Day 1 – Brussels:

Morning – Brussels

After arriving at Brussels International Airport a Meet & Greet will take place with the Admire team. The opportunity then presents itself to enjoy an orientation tour of Brussels. After all, it is the capital of Europe and a must see. After the tour, check-in at your hotel from where you can experience the lively city centre.

Afternoon

After settling at the hotel, a guided discovery tour will re-boost your energy. This refreshing walking tour ends at the amazing Market Square of Brussels. There you can enjoy and taste a rewarding, typical, Belgian beer at the different cafés. Belgium has over 650 different kinds of beers that are “all” most definitely worth tasting.

Evening

After a great day, you can unwind, enjoying one of our biggest national prides; mussels and fries served, of course, with a cool beer. Enjoy your meal at the famous ‘Aux Armes de Bruxelles’ restaurant followed by a visit of the Music Village.

Here you can listen to Jazz tunes, knowing that the most important instrument, the saxophone, was invented by a Belgian named Adolph Sax.

Day 2 Brussels – Antwerp – Mechelen – Brussels:

Morning – Antwerp

The City of Diamonds is where you will start another day of discovering. Antwerp is full of history and great food and drinks. The world renowned painter Rubens was Flemish and lived a very interesting life, which you can learn all about at his house, now ‘The Rubens House’ museum in the city centre. By the river Scheldt lays the Fortress, which is the oldest building you will find in Antwerp. It holds many stories and myths that will intrigue you from the very first moment you hear them. One of the newest additions to the city is the MAS museum. The MAS opened in 2011 and is famous for its unique structure. The building allows you to experience a 360° view of Antwerp as you move to the panoramic rooftop terrace. Enjoy a nice meal at the restaurant ‘De Groote Witte Arend’ and discover over 90 typical beers such as a ‘Bolleke’.

WELCOME TO BELGIUM

5 DAYS PACKAGE

Afternoon

Walking through Antwerp’s smallest passageway

‘Vlaaikens gang’ and on to the square of the

Antwerp Cathedral, you will find lots of small shops

that sell the famous and loved-by-all biscuits

‘Antwerpse Handjes’. These biscuits not only taste

great, but they also represent a large part of the

history of Antwerp. According the urban myth, the

name ‘Antwerpen’ is derived from ‘throwing hands’ in

Flemish.

Evening – Mechelen

On the way back to Brussels you will make a stop in

Mechelen. Mechelen has a unique viewing of the

Belfry tower, the St. Rumbold’s Tower, which is a

UNESCO World Heritage site. The carillons bells

make beautiful sounds and have regulated the lives

of Mechelen’s habitants since the late 15th century. A

delicious meal will be served in a restaurant with view

on the St. Rumbold’s Tower.

Day 3 Brussels – Flanders Fields – Ieper

– Bruges:

Morning – Ieper

Check out and head to the West part of Belgium. It is

the setting of the 100th anniversary of WWI that

started in 1914 and ended in 1918. The Yser Tower

is your first stop. The tower represents freedom,

peace and tolerance and it is a monument to remind

everyone how terrible war is and how important it is to

avoid it at all times. In the tower we will support you

with some refreshments. The ‘Dodengang’

(“passageway of the dead”) is just nearby and will be

your next visit. These trenches and bunkers are

spread over more than 1 kilometer of land.

Afternoon

In Poperinge you can visit Talbot House, where the

general emphasis is not so much on the political and

military side of the story, but rather on life behind the

lines. After lunch, you will visit the Polygon Wood.

Here stands the official memorial to the 5th Australian

Division.

Ypres is an irrefutable part of world history as during

the WWI over 50 countries fought in the war of

Flanders.

‘In Flanders Fields Museum’ will get you involved in

WWI and allows you to see, hear and feel the terror

and significance of the period. A local beer

degustation will refresh your spirit after your visit to

this gripping museum.

Evening – Ieper – Bruges

The Menin Gate is the most important Memorial for

the British Missing of the Ypres Salient, with one aisle

totally dedicated to Australia’s Missing Soldiers in

Flanders. Every evening at 8 p.m. a moving

ceremony, called The Last Post, takes place under

the Menin Gate and has become a part of the daily

life in Ypres to honor the soldiers who died during

WWI.

After all these interesting visits, you go straight to

Bruges; a tranquil and medieval city which is part of

UNESCO World Heritage that enchants every one of

its visitors. Enjoy a good night’s rest.

Day 4 Bruges:

Morning

A relaxed morning starts with a great breakfast at the

hotel. In the late morning, you will have the

opportunity to discover Bruges, ‘The Venice of the

North’. Visit the Historium museum. This museum

allows you to relive the time and experience it in

every way possible.

Lunch will be served at the brewery ‘Halve Maan’

where the ‘Brugse zot’ and ‘Straffe Hendrik’ are

brewed. Enjoy one of these two beers matched to

different kinds of food.

Afternoon

A tour by boat on the canals is the perfect sequel to

your experience of Bruges. The canals allow a

different perspective of this beautiful city. Nearby the

dock lays the Church of Our Lady, where you can

glimpse at a sculpture created by the world renowned

Michelangelo.

After your boat tour and a savory meal, belongs a

sweet dessert. You won’t find a better sweet in

Belgium than chocolate. A chocolate tasting is the

perfect way to discover all the different kinds of

chocolate, from white to dark chocolate, flavored with

nuts, spices, fruits and so on.

Evening

A day of exploring Bruges ends at ‘Cafedraal’

restaurant. This restaurant lies at the heart of Bruges

and serves local Belgian food with a French touch.

‘Cafedraal’ describes its kitchen as a culinary

adventure and will leave your taste buds craving for

more.

Day 5 Bruges – Ghent – Next European

Destination:

Morning – Ghent

The final day of your stay in Belgium will be spent in

Ghent. Ghent is a historic city, yet at the same time a

contemporary one. The modern daily life of the city’s

active inhabitants takes place in a gorgeous historical

backdrop. ‘Graslei’ is one of the most loved places in

Ghent to relax and hang out with friends.

A must see in Ghent is the painting ‘The Adoration

of the Mystic Lamb’ by the famous Van Eyck

brothers of 1432 at St. Bavo’s Cathedral. It is a

milestone in art history and the highlight of the

Flemish Primitives. After being requisitioned many

times by, among others, Napoleon and Nazi

Germany, it now hangs in its original spot. There is

still one panel missing that was mysteriously stolen in

1934.St. Michaels Bridge allows you to admire many

marvelous buildings at once, for example the Three

Towers.

The ‘Castle of the Counts’ is the last stop of your

city tour.

It was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace who tried, and

succeeded, to impress the habitants of Ghent and

enemies he might encounter. A visit to this castle

results in great views and an insight as to how

wealthy its owner must have been.

Lunch will be served at the ‘Brasserie Pakhuis’, a

former warehouse, which is located in a cosy alley

with the towers of Ghent in the background.

Afternoon

After a lovely meal it is time to pick up your luggage

and travel to your next destination in Europe.

For further details, contact:

BRIGITTE BOONE CMP CMM

Managing Director

Tel: +32 2 361 65 59

brigitte.boone@admire.be

www.admire.be