I live in the UK but have been to all three cities multiple times. My favourite is Ghent, though both Antwerp and Bruges are lovely too. Bruges is packed with tourists even out of the main tourist season, Antwerp and Ghent suffer less from this.
Great video! I just came from Ghent; a really wonderful city; but if you ever visit Ghent again you should definitely go and see the altarpiece presentation; I recommend anyone to visit Ghent just for that presentation; it's that good; it's not just going in to look at a piece of art but it's a whole experience;
The 3 cities are all worth visiting. If you want a top 3: Bruges is number 1, Ghent number 2 and Antwerp on number 3. All 3 cities have fantastic museums with fantastic paintings. The city to avoid is Brussels and AVOID by all means the Brussels South station.
Ghent was a lot of fun. We spontaneously decided to stop there in the middle of our road trip and almost spent the night because we hung out there all day xD
As a Belgian living in Antwerp., I prefer Ghent. But just to let you know, you can buy citycards in Bruges and Ghent too (not only in Antwerp) tp make your visit less expensive
@@gsit927 no, depending on the city you can buy them in some hotels, some musea or in the touristic office of the city. You can best google" Cityname" + citypas than you can see where you can buy them
I think Ghent is best for nightlife/bars/beers so you use that as a base to travel to Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels. I am Flemish but I once did a day trip to Namur and to be honest, it was stunning so I would also recommend visiting Namur!
Totally agree on Antwerp! I lived in Belgium for over 8 years and I adored Antwerp: the perfect mix of shopping, art, design, fashion, architecture and modernity. Next time don't forget the South district (my favorite part of town): gorgeous area with museums (the recently renovated huge Royal Museum of Fine Arts), restaurants, bars,... they're even building a huge new park right in the middle of this area. Oh and why didn't you climb the MAS? You missed the best view in town! Oh gosh I miss Antwerp :)
We were honestly so surprised and impressed by Antwerp! I think it's overlooked because Bruges gets all the press, but we could have spent several more days in Antwerp, exploring everything! We didn't climb MAS because we were short on time. Next time, for sure!
Antwerp ? homeless people , drug users , grenade attacks , drug mafia , radical Muslim neighborhoods etc . you have to name everything that can be seen there 🤗 none of that in Bruges the most beautiful Belgian city 🤗
@@gwen2745 you will find those things in every major city around the world and Antwerp is no exception. After all, they are a major city, not a small village like Bruges. On top of that Antwerp never gets any comparison to another city while Brugge is always compared to Venice. It must be very painful and hard to accept always being in second place knowing that there is one better, bigger, and more famous. Now I can understand that tourists like Bruges cause it must remind them a lot of Disneyland, waiting in line for more than an hour to get on a boring boat tour. In Bruges everybody speaks English (just like in Antwerp, Ghent, etc...) however, the Dutch-speaking folks, are going to need a translator to understand this West Flemish accent compared to Antwerp or Ghent.
Hearing you described the fries brought back some memories for when we were in Bruges last Fall. I made a mistake of ordering “French fries” and were told they don’t have any, but then when I corrected to “fries”, surely enough, they had....haha
That pink elephant you can see in Ghent is the Brouwerij Huyghe elephant, specifically the Delerium range. It's not the brewery though, because that's down in Melle.
Great video! Helped me make my decision. I’m going to Belgium this thanksgiving and wish the weather doesn’t spoil my vacation. I am going to 2 places but I’m picking Bruges and Ghent because I felt the gothic setup of Ghent was cool.
Living in Brussels, I'd say Bruges is my favourite because it's a small city. Even if it's packed, it's still just pedestrians, bicycles and horses. Ghent and Antwerp are larger cities with more trafic, more noise, trams... we get that in Brussels too :) Edit : and a downside of Ghent is the fact that the main railway station is too far off the center, you need to take the tramway (extra cost), or walk like 45 minutes. Bruges and Antwerp are a lot easier to reach by train :)
Great Video! So glad I found your channel. Your filming is top notch, interesting and thorough narration. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. I'd definitely love to see you sampling, and your recommendation, for more of the food specialties, like the mussels and waffles in Belgium. In my travels, the food spots to not-miss are always at the top of my list. Thanks again!
Native here. There's a difference in size. Bruges is relatively small and centered around the medieval experience. Ghent is a bit larger and although it has sceneries in common with Bruges, it has a wider offering. Antwerp is a whole different ball game. It has this atmosphere of an international harbor and experiences that stretch from the late middle ages into the modern time. For us natives Antwerp feels "busy", especially to get into, but once you're in it has a lot to offer. I'm in my fifties and I haven't seen half of Antwerp, especially the museums which are at the level of Brussels'. BTW you didn't include Brussels and I think with good reason. Apart from the amazing musea and night life, Brussels is just not as nice a place to walk around as the other 3. Main reason: it doesn't have a river - well technically it has but it's now fully hidden below city level. Many people think Ghent strikes the better balance but the best advice is probably that you want to find your spot on the spectrum of postcard cosiness vs metropolitan activity in Bruges-Ghent-Antwerp-Brussels. Oh, and the wall was not about TinTin but "Jommeke", locally as well known a comic figure but internationally unknown.
31:18 the song playing on the belfry is 'twee meisjes op het strand' (two girls on the beach) by Raymond Van Het Groenewoud. The belfry regularly plays modern songs, they even do hour long concerts and once a year accompany a 'cantus' where student drink and sing songs...
I like that you went to Arre Patat, which I believe is one of the best frituren in Antwerp. The other best one I would say is Frituur Falcon. They both also are special in that they take the basic meals every frituur has, but then add some own creations, special combinations of snacks and fries, or special burgers, which makes them unique. Some of the last real Belgian family owned frituren in Antwerp.
