Sightseeing in Belgium

The Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve opens its doors to a journey through the wondrous world of Hergé. More than 800 photographs, documents and objects related to Hergé's work are collected in this unique museum. Discover the reporter Tintin, his dog Terry, inseparable friend Captain Haddock, the mad inventor Tournesol, the two Siamese twins Dupont and Dupont and of course Tintin's famous enemies Rastapopoulos and Dr. Müller.

Discover one of the great artists of the twentieth century in his own Hergé Museum.

Hergé was not only Tintin's father but also an accomplished graphic designer, illustrator, storyteller and so much more, and overall a very talented artist. For comic book lovers, it's a great idea to take the whole family on a mini-vacation in Hergé's wondrous universe!

Take a cheap self-drive holiday to Belgium's very charming capital Brussels, which certainly has a bit of everything. Brussels is probably best known for being the seat of NATO and several of the well-known EU institutions, such as the European Commission and one of the two seats of the European Parliament.

But actually there are three more things the city is also really well known for, namely chocolate, beer and comics. The latter is particularly honoured at the Hergé Museum and chocolate can be bought on almost every street corner in the inner city. Now, it's hard to avoid chocolate, but make it a little exquisite pleasure to try a little of everything, every day, Neuhaus, Maison Pierre Marcolini, Belvas, Galler Chocolatier, and many, many more. Belgium is also known for its beer traditions, so a visit to Brussels is also an excellent opportunity to sample some of that frothy goodness in one of the city's many bars, cafés or restaurants. You might want to stop by the café district at Halles St-Gery or Rue des Bouches, the butcher's street, where restaurants line up side by side, or head up to Place Jourdan, where elegance meets relaxation.

One of Brussels' meeting places is the Grand Place, also one of Europe's most beautiful squares. It is also simply an impressive sight. The Gothic Town Hall in the square was built in the 15th century and the Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are also plenty of things to do when it comes to shopping in Brussels. The well-known brands can be found at Boulevard de Waterloo but then there is also Europe's oldest shopping centre, Galeries St. Hubert, which dates back to 1847 and will certainly be an exciting acquaintance. If there's time, visit one of Brussels' many markets too. Find a family holiday or a cheap weekend break for the whole family at Risskov and enjoy a holiday at your own pace and in your own car.

Walibi Belgium is the ideal theme park to visit with family and friends. The park has fun attractions for all ages. The famous Radja river, the crazy Calamity Mine or Tutankhamun's challenge. There's plenty to get stuck into and the whole family is guaranteed an adventurous afternoon amongst a host of wild rides.

Waterloo is located about 15 km south of Brussels, and as you know was Napoleon Bonaparte's last, after being defeated by a British-Prussian and Dutch army, on June 18, 1815.

Today, the battlefield is almost undeveloped, but marked by the very large monument 'Lion Hill', which stands on the spot where the Allies had established their right wing. It was also on this site that the Prince of the House of Orange was wounded during the fierce battle. There is an excellent view from the top of the monument and next to it there is a visitor centre with interesting information about the Battle of Waterloo.

In the city of Waterloo itself is the Wellington Museum, and just south of the battlefield, the farm where Napoleon spent the night before the battle has been turned into a Napoleon Museum. Around the battlefield there are several monuments to the different nationalities of soldiers who fought side by side or front to front.

Go on a driving holiday in Europe and get a lot of experiences along the way. Find cheap hotels for your trip at Risskov and leave with everything arranged from home. There are also cheap weekend breaks for the whole family, so just put the wheels on the car and get going. Located on the Dijle River, about 20km east of Brussels, Leuven is an ancient capital city, home to one of the world's largest brewing groups, ImBev, and it's also Flanders' oldest university city, which certainly adds to the city's sparkle.

Leuven's most iconic building is undoubtedly its town hall, the Stadhuis, which is a classic example of late Gothic architecture with stunning towers and decorated with 235 statues. A tour of the great Stella Artois Brewery at the weekend will certainly be a memorable experience. Stella Artois is undoubtedly the beer of the city, but there are also many small breweries in the neighbourhood, Domus, which is brewed close to the city centre, is tapped directly in Domus' own pub and restaurant. But also try the exquisite products of breweries such as Luvanium, Delvaux and Koeieschieter which can be sampled in specialised bars such as ´De Fiere Margriet´.

There are also many delicious restaurants in the city, try a stroll on Muntstraat, which especially in summer is buzzing with good smells and delicious food. Also find child-friendly hotels at Risskov to accommodate the whole family.

