The Best of Belgium

Antwerpen-Centraal Railway Station

Antwerpen-Centraal Railway Station is the main railway station in Antwerp, and is renowned for its architecture
It serves as a major hub in the Belgian railway network
The station was inaugurated in 1905 and is often referred to as the "Railway Cathedral" due to its design

Best time to visit: June-Aug

The Historic Centre of Bruges, located in Bruges, is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and historical significance as a major commercial and cultural hub in Europe during the Middle Ages
The area showcases an array of Gothic brick structures, canals, and stone bridges, reflecting the city's medieval past
Bruges was once one of Europe's most important trading cities, and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval European settlement

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Oct

The Grand-Place is the central square of Brussels, Belgium
It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger edifices; the city's Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic King's House, containing the Brussels City Museum
The Grand-Place's construction began in the 11th century and was largely complete by the 17th
In 1695, during the Nine Years' War, most of the square was destroyed during the bombardment of Brussels by French troops
The houses that surrounded the Grand-Place were rebuilt during subsequent years, giving the square its current appearance, though they were frequently modified in the following centuries
Nowadays, the square frequently hosts festive and cultural events, among them, in August of every even year, the installation of an immense flower carpet in its center
It is also a center of annual celebrations during the Christmas and New Year period, and a Christmas tree has been erected annually on the square since the mid-20th century

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Oct

The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries is an ensemble of three glazed shopping arcades in central Brussels
The galleries were designed and built between 1846 and 1847, and it is recognized as one of the oldest shopping arcades in Europe and was the first of its kind to feature a glass roof
The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries house a variety of luxury shops, elegant cafés, and cultural spaces

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Oct

The Atomium is a landmark modernist building in Brussels, originally constructed as the centerpiece of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58)
Designed as a tribute to scientific progress, as well as to symbolize Belgian engineering skills at the time, it is located on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau, where the exhibition took place
It serves as a museum, an art center and over half of the building is dedicated to exhibitions with themes about Belgium and digital arts

The Gravensteen is a medieval castle in the city of Ghent, East Flanders
The origins of the Gravensteen date to the reign of Arnulf I (890–965) in the County of Flanders
The current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353
It was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory
It was restored over 1893–1903 and is now a museum and a major landmark in the city