The secret to frying good fries is: fry them twice. (so not too long the first time) and when they whistle... they are done. Mmm. with mayonnaise and a portion of stew and a dark beer!😋😊@@TalesFromOurPocket
native Belgian here: our cities surpass those of most other countries. And fyi: Belgium INVENTED the French fries, it was being known to the outside world via the Belgian army and at the time that was French speaking (half the country speaks French, Half Dutch, and 50000 people speak German)
In feite zijn de French fries pommes pont neuf die veel op friet gelijken maar in boter gebakken worden. Frituur gebakken friet in rundsvet is dan wel typisch belgisch.
Video is greatly edited. The choice of contrasting Bruge with Antwerp first is really good because Bruge and Ghent are, though different, in alot of ways very similar!
wow. thank you, such a helpful video. We plan to return to Europe next year and we decided to visit Bruce, as we've gone to big cities like London, and Paris but not in small medieval towns..we realized this time its a must to have that fairy tale experience. appreciate alll the magnificent tips.
fantastic video and content. Please please tell me the name of the music playing whilst you're in Gravensteen castle? I loved it! I travel to Holland every year via Harwich UK-Hoek van Holland to cycle the wonderful countryside of Holland. Next year 2025 I'll get off the ferry and travel south to Bruge. I will camp just outside the city for a few days and spend 3 day looking around the city. Most definitely will visit chocolatier Dumont 😋
I am impressed with your video, but am perplexed why you did not spend 12.50 euros to see the Ghent Altarpiece. It would be my number one thing to see in Belgium and something that has been on my bucket list for well over 40 years. When one does a travel blog as you do, there should be a sense of responsibility to not only entertain your viewers, but educate them as well. The Ghent Altarpiece is the greatest work of Jan Van Eck who was the greatest painter of his of age whose microscopic technique has never been surpassed. It is the first major oil painting in history.
We definitely feel a responsibility to share what we learn, as we learn it - but traveling in Europe just isn't cheap and decisions had to be made about what out priorities were. 😊 If we had better art knowledge and appreciation, I'm sure our priorities would have been different!
yes and 10 euro's is not much for the antwerp cathedral considering what art is inside XD people pay a lot more for less in more "popular" holiday destinations
My thoughts exactly! I was very surprised as well - how can you not want to see that unique piece of art?! To me, art is the main reason for travel. That’s why the remark about Michelangelo also seemed very strange…
Wise words, a unique masterpiece in the world and you skip it for money? travel less, and chose wisely. A day trip? every city is 3 days worth your missing so much, traveling for traveling is like saying ..yeah i have bin there.
The answer to the main question is Ghent. If you have a car, also go visit Damme and Veere (in the Netherlands), they're both nearby and worth a visit. By the way, I was in Bruges a few months ago. It was completely empty!
@@TalesFromOurPocket Be careful with drone flying in Belgium. As for everything else there are plenty of (local) laws and rules (dis)allowing the use of drones. With a tendency to dislike drones.
0:31 I visited Bruges probably 20 years ago. Its old town is nice and well kept old city with canal surrounded. Yes. Its boom tome rivaled Venice. North is Bruges, South is Venice. So was the city history stated…
In a nutshell it seems Antwerp is Amsterdam esque modern and old mixed. Ghent is like Utrecht or Leiden a younger college feel mixed with the Gothic. Bruge seems like the gem if I had to go to just one. Then Ghent, and lastly if I had time Antwerp. I am attempting to go to Brussels, Ghent, Bruge, and Antwerp in 3 days so either two get a half day or I have to cut one off. I want Mussels in Brussels soo badly!
I feel like everyone should eat mussels in Brussels just so you can rhyme when you say what you ate. 😂 I would eliminate 1 and base yourself in one of the 3 cities. I'd be tempted to base myself in Ghent, halfway between Brussels and Bruges. You'd likely save money on hotel, and position yourself well for seeing both places! If one place feels "done" for you and you still have time, energy, and motivation, then you can slide Antwerp in. Ghent gives you the best positioning for all of them, I think. You could even change your mind at the last minute! Choices are good. 😉
@TalesFromOurPocket thank you so so soo much!!! This is harder than in looks and you know best from doing it! I think I will do ghent and day trip it and if I miss one my wife and I are coming back first week of April. Atomium is big on my list along with Mussels in Brussels! Thank you for the reply and for the amazing content!
Sorry you can't have them all ( do not mean the mussels) are you a marathon runner? maybe then, but you won't see much.Belgium is indeed small but do not think its a postcard size.
Brugges is a city no surprise there are people there. Also I have already seen dogs, horses, beer and chocolate they are every where. The tower entry 14 euro that's cheap that place must cost a lot to preserve
😂😂 Please don't go to all 3 in one day - I would choose one! (2, if you must 😉). We found Google maps to be really accurate with train schedules in Belgium - I would use that, and make sure the train option is selected for the transport method! Enjoy Belgium!
@@TalesFromOurPocket No, not even 2. Stick to 1 city each day and that won't even be long enough. How many places did you skip because of the tight schedule, such as the top view from the MAS ?
The commic on the wall in antwerp is 'jommeke' not tintin😊. Ghent is the coolest city. Antwerp is also one of my favorite city. Brugges is to touristic. What about Leuven?
I'm glad we're not alone in enjoying Ghent! Several have suggested Leuven. We'll have to check it out next time we're in the area! We haven't been there yet. 😊
Thanks for the great video. Although I have traveled extensively, I have never been to Belgium. I am rectifying that in April when my husband and I travel in April. It seems you stayed in Brussels and took day trips to the three cities above. Would you do that again, or stay in one of or more of the cities to be able to be there at night? Thanks.