If your shopping appetite is intact, a trip to the stylish Galeries St-Hubert , also reputed to be Europe's first shopping centre, is quite an experience. Designed and built in the neo-Renaissance style in 1847 with a beautiful arched glass roof. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is home to some of the most exclusive shops in Brussels. There are also a number of very fine restaurants and cafés, which help to make Galeries Saint-Hubert a lively and much-visited place.

Visit Brussels and see the Manneken Pis statue. The small bronze statue, measuring just 60 cm, was made by Duquesnoy in 1619 to replace the previous one, which was made of stone. "Manneken Pis" has become a landmark of the capital Brussels and many stories are told about the rather peculiar motif of the boy letting the water with reasonable satisfaction. One of the stories is that a son was lost to his father, who then promised to create a statue of the son as he found him, and luckily the son was found! Another story is that there was a fire in Brussels and a boy tried to put out the fire by peeing on the fire.

Equally famous are the many costumes worn by the little Manneken Pis on various occasions, and the many garments are on display in the nearby museum. In fact, there is a sculpture with the same motif, of a weeing Manneken Pis, which is even older than its Belgian 'brother' and dates back to 1608, and that sculpture is actually on Gammeltorv in Copenhagen.

Mont des Arts or Kunstberg, respectively French and Flemish for 'Hill of Art', is a historic site built for the 1910 Brussels World Fair. It consists of a park and a staircase with fountains. From the Mont des Arts there is a wonderful view of, among other things, the Town Hall Tower and the Grand Place, which are some of the prides of Brussels. Some of the best museums are also located here Bozar, the Music Museum, the Art Museum and of course the Music Museum. Enjoy a small lunch on the fifth floor of the Music Museum, from where there is a very beautiful view of Brussels.

At the foot of the Atomium, Mini-Europe offers a unique and 'fast' journey around the most beautiful cities of the old continent. See the excellent replica of the Christian IV Stock Exchange and take a stroll from London to Paris and on to Venice. But also many of the models have a technical could, discover Vesuvius, which hides surprises or the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A trip to Mini-Europe is highly recommended and there are many experiences and activities waiting in this oasis of discovery in Brussels.

Walk through the impressive triumphal arch and enter the Parc du Cinquantenaire, also known as the Jubelpark. The park is as much a national attraction as it is a park. To mark the 50th anniversary of Belgium's independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, King Leopold II built this impressive 30-hectare park with three museums. Autoworld is an icon of car museums in Europe with cars dating back to 1886 and of course a lot of luxury cars. The Military Museum is a look at Belgium's military history and then there's the Royal Museum of Art and History, which also offers exciting experiences. Here the visually impaired can experience art through touch.

In front of the Arc de Triomphe there is a beautiful view over the park and the Brussels EU complex.

The small town of Wavre, with a population of about 33,000, is the capital of the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant and is located in the Dyle Valley. Most of the inhabitants speak French as their mother tongue.

The city offers several beautiful sights, such as the Gothic church, St. John the Baptist, built in 1475, and the city's handsome town hall, which dates back to the 18th century and is housed in the Carmelite order's former convent. In 1975, the first Walibi amusement park was built and named after Wavre, as it is located just west of the city centre, further up the River Dyle.

On 18 and 19 June 1815, the Battle of Wavre was fought, on the same day as the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon had sent Marshal Grouchy to pursue part of the retreating Prussian army, but although the guns were roaring from the Battle of Waterloo, Grouchy chose to obey Napoleon and engage the Prussians at Wavre. Had he come to Napoleon's aid, the battle might have ended differently.

The first thing that catches your eye is the mighty "Het Gravensteen", which is also one of the great sights of Belgium. The castle was built by Philip of Alsace, who was also Count of Flanders. Initially, the castle served as a defence against enemies from both the south and the north, but in the 15th century it was converted into a prison, and a visit to the gloomy dungeons is certainly recommended along with a visit to the museum, which exhibits a lot of torture instruments, and here only the imagination sets the limits.

Belgium is a predominantly Catholic country, so churches are not far apart, each one more beautiful than the last, and Ghent is certainly no exception. Visit the beautiful Cathedral of St Bavon, built in the 12th century and arguably one of the most magnificent buildings in Flanders, which also hides artistic treasures of the highest calibre. There are a number of paintings by Rubens and the famous altarpiece "The Mystic Lamb", painted by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the mid-15th century. The large pulpit, which is placed in the middle of the church, is made of Italian marble and otherwise good Danish oak.

