DK Travel : Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent

The four great cities of northern Belgium share a rich cultural heritage dating back to medieval times, when this was one of the most vibrant trading regions in the world. Yet each is very different: Brussels is the new Capital of Europe, while Bruges is one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities. Ghent is a historic university city, while Antwerp still has the muscular stance of a great industrial centre. Each, in its own way, is richly rewarding – not only in cultural sights, but also in delightful and welcoming places to stay, eat and drink.

For a list of the best art galleries and museums (see Art Galleries and Museums)

Klein Begijnhof

There are three béguinages (see Bruges) in Ghent, but this is by far the prettiest. With step-gabled, whitewashed houses set around a little park and Baroque church, it is a classic of its kind – a fact recognized by its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded as a community of single women in about 1235, and has been continuously occupied, although the residents are no longer béguines . Most of the present houses date from the 17th century.
Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Africa (KMMA)

The Royal Museum of Central Africa represents a grandiose enterprise: the huge and elegant Neo-Classical palace built in the early 1900s to promote the wonders of Belgium’s greatest colonial possession, the vast tract of Central Africa called the Congo. The original purpose – education and glorification – has been sorely compromised by the uncomfortable re-evaluation of Belgium’s colonial history in recent years. There are numerous anthropological exhibits, including a vast canoe hewn from a single tree trunk, plus mementos from the history of exploration, such as Henry Stanley’s cap.
Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Africa (KMMA), Brussels (Tervuren)

The bold scale of this museum almost matches Belgium’s ambitions as a colonial power in the Congo, which is the main focus. It is fascinating on several levels: ethnographic, historical and sociological (see Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Africa (KMMA)).
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten

Antwerp’s fine arts museum is in a similar league to Brussels’ equivalent, housing a full range of paintings from early Flemish “Primitives”, such as Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling, to the Symbolists James Ensor and Rik Wouters. Not surprisingly, special emphasis is placed on Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck. The collection is housed in a grand Neo-Classical pile a tram ride or 20-minute walk from the city centre.
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

Antwerp’s excellent fine arts museum has examples of the best of Belgian art, from Jan van Eyck to Pierre Alechinsky, placing it in the top rank of European collections (see Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten).
Korte Gasthuisstraat and Lombardenvest

The heart of a pedestrianized area which contains attractive specialist shops of all kinds.
Kriek

Lambic can be flavoured with cherries (formerly the cherries of the north Brussels orchards of Schaerbeek), added during fermentation to create a highly distinctive drink called kriek ; with raspberries, to make framboise ; or with candy sugar, to make faro . Of the three, newcomers may find faro the easiest to begin with.
Kruispoort

One of only four surviving gates of the city walls.
Kulminator, Antwerp

A specialist beer bar with 500 brands, including what is claimed to be the world’s strongest beer (see Bierhuis Kulminator).
L'Amalgame

is a cheerfully simple tavern serving bowls of moules for €11 (£8.50).