We did these as day trips because we were housesitting for a friend in Brussels. 😊 I would definitely recommend staying in one of these cities overnight! Ghent is the most central for visiting Bruges and Antwerp, and that's where I'd recommend staying. Thanks for watching! 😊
I think it is so funny that tourists complain of the crowded city, forgetting that they are part of the problem. My favorite city is Antwerp by far. Brugge is a beautiful museum. Gent has a special atmosphere being a university town with lots of students.
I've been pondering this very question with these three cities. Bruges has been on my list of places I want to see for quite awhile, but your video made it look like a touristic hellscape. It appeared that it was not even close to peak season -- I'm guessing since I don't know your exact filming date -- and even then the crowds were thick and lines ridiculously long. Antwerp and Ghent both looked interesting, with lighter crowds, but Europe is packed with interesting-looking mid-sized cities with great architecture, beautiful churches and interesting and quirky museums. With Bruges being overly thick with tourists, I'm not sure (and I literally mean "not sure") if Belgium is worth a trip this fall.
We were there at the absolute height of the tourist season - mid-July. Going in October would be more enjoyable, for sure! Even at that time of year though, I would recommend Bruges for a weekday. We really enjoyed Antwerp and Ghent but you're right, they have a lot of competition from other European cities!
@@TalesFromOurPocket I was just in Belgium at the end of September, the crowds were quite tolerable in Bruges and elsewhere. I liked all three cities, but prefer Ghent over Antwerp.
Belgium is always worth a trip, you just have to find the right spots to visit. Here is a hint : The castle of Gaasbeek (southwest of Brussels) has been completely refurbished and has reopened for the 2023 season. Inside you'll find the rich collection of the last owner. Outside is a large park/wood for healthy walks. It's also the ideal spot to taste the local Gueuze beers.
It's so nice and quiet in Ghent, not overrun by tourists, let's keep it that way. Please DO NOT come to Ghent! Ghent is so underrated (Antwerp resident speaking here), Ghent used to be the largest city north of the Alps in the 14th century. It was the silicon valley of its time. Love this place!
@@vincentglibert7282 No, not all. Many cities have a fixed closing day (besides Sunday) where most of the shops are closed and that is often Monday. Shops that remain open are usually chain stores, supermarkets or (former) administrations such as the post office. On the other hand many supermarkets now open on Sunday.
't Gravensteen is pronounced hett-HRAHFF-uh-stayn. did you arrive/depart from Sint Pieters or Dampoort rail station? It seems that the things you visited are closer to Dampoort than Sint Pieters.
Me too! I live about 20 minutes by train from Ghent, and have relatives living there. Don't get me wrong, I like Bruges as a city, but no one in their right mind wants to see Ghent turn into a second Bruges! People want to keep living there without having to push through hordes of tourists just to get to their houses and they like going out without having to pay more than €6 for a beer in a bar.
Ghent: Graffiti street is for the youth and rebels. This chaos gets cleaned regularly. We need more room for "art" and expression. Avoid the "Gentse feesten" if you want calmness/stillness. If you want to party jump in ;) and enjoy
@@TalesFromOurPocket as an Antwerpian, the choice is really easy to make :--D But they all do have their charm. As a city, I think Bruges got too crowded for it's size.
Hi I'm going to brussels on July.. staying in marriot grand place. How much time do i have to do the 4 places..brussels antwerp, bruge, ghent .. I'm only staying 2 full days arrival on day is 8 then we will safe keep our luggage at the hotel and will start exploring . Please help.
You can most definitely bring chocolate back to the States! And most churches where you pay to enter, the money goes toward upkeep of the church (electricity, maintenance, etc). Sometimes they'll have signs up indicating the money goes to something else, like a special interest of theirs.
That's a bit cliché and unimaginative, Belgium is more than those three cities :) There are (less tourist infested) wonders in the South of the country too you know ?
Besides that I think the vendor pronounced "appeltje" with her West-Flemish accent. A language which nobody understands except (maybe) the West-Flemish.
@@vincentglibert7282 They have the same history. Most where part of the Duchy of Brabant. All the cities have roots from the middle ages and where connected. Bergen op Zoom is just around the corner of Antwerp...44 min...Antwerp and Brugges are in the same country but almost twice as far apart.
@@You-mr3lo Ghent and Bruges were never part of the Duchy of Brabant! In that case, why not add Brussels and Leuven, which were in the center of the Duchy of Brabant?
It has the making of a good video, but we gave up halfway through. The irritatingly frequent appearance of the authors in the forgeround became disconcerting.
Isn't it very unhygienic in post pandemic times for the Bruges chocolatier to use her fingers to pick up the chocolates to put in the bag? She should really use tongues or wear gloves.
with all respect, twenty years ago it was as busy as it is now, in Bruges You must have been lucky, I think :) Cheers from Bruges , Robin (100% sure you are democrats)
Thanks! The "you know what" is a bad habit I developed in 2021. Around that time, TH-cam was still suppressing videos that had "Covid" mentioned in them. Fast forward, and I'm still struggling to break the habit! (we're pro vaccines, including Covid - you should hear how many shots we got before starting to travel in Asia!)
@@TalesFromOurPocket I appreciate you answering this question! It's the same one I had while watching and while it made me laugh a little, my cynical side wondered if there was some kind of "message" behind it LOL I had no idea that was happening on YT back in 2021! Very interesting. Also - thank you for this video comparing the 3 cities! We are heading to Brussels in October and all 3 are on the list to visit in the week we are there. It's nice to know what to expect!
