Looking to leave Brussels, avoid influencers, and see parts of Belgium you haven't before this Whit Monday? Here is your rundown of top destinations worth considering to get you out of the house last minute.
Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau
If after a year of no action, the complexity involved in forming a government in Brussels is now boring to you, why not consider a visit to Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau? Here you can see a solution that makes Brussels' political structures seem reasonable.
Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau. Credit: Visit Brabant NL
The town features a collection of 22 parcels of territory which are Belgian, but located inside the Netherlands. Within those 22 parcels are a further seven parcels of Dutch territory. The international borders for all these parcels split shops and cafés resulting in the bizarre situation of some being partly open during the Covid-19 pandemic, depending on the rules of the corresponding country at the time.
Charleroi
Once dubbed the ugliest city in the universe, Charleroi has been on a journey of transformation, owning rather than hiding from its brand. Belgium may be short on mountains but in Charleroi you can climb former slag heaps and take in the panoramic views.
An aerial view of the center of Charleroi, near the river Sambre. Credit: Belga / Denis Vasilov
If you need something more calming, the city has many guided tours around deserted metro stations and derelict factories. There is also a collection of museums and galleries as part of its new image.
Doel
If that all sounds too clean and you miss the Charleroi of old, consider Flanders' answer, Doel. Marked for demolition in the 1960s to make way for an expanded Port of Antwerp, Doel struggles on with a significantly dwindled population.
The village of Doel had to disappear for the expansion of Antwerp harbour. Photo from 2015. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The village has an impressive backdrop for urban explorers featuring factories, oil refineries, windmills, graffiti, and the cooling towers of a nearby nuclear power station.
Buitenland
Proving that you may sometimes have to go 'abroad' to get completely lost in time. Buitenland transports you back to the Antwerp of old. Here you can visit a collection of buildings re-sited following the 1894 Antwerp World Fair by the local Merckx family
Reuzenhuis, in the hamlet of Buitenland, Bornem Flanders. Credit: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed
Buitenland, which features in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage, includes a replica of a 16th century Antwerp mansion called the Reuzenhuis, or Giant’s House.
Ranzinelle Mountain
Looking to say you hiked a mountain, without actually hiking one? Try the Ranzinelle Mountain, a nature reserve that overlooks the village of Sosoye. This chalk hill provides a steep backdrop to the picturesque Walloon village Sosoye in the Condroz Valley
Sosoye village seen from the mountain. Credit: Rita Photographie / Les Plus Beaux Village de Wallonie
Wandering around Sosoye you can take in the church and abbey and enjoy a much slower pace of life compared to Brussels.
Bastions without Borders cycle route near Damme
But if a slower pace of life is not for you. Consider a cycle route that connects a series of military forts from different moments in history.
The route includes stretches on the Damse Vaart between Bruges and Sluis. Credit: Belga
Created by Tourism Damme, the Bastions zonder grenzen/Bastions without borders cycle route is a 50km loop of historic cycling starting in Damme. The route takes you through Koolkerke, Oostkerke, and Hoeke and can be completed in half a day with stops.
Monument Europalia
As we approach the summer solstice, why not take a visit to Belgium's answer to Stonehenge? Monument Europalia, a pink marble sculpture near Nadrin, was built in 1991 as part of a cultural festival and now lives on as a monument to European integration.
Europalia Monument. Credit: DirkVE / Wikimedia Commons
The Portuguese monument sits on a wider site with scenic views that stretch far into the distance. According to one visitor's review: "The echo of the sound of the monument is magnificent."
Musée de la Tapisserie de Tournai
If you've ever seen an old tapestry in a church or castle and thought "I'd like to see more of that", then look no further than TAMAT or the Musée de la Tapisserie de Tournai. Tournai, in addition to being the first capital of the old Frankish empire, was once the source of tapestries for the world.
TAMAT museum in Tournai. Credit: Tournai.be
TAMAT has a collection from the 15th century to the present day showcasing how the practice of tapestry has evolved over that time. If you are the reluctant partner of someone who wants to visit, don't worry, this is a small museum.
