SNCF CGT workers will participate. I have a Ouigo train ticket booked on Nov 6th from Brussels to Lille. Based on the past or what you might think, is there a good probability that Ouigo trains will be running from Brussels to Lille on the 6th? I have no experience in France with trains during strikes.

I'm staying in Brussels for a night on the 29th and I'm a cocktail enthusiast. I'll be staying in the Ixelles area but I can travel/walk if it's not too far. I'm not really looking for the typical cocktails but a place that specializes in them and can offer a unique menu. Preferably a more calm/relaxed place rather than a loud club. :)

Hey, guys, in a month I'll be going in Brussels, want to visit also Bruges, Gents and Amsterdam.

I'll be there only 4 full days 😄 So I'll be running a lot, I guess🔥

I would love to hear your experience! ❤️

What is a must see 👀 cafe/food 🎉 or any good locations 🚀 hidden gems maybe 🤔

Anything would help, really ❤️

Any areas we should avoid in Brussels? My friend and I are going for a weekend trip and as university aged girls we want to of course keep ourselves safe! thanks in advance

Bonjour tout le monde!

My friend and I are coming to Brussels for a weekend trip (Saturday afternoon to Monday afternoon) and we were wondering if have any suggestions for us!

We are university aged girls who love museums and food, as well as flea markets and shopping, so if you have any budget friendly suggestion for going out to eat, shops to visit, or certain activities to do we would love to hear them.

We are also thinking of staying in the Sint-Gillis area, is there anything we need to be aware of? Anywhere we should avoid?

Merci beaucoup et bonne journée!

Bonjour!

My friend and I are coming to Brussels for a weekend trip (Saturday afternoon to Monday afternoon) and as students on a budget we were wondering if you have recommendations for cheap eats or activities to do. For context we love food, shopping and flea markets, and visiting mueseums!

We are also thinking of staying in the Sint-Gillis area, is there anything we need to be aware of? Anywhere we should avoid?

Merci beaucoup et bonne journée!