If this is filmed in 2023 : there are no Covid restrictions in Belgium anymore. Maybe they'll ask you to wear a mask in a very particular place, hospital department or home for the elderly or so but that's it. You will still find "reminders" of that period though, forgotten signs or ground markings. Covid is now considered as a recurring / seasonal infectious disease such as the flew and for both you can be vaccinated.
Your condescending comments/tone about other tourists are hard to listen to. Just saying. Nice video otherwise. Tourists (yourself included) are people too!
I'm gonna look after my donuts. 😂 😂 Kidding - we normally eat mainly a veg diet! We just don't show that. 😉 (thanks for being concerned about us - we also walk wayyyy more than most people our age!) 😁
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I live in the UK but have been to all three cities multiple times. My favourite is Ghent, though both Antwerp and Bruges are lovely too. Bruges is packed with tourists even out of the main tourist season, Antwerp and Ghent suffer less from this.
but Antwerp suffers from drug addicts, grenade attacks and Muslim extremists. then I prefer the Bruges tourists
Great video! I just came from Ghent; a really wonderful city; but if you ever visit Ghent again you should definitely go and see the altarpiece presentation; I recommend anyone to visit Ghent just for that presentation; it's that good; it's not just going in to look at a piece of art but it's a whole experience;
We were in Bruges and Antwerp the first week in May. We loved both cities so much. We want to move to Belgium, soooo beautiful..!!
Belgium, honestly, is underrated. 😊
Don't confuse tourism with immigration
The 3 cities are all worth visiting.
If you want a top 3:
Bruges is number 1, Ghent number 2 and Antwerp on number 3.
All 3 cities have fantastic museums with fantastic paintings.
The city to avoid is Brussels and AVOID by all means the Brussels South station.
Seriously, this is the best video I've seen so far of Bruce, Antwerp and Ghent. Thank you for a realistic view and a more comprehensive view.
Really enjoyed this video. You guys really got around and saw a lot of stuff.
Ghent was a lot of fun. We spontaneously decided to stop there in the middle of our road trip and almost spent the night because we hung out there all day xD
As a Belgian living in Antwerp., I prefer Ghent. But just to let you know, you can buy citycards in Bruges and Ghent too (not only in Antwerp) tp make your visit less expensive
Do you need to buy a city card before visiting a city?
We bought our Antwerp one when we arrived there. 😊
Bruges is the best!
@@gsit927 no, depending on the city you can buy them in some hotels, some musea or in the touristic office of the city. You can best google" Cityname" + citypas than you can see where you can buy them
great info thanks. Where would I buy citycard from?
I think Ghent is best for nightlife/bars/beers so you use that as a base to travel to Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels. I am Flemish but I once did a day trip to Namur and to be honest, it was stunning so I would also recommend visiting Namur!
Totally agree on Antwerp! I lived in Belgium for over 8 years and I adored Antwerp: the perfect mix of shopping, art, design, fashion, architecture and modernity. Next time don't forget the South district (my favorite part of town): gorgeous area with museums (the recently renovated huge Royal Museum of Fine Arts), restaurants, bars,... they're even building a huge new park right in the middle of this area. Oh and why didn't you climb the MAS? You missed the best view in town! Oh gosh I miss Antwerp :)
We were honestly so surprised and impressed by Antwerp! I think it's overlooked because Bruges gets all the press, but we could have spent several more days in Antwerp, exploring everything! We didn't climb MAS because we were short on time. Next time, for sure!
Antwerp ? homeless people , drug users , grenade attacks , drug mafia , radical Muslim neighborhoods etc . you have to name everything that can be seen there 🤗 none of that in Bruges the most beautiful Belgian city 🤗
@@gwen2745 Bruges is just a village with a dikke nek. You can have the tourists, keeps Antwerp nice.
@@Edodod heel Vlaanderen weet dat de dikke nekken in Antwerpen zitten .
@@gwen2745 you will find those things in every major city around the world and Antwerp is no exception. After all, they are a major city, not a small village like Bruges. On top of that Antwerp never gets any comparison to another city while Brugge is always compared to Venice. It must be very painful and hard to accept always being in second place knowing that there is one better, bigger, and more famous. Now I can understand that tourists like Bruges cause it must remind them a lot of Disneyland, waiting in line for more than an hour to get on a boring boat tour. In Bruges everybody speaks English (just like in Antwerp, Ghent, etc...) however, the Dutch-speaking folks, are going to need a translator to understand this West Flemish accent compared to Antwerp or Ghent.
Hearing you described the fries brought back some memories for when we were in Bruges last Fall. I made a mistake of ordering “French fries” and were told they don’t have any, but then when I corrected to “fries”, surely enough, they had....haha
Omg, hahahaha. That's pretty good!! 😂
They won't crucify you, ( not in these days anyway) but still....
@@PeterWillems-s5qSee "Brugse Metten" in 1302 for the appropriate treatment.
Hard to say. I would choose Bruges simply because it gives you good access to every where else.
That pink elephant you can see in Ghent is the Brouwerij Huyghe elephant, specifically the Delerium range. It's not the brewery though, because that's down in Melle.
Great video! Helped me make my decision. I’m going to Belgium this thanksgiving and wish the weather doesn’t spoil my vacation.
I am going to 2 places but I’m picking Bruges and Ghent because I felt the gothic setup of Ghent was cool.
