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)

ModeMuseum (MoMu), Brussels

“You are what you wear” is the philosophy behind this new museum in Antwerp’s fashion district. The collection presents the theory and practice of fashion, from 16th-century lacemaking to today’s cutting-edge Belgian designers, through imaginative and thought-provoking displays.
Moules-marinière

Mussels steamed, until they open, in white wine flavoured with celery, onion and parsley; usually served in something resembling a bucket, accompanied by a plate of frites .
MUHKA

A former warehouse contains the dynamic, cutting-edge Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst (contemporary art).
Musée Antoine Wiertz

This is one of the most extraordinary museums in Brussels. Antoine Wiertz (1806–65) was an artist whose self-esteem far outstripped his talent. As a young man, he was egged on by patrons, and success went to his head. This grand studio was built so he could paint works on a scale to rival Michelangelo. The grandiose canvases are interesting in themselves, but so too are the smaller works, many so macabre and moralistic they inspire wonderment and mirth.
Musée Boyadjian du Coeur

The heart as symbol – a heart surgeon’s collection of artifacts.
Musée Bruxellois de la Gueuze

If you visit only one brewery museum, this splendid cobwebby example should be it.
Musée Bruxellois de la Gueuze, Brussels

Probably the best brewery museum in Brussels, at the quaint old Cantillon brewery (see Musée Bruxellois de la Gueuze).
Musée Charlier

Brussels is a city of grand old 19th-century mansions, or maisons de maître . This museum provides a rare opportunity to look inside one. The original owner, Henri van Curtsem, commissioned Victor Horta (see Victor Horta) to redesign the interior. In the hands of van Curtsem’s adoptive heir, sculptor Guillaume Charlier, the mansion became a centre for Brussels’ avant-garde. On his death in 1925, Charlier left the house to the city, and it retains much of the decor of his era. There are works by leading artists of the time, such as James Ensor, Léon Frédéric, Fernand Khnopff and Rik Wouters, plus an impressive collection of antique furniture.
Musée Communal d’Ixelles

It’s well worth the trek to this southern suburb for this small but unusually choice municipal art collection. It has a number of minor works by great masters, including Rembrandt, Delacroix and Picasso, as well as an excellent collection of posters by Toulouse-Lautrec. This is also a good place to see more work by Symbolists such as Léon Spilliaert and Léon Frédéric, and the much-cherished sculpture and Fauve-style painting of Rik Wouters.
Musée Communal d’Ixelles, Brussels

This small but rewarding collection of art boasts names like Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso, as well as leading Belgian artists such as Léon Spilliaert. The museum is located in the borough of Ixelles, just south of the city centre (see Musée Communal d’Ixelles).