Of course, Ghent also offers culinary experiences with the best Flemish produce and a lively café life in the city. There are also many small shops in the centre, where it's not hard to find something interesting to take home.

Find a great family holiday at Risskov and drive yourself to Belgium and discover the lovely city of Bruges. The city is located in Flanders in northern Belgium and is also the largest city in what makes up the province of West Flanders. It's also not far to the Dutch border from Bruges, perhaps no more than 25 km as the crow flies. Bruges is, in a way, northern Europe's answer to Venice, with its 50 km canal network that is part of the city itself, and which can certainly bring to mind the northern Italian city.

Try taking one of the many tourist buses that whizz around and get it all from the land side - a fun and educational experience. The experience is just as great if you hop on one of the many canal cruises on offer, and the city is suddenly a completely different place when seen from the water.

How about a visit to the local brewery, where you can also taste the finished products, or the many beautiful lace pieces that are both displayed and sold around the city, or how about the fish market in the old town, which is open six of the seven days of the week and it just won't end, find out for yourself, and remember that Bruges requires several days, as there is a lot to see and experience. Find a cheap weekend break for the whole family at Risskov and go on an adventure trip to the beautiful city of Bruges in Flanders.

The 'city by the sea' offers many kilometres of beautiful beaches, where sunbathing and a refreshing dip in the North Sea are on the menu. But Ostend is also much more than beach life.The beautiful seaside resort has many historical and cultural things to offer visitors. From bunkers from the 2nd century to the present day. World War bunkers to fish markets and 19th century sailing ships.

There's plenty to keep you occupied, just take a stroll down the streets of Ostend up to Wapenplein, the main square, where there are great opportunities to shop around and enjoy the many shops and beautiful buildings that surround them. Don't forget to stop by St Peter and Paul's Church, Leopold Park and the many interesting museums.

In the dunes north of Ostend lies an impressive fort that has also had a turbulent history. The French general Napoleon built it in 1811 to defend against attacks on the port of Ostend, among other places. But the fortress has had more historical experiences, as it also played a role in the two world wars.

Today it houses a museum, bistro and restaurant, and is a great educational outing for the whole family.

Discover Belgium's third largest city, Liège, and explore all the exciting shopping and sightseeing opportunities the historic city has to offer. Originally one of the first places in Europe to have coal mines, it has since developed into a major manufacturing city, with a strong focus on the steel industry.

During a visit to Liège, you can discover the famous staircase, the Montagne de Bueren, the city's cathedral and the citadel. You'll also find a myriad of beautiful city parks, exciting museums and plenty of great opportunities to shop and enjoy a real Belgian waffle.

Visit Liège's most famous landmark, the Montagne de Bueren - a wide staircase with 374 steps and a 30% slope, built back in 1881. Created in honour and memory of 600 soldiers who lost their lives in an attack from Burgundy in the mid-1500s, the staircase is adorned with flowers every June and marked with candles in October, making for a stunning sight after sunset.

When you reach the top, you are rewarded with an absolutely stunning panoramic view of the city below and the surrounding countryside.

When you're on holiday near Verviers or Liège, you have good opportunities to visit the beautiful lake and reservoir area, Lac de la Gileppe, which lies on the edge of the Belgian-German Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Nature Park. Here you have an ideal setting for hiking, cycling, horse riding, climbing and geocaching.

An unmistakable landmark is the 77.6-metre tower, where an elevator takes you up to a stunning panoramic view of the lake, dam and surrounding forests. You can also greet the impressive statue of the lion, which is more than 13 metres high.

Explore the beautiful Belgian spa town of Spa, currently a UNESCO candidate. The city is rich in thermal baths, beautiful natural areas, cultural sights, historic castles and exquisite gourmet experiences. In addition, Formula 1 enthusiasts will of course know that the city is home to one of the sport's most prestigious tracks.

A must for wellness tourists is a visit to the 'Thermes de Spa', which is located on a hilltop and offers a pure paradise for self-pampering, with saunas, steam baths, swimming pools and much more. A perfect destination during a holiday in Eastern Belgium, for example near Liège or Verviers!

Natura Parc is an adventure park located directly on the shores of the Eau d'Heure lakes in Wallonia, offering a great day of action for the whole family. Surrounded by stunning scenery, you can enjoy both climbing and parkour-style activities, with tree climbing of various levels and heights, several different zipline courses, two of which stretch across the lake, a pendulum jump from a 20-metre high platform and a free fall from 25 metres.

Safety is of course paramount and for active families who love excitement, Natura Parc is a must when you're on holiday near the L'Eau d'Heure lakes.