You guys were putting in the work today. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thanks! 😊 😊
Living in Brussels, I'd say Bruges is my favourite because it's a small city. Even if it's packed, it's still just pedestrians, bicycles and horses. Ghent and Antwerp are larger cities with more trafic, more noise, trams... we get that in Brussels too :)
Edit : and a downside of Ghent is the fact that the main railway station is too far off the center, you need to take the tramway (extra cost), or walk like 45 minutes. Bruges and Antwerp are a lot easier to reach by train :)
Agreed on your point about Ghent's center being more distant from the train station! The other 2 cities are more convenient to visit by train.
Great Video! So glad I found your channel. Your filming is top notch, interesting and thorough narration. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. I'd definitely love to see you sampling, and your recommendation, for more of the food specialties, like the mussels and waffles in Belgium. In my travels, the food spots to not-miss are always at the top of my list. Thanks again!
Native here. There's a difference in size. Bruges is relatively small and centered around the medieval experience. Ghent is a bit larger and although it has sceneries in common with Bruges, it has a wider offering. Antwerp is a whole different ball game. It has this atmosphere of an international harbor and experiences that stretch from the late middle ages into the modern time. For us natives Antwerp feels "busy", especially to get into, but once you're in it has a lot to offer. I'm in my fifties and I haven't seen half of Antwerp, especially the museums which are at the level of Brussels'. BTW you didn't include Brussels and I think with good reason. Apart from the amazing musea and night life, Brussels is just not as nice a place to walk around as the other 3. Main reason: it doesn't have a river - well technically it has but it's now fully hidden below city level. Many people think Ghent strikes the better balance but the best advice is probably that you want to find your spot on the spectrum of postcard cosiness vs metropolitan activity in Bruges-Ghent-Antwerp-Brussels.
Oh, and the wall was not about TinTin but "Jommeke", locally as well known a comic figure but internationally unknown.
I’m going to 3 of them in 10 days, hope weather will not be too rainy and cold 😊
31:18 the song playing on the belfry is 'twee meisjes op het strand' (two girls on the beach) by Raymond Van Het Groenewoud. The belfry regularly plays modern songs, they even do hour long concerts and once a year accompany a 'cantus' where student drink and sing songs...
I like that you went to Arre Patat, which I believe is one of the best frituren in Antwerp. The other best one I would say is Frituur Falcon.
They both also are special in that they take the basic meals every frituur has, but then add some own creations, special combinations of snacks and fries, or special burgers, which makes them unique.
Some of the last real Belgian family owned frituren in Antwerp.
Love that! They were soooo good.
The secret to frying good fries is: fry them twice. (so not too long the first time) and when they whistle... they are done. Mmm. with mayonnaise and a portion of stew and a dark beer!😋😊@@TalesFromOurPocket
We're staying in Brussels in July definitely will do a day trip to Bruges & Ghent!
If you want to stay of the beaten track, try Mechelen and Leuven. Both 1/2 an hour from Brussels by train.
native Belgian here: our cities surpass those of most other countries. And fyi: Belgium INVENTED the French fries, it was being known to the outside world via the Belgian army and at the time that was French speaking (half the country speaks French, Half Dutch, and 50000 people speak German)
"our cities surpass those of most other countries." Alsof andere landen geen mooie steden hebben..
In feite zijn de French fries pommes pont neuf die veel op friet gelijken maar in boter gebakken worden. Frituur gebakken friet in rundsvet is dan wel typisch belgisch.
Alleen jammer dat het een identiteitscrisis heeft
Isn't Belgium consistently voted the most boring country in Europe?
@@suzy8109 That's because Belgians won't show just any foreigner what is really happening, from music to erotic festivals.
Video is greatly edited. The choice of contrasting Bruge with Antwerp first is really good because Bruge and Ghent are, though different, in alot of ways very similar!
wow. thank you, such a helpful video. We plan to return to Europe next year and we decided to visit Bruce, as we've gone to big cities like London, and Paris but not in small medieval towns..we realized this time its a must to have that fairy tale experience. appreciate alll the magnificent tips.
If you're looking for Fairy Tale villages, we'd also recommend Colmar, France and nearby villages! 😊
@@TalesFromOurPocket thank you, they look so magical, we'll check it out..appreciate it!
I'm glad you decided to visit my partner, Bruce.😘 I'm Keith and I hope you'll visit me too.
Bruges for sure. But then I was born and raised in Bruges so I might be a tad biased
... do people undertiltle you when you "speak" ?
fantastic video and content. Please please tell me the name of the music playing whilst you're in Gravensteen castle? I loved it! I travel to Holland every year via Harwich UK-Hoek van Holland to cycle the wonderful countryside of Holland. Next year 2025 I'll get off the ferry and travel south to Bruge. I will camp just outside the city for a few days and spend 3 day looking around the city. Most definitely will visit chocolatier Dumont 😋
the mural you thought that was from tintin is Jommeke. a comic drawn by jef nys
Beautiful Belgien the only country that i will see on Autumn because it is already cold, this year we have a very warm Summer
I am impressed with your video, but am perplexed why you did not spend 12.50 euros to see the Ghent Altarpiece. It would be my number one thing to see in Belgium and something that has been on my bucket list for well over 40 years. When one does a travel blog as you do, there should be a sense of responsibility to not only entertain your viewers, but educate them as well. The Ghent Altarpiece is the greatest work of Jan Van Eck who was the greatest painter of his of age whose microscopic technique has never been surpassed. It is the first major oil painting in history.
We definitely feel a responsibility to share what we learn, as we learn it - but traveling in Europe just isn't cheap and decisions had to be made about what out priorities were. 😊 If we had better art knowledge and appreciation, I'm sure our priorities would have been different!
yes and 10 euro's is not much for the antwerp cathedral considering what art is inside XD people pay a lot more for less in more "popular" holiday destinations
inside the same church is a free to see replica
My thoughts exactly! I was very surprised as well - how can you not want to see that unique piece of art?! To me, art is the main reason for travel. That’s why the remark about Michelangelo also seemed very strange…
Wise words, a unique masterpiece in the world and you skip it for money? travel less, and chose wisely. A day trip? every city is 3 days worth your missing so much, traveling for traveling is like saying ..yeah i have bin there.
Bruges is problably one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to.
Pff Leuven trumps all three! :-) Not biased at all... Greetings from Leuven :D No serious it was fun to see foreigners enjoy our country!
...and now I've added Leuven to our "to visit" list! 😂😊
The answer to the main question is Ghent. If you have a car, also go visit Damme and Veere (in the Netherlands), they're both nearby and worth a visit. By the way, I was in Bruges a few months ago. It was completely empty!
It was completely empty a few months ago?! That's shocking. 😂
I have a photo from Brugues, taken at that most visited view, on a cold January day, and there were as much people as in summer.
did you guys film with a drone..? awesome content.. will be i Ghent in 8 days.. your wfav brwery?
sorry, noy likingmy new keyboard plus auto coret..
Yes, we had a drone with us! We didn't fly it very much in Belgium though. No favorite brewery in Ghent. Enjoy your trip!!
@@TalesFromOurPocket Be careful with drone flying in Belgium. As for everything else there are plenty of (local) laws and rules (dis)allowing the use of drones. With a tendency to dislike drones.
28:00 This is the Flemish children's comic "Jommeke"
0:31 I visited Bruges probably 20 years ago. Its old town is nice and well kept old city with canal surrounded. Yes. Its boom tome rivaled Venice. North is Bruges, South is Venice. So was the city history stated…
At least Bruges standing on solid Flemish ground isn't sinking. It's only a matter of time before there is no Venice South anymore.
Gent ❤
Ghent. Easily. Then Antwerp if you want size and diversity. Brugge if you seek chocolate box cuteness.
Very cool cities, I like Antwerp Was this from 2023? Or before Covid ?
This was filmed in 2022. 😊
In a nutshell it seems Antwerp is Amsterdam esque modern and old mixed. Ghent is like Utrecht or Leiden a younger college feel mixed with the Gothic. Bruge seems like the gem if I had to go to just one. Then Ghent, and lastly if I had time Antwerp. I am attempting to go to Brussels, Ghent, Bruge, and Antwerp in 3 days so either two get a half day or I have to cut one off. I want Mussels in Brussels soo badly!
I feel like everyone should eat mussels in Brussels just so you can rhyme when you say what you ate. 😂
I would eliminate 1 and base yourself in one of the 3 cities. I'd be tempted to base myself in Ghent, halfway between Brussels and Bruges. You'd likely save money on hotel, and position yourself well for seeing both places! If one place feels "done" for you and you still have time, energy, and motivation, then you can slide Antwerp in. Ghent gives you the best positioning for all of them, I think. You could even change your mind at the last minute! Choices are good. 😉
@TalesFromOurPocket thank you so so soo much!!! This is harder than in looks and you know best from doing it!
I think I will do ghent and day trip it and if I miss one my wife and I are coming back first week of April.
Atomium is big on my list along with Mussels in Brussels!
Thank you for the reply and for the amazing content!
You're welcome!! Enjoy your trip!
Sorry you can't have them all ( do not mean the mussels) are you a marathon runner? maybe then, but you won't see much.Belgium is indeed small but do not think its a postcard size.
Nice
The comic character at 28.00 is 'Jommeke', not Tin Tin. He was a popular comic figure when I was young. I preferred him over Suske & Wiske.
Both series have survived their original authors and new albums are still being published.
Loved the video❤
Thank you! 😊
Brugges is a city no surprise there are people there. Also I have already seen dogs, horses, beer and chocolate they are every where. The tower entry 14 euro that's cheap that place must cost a lot to preserve
I believe they are called french fries by error. They are thought to originate in Belgium.
Do you have link how to go to Bruges and stop little bit in Ghent by train ? We will plan to go Ghent-Bruges- Antwerp in one day 😅😅
😂😂 Please don't go to all 3 in one day - I would choose one! (2, if you must 😉).
We found Google maps to be really accurate with train schedules in Belgium - I would use that, and make sure the train option is selected for the transport method! Enjoy Belgium!
@@TalesFromOurPocket No, not even 2. Stick to 1 city each day and that won't even be long enough. How many places did you skip because of the tight schedule, such as the top view from the MAS ?
The commic on the wall in antwerp is 'jommeke' not tintin😊. Ghent is the coolest city. Antwerp is also one of my favorite city. Brugges is to touristic. What about Leuven?
I'm glad we're not alone in enjoying Ghent! Several have suggested Leuven. We'll have to check it out next time we're in the area! We haven't been there yet. 😊
Volgens mij is "Tintin" de Franse versie van de naam Jommeke
@@loukmanoulkadi7525 nope. Tintin is the frensh version of "kuifje"
@@michelvanlommen4092 ahja klopt, had ze even door elkaar gehaald.
Thanks for the great video. Although I have traveled extensively, I have never been to Belgium. I am rectifying that in April when my husband and I travel in April. It seems you stayed in Brussels and took day trips to the three cities above. Would you do that again, or stay in one of or more of the cities to be able to be there at night? Thanks.
We did these as day trips because we were housesitting for a friend in Brussels. 😊 I would definitely recommend staying in one of these cities overnight! Ghent is the most central for visiting Bruges and Antwerp, and that's where I'd recommend staying. Thanks for watching! 😊
I think it is so funny that tourists complain of the crowded city, forgetting that they are part of the problem. My favorite city is Antwerp by far. Brugge is a beautiful museum. Gent has a special atmosphere being a university town with lots of students.
😁😉 I'm glad I'm not alone in loving Antwerp!
Of course Brugge can be windy : it's only 20 km away from the coast.
Thank you 🎉🎉.
Yes Antwerp is amazing
fries actualy come from belgium
not france like many americans think!
nice video that show a good perspecive of all those cities
It's too bad that "French fries" is an alliteration so it's easier to remember than "Belgian fries"! It does Belgium a disservice.
I loved Bruges but it is a bit touristy and pricey. I did not like Brussels. My favourite has to be Antwerp! However, I have yet to see Ghent.
I've been pondering this very question with these three cities. Bruges has been on my list of places I want to see for quite awhile, but your video made it look like a touristic hellscape. It appeared that it was not even close to peak season -- I'm guessing since I don't know your exact filming date -- and even then the crowds were thick and lines ridiculously long. Antwerp and Ghent both looked interesting, with lighter crowds, but Europe is packed with interesting-looking mid-sized cities with great architecture, beautiful churches and interesting and quirky museums. With Bruges being overly thick with tourists, I'm not sure (and I literally mean "not sure") if Belgium is worth a trip this fall.
We were there at the absolute height of the tourist season - mid-July. Going in October would be more enjoyable, for sure! Even at that time of year though, I would recommend Bruges for a weekday. We really enjoyed Antwerp and Ghent but you're right, they have a lot of competition from other European cities!
@@TalesFromOurPocket It was that cold in mid-July? I guess the rule of "dress in layers" is very applicable even during summer.
Yes, layers all year, for sure! Some days we were a little chilly and other days were blistering heat.
@@TalesFromOurPocket I was just in Belgium at the end of September, the crowds were quite tolerable in Bruges and elsewhere. I liked all three cities, but prefer Ghent over Antwerp.
Belgium is always worth a trip, you just have to find the right spots to visit. Here is a hint :
The castle of Gaasbeek (southwest of Brussels) has been completely refurbished and has reopened for the 2023 season. Inside you'll find the rich collection of the last owner. Outside is a large park/wood for healthy walks.
It's also the ideal spot to taste the local Gueuze beers.
It's so nice and quiet in Ghent, not overrun by tourists, let's keep it that way. Please DO NOT come to Ghent! Ghent is so underrated (Antwerp resident speaking here), Ghent used to be the largest city north of the Alps in the 14th century. It was the silicon valley of its time. Love this place!
My exact thoughts. Let’s gate keep Ghent 😭
@@aauradios Where u from?
@@SlosII I live right next to Ghent. I do study there.
@@aauradios lovely
Haha, I love it! Don't go to Ghent - we want to keep nice things. 😁😁
Know that in Belgium most stores close on Sundays and Mondays
False: all stores are open on Mondays
@@vincentglibert7282 No, not all. Many cities have a fixed closing day (besides Sunday) where most of the shops are closed and that is often Monday. Shops that remain open are usually chain stores, supermarkets or (former) administrations such as the post office. On the other hand many supermarkets now open on Sunday.
Never speak about "french fries" in Belgium, fries are belgian !!!!
Yes! Our bad!
Que lindo lugar
Sí, lo es! 😊
't Gravensteen is pronounced hett-HRAHFF-uh-stayn. did you arrive/depart from Sint Pieters or Dampoort rail station? It seems that the things you visited are closer to Dampoort than Sint Pieters.
Gent all the way!
If you think Bruges was crowded, don't go anywhere in Italy! Looking forward to my trip to Bruges/Ghent/Antwerp this summer.
Yes, Italy is so crowded! Lol we've been there multiple times before our YT days started. 😁
The fries are actually called Flemish fries instead of French fries
OMG you missed so many wonderful things in Antwerp
Bruges is the best city of Flanders! Antwerp is netherlands light. I can advise Bruges - Kortrijk - Ieper - Lille (france)
As a belgian i just want to gate keep Gent 😭 I doesn’t have to become Bruges..
Me too! I live about 20 minutes by train from Ghent, and have relatives living there. Don't get me wrong, I like Bruges as a city, but no one in their right mind wants to see Ghent turn into a second Bruges! People want to keep living there without having to push through hordes of tourists just to get to their houses and they like going out without having to pay more than €6 for a beer in a bar.
Le "tolerant en verwelkomende" Hent. @@elienva90
3:27 having to pay to enter a church is a sign that a place is becoming "touristy".
I'm biased because I live in Antwerp. Bruges is small and an open air museum. Ghent is beautiful and a lot to do but it's a disaster by train or car.
They don't like cars in Gent. Actually they hate cars in Gent.
Which month were you there? Was it during a holiday?
It was July! I don't think it was a holiday. 😊
Ghent: Graffiti street is for the youth and rebels. This chaos gets cleaned regularly.
We need more room for "art" and expression.
Avoid the "Gentse feesten" if you want calmness/stillness. If you want to party jump in ;) and enjoy
You forgotte de zoo en rubens house in antwerp en the diamond museum
Nice cities for the tourist, but to have to live there is quite another matter.
GENT !!!!!!!!
Idk why but I found Ghent kinda scary when I went there
Really?! Please say more. 😊
I can see the difference between Brugge where everything is smaller and "cosier" where in Gent this is less so.
Antwerp ❤
Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp..
I'm an original belgian and I prefere Gent then Antwerpen then Brugge
All 3 are pretty special. It's hard to choose! 😊
@@TalesFromOurPocket as an Antwerpian, the choice is really easy to make :--D But they all do have their charm. As a city, I think Bruges got too crowded for it's size.
@@PhilippeCorthout😂😂 and yes, I agree with you about Bruges. Word got out about how charming it is!
Hi I'm going to brussels on July.. staying in marriot grand place. How much time do i have to do the 4 places..brussels antwerp, bruge, ghent .. I'm only staying 2 full days arrival on day is 8 then we will safe keep our luggage at the hotel and will start exploring . Please help.
It's too late now but with only 2 full days I would visit Brussels on day 1 and another city on day 2. You need (at least) a full day for each city.
When you visit a Church, does the money you pay go towards the Parish?
Also, can you bring chocolate back to the States?
You can most definitely bring chocolate back to the States! And most churches where you pay to enter, the money goes toward upkeep of the church (electricity, maintenance, etc). Sometimes they'll have signs up indicating the money goes to something else, like a special interest of theirs.
@@TalesFromOurPocket ~ Thank you so much! We are planning our first trip to Europe and your videos are so helpful!
In general it goes to the maintenance of the church, and probably there is a share for one or another charity too.
Antwerp.
the chocolate museum is a scam... the cathedral and museum of fine arts of Antwerp are well worth their admission fees tho!
That's a bit cliché and unimaginative, Belgium is more than those three cities :) There are (less tourist infested) wonders in the South of the country too you know ?
It seems rather counterproductive to not include certain sights for us to see because you have done them before.
Why the churches changed to museum
They are still churches.
"Appeltje" , I think about pronounced "Appelche" in English.
Appel - tje. Diminutive for appel. Or small apple in English. "tje" is one of those Dutch sounds foreigners never get right, see also "sch".
Besides that I think the vendor pronounced "appeltje" with her West-Flemish accent. A language which nobody understands except (maybe) the West-Flemish.
1. Brugge 2. Gent 3. Antwerp 4. 'S-Hertogenbosch 5. Maastricht 6. Bergen op Zoom 7. Breda 8. Leuven
Limburg en Brabant Vlaams!
Why mix Belgian cities with Dutch cities ???
@@vincentglibert7282 They have the same history. Most where part of the Duchy of Brabant. All the cities have roots from the middle ages and where connected. Bergen op Zoom is just around the corner of Antwerp...44 min...Antwerp and Brugges are in the same country but almost twice as far apart.
@@You-mr3lo Ghent and Bruges were never part of the Duchy of Brabant! In that case, why not add Brussels and Leuven, which were in the center of the Duchy of Brabant?
@@vincentglibert7282 true. But the rest did
appel = apple; appeltje = little apple
Tip best chocolates are a the leonidas ❤❤❤or Neuhaus if you have the money 😅
Best way to make your mind up,count how many immigrants there are on the streets.
Buffaloooo
For the unknowing : the "Buffalos" is the nickname for the Ghent football (soccer) club. it suits them well.
I love hearing tourists complaining about the number of tourists🙄
It has the making of a good video, but we gave up halfway through. The irritatingly frequent appearance of the authors in the forgeround became disconcerting.
Isn't it very unhygienic in post pandemic times for the Bruges chocolatier to use her fingers to pick up the chocolates to put in the bag? She should really use tongues or wear gloves.
with all respect, twenty years ago it was as busy as it is now, in Bruges You must have been lucky, I think :) Cheers from Bruges , Robin (100% sure you are democrats)
Antwerp is The place to be. All the rest is just parking.
Hate the Antwerp people! City is OK but the people are so arrogant and money-centered
The city of Antwerp disagrees. They just made parking for non-Antwerpians in their city centre impossible.
You stole that from Alex Agnew
Antwerp City of racisme and arrogant people
我被封汗煎🙏🙏🙏🌷🌷🌷
Great video except the “you know what restrictions” statements every so often. Are you afraid of saying Covid-19 or are you anti-vaxxers?
Thanks! The "you know what" is a bad habit I developed in 2021. Around that time, TH-cam was still suppressing videos that had "Covid" mentioned in them. Fast forward, and I'm still struggling to break the habit! (we're pro vaccines, including Covid - you should hear how many shots we got before starting to travel in Asia!)
@@TalesFromOurPocket I appreciate you answering this question! It's the same one I had while watching and while it made me laugh a little, my cynical side wondered if there was some kind of "message" behind it LOL I had no idea that was happening on YT back in 2021! Very interesting.
Also - thank you for this video comparing the 3 cities! We are heading to Brussels in October and all 3 are on the list to visit in the week we are there. It's nice to know what to expect!
@@kiltedluxury you're welcome! For the video and for explaining a little about TH-cam. 😊
If this is filmed in 2023 : there are no Covid restrictions in Belgium anymore. Maybe they'll ask you to wear a mask in a very particular place, hospital department or home for the elderly or so but that's it. You will still find "reminders" of that period though, forgotten signs or ground markings.
Covid is now considered as a recurring / seasonal infectious disease such as the flew and for both you can be vaccinated.
Your condescending comments/tone about other tourists are hard to listen to. Just saying. Nice video otherwise. Tourists (yourself included) are people too!
Ya gunna die guys…all the starchy carbs and sugar bombs you’re eating…ya gotta look after each other.
I'm gonna look after my donuts. 😂 😂
Kidding - we normally eat mainly a veg diet! We just don't show that. 😉 (thanks for being concerned about us - we also walk wayyyy more than most people our age!) 😁
@@TalesFromOurPocket glad to hear, it’s only occasional with the junk food…travel on.
@@TalesFromOurPocket Good Belgian fries are fried in beef tallow ...
I like BRUGESSSSSS