I love surprises. Unexpected surprises are the best. Take that back...unexpected surprises where…read moreyou don't remember what happened but keep coming back for more are really the best. Walking around Leuven one afternoon, I turned into a side street. It was a normal, quiet side street, until you turn the corner and see a few students...then more students...then you see bar stools and more students. Oude Markt is a pedestrian area that comes alive with beer, students, and more beer. After my first visit here, I knew if was not going to be my last. I'm glad I remembered how to get here the next day.

Leuven's beating heart, any day of the week. Everybody will find a bar to his liking, be it brown,…read moretrendy, dance, alternative or hippie. There is even the underground "Bierkelder": not for the faint of heart.

The floral carpet is one of those things that most visitors to Belgium see on every single…read morepostcard, but rarely get to experience live. It takes a certain degree of planning - first of all, you have to go in an even year (there was one this year, the next is in 2010), then there are the exact dates of the carpet as it only lasts for two weeks. And just when you've cracked all that, turning up to Grand Place and looking at a sea of petals from ground level isn't particularly impressive, so you need to go the final mile and pay EUR3 or so to get into the Town Hall, queue up patiently, climb the steps to the tower and view it from above on the balconies (though to be fair, you pass some excellent and interesting rooms in the Town Hall as you wait to get to a balcony). It's worth it though. The 2006 carpet had rotating flowerbeds on, and when you consider just how many thousands of flowerheads have been diligently pressed into moss, it makes Derbyshire well dressing look like child's play.

É lindo da mais !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!read more

This is worth the visit if you are have interest in history, are looking for a peaceful environment…read morefor tranquility and/or exploration, or love photography. As of 2024, the ticket for 1 adult is 10 euros.

What a wonderful experience. If you're trying to figure out some tourist things to do, This place…read moreshould be on the list. If you have a car or time on a weekend to figure out the public transportation route here, there's a train stop which you can walk to here from the train stop this place was such a great family activity. The history behind this Abbey was great to explore as well as walking around the ruins. There were plenty of places to sit and rest. You can go to the second floor of the abbey where monks used to sleep. We learned about bleeding (which was very interesting) and the timeline of this place really put the abbey and its age into perspective. This place have plenty of places to have quiet time and is a great place for a date if you're ever looking for a date spot.

If one wants to visit a UNESCO heritage site and be surrounded by historical buildings (town hall,…read moreguild halls to name a couple), museum (inside the King's House), restaurants and lots of Belgian chocolate shops (Neuhaus was my fav) then this is the place. Of course the Grand Place offers more than what I've listed as it's the heart of Brussels and the bee hive of visitors and activity was constant all day. The Grand Place most popular photo backdrop was the Hotel De Ville, town hall, as it dominated the square. In summer one had to wait until late (after 10pm) before the sunlight faded from the sky and the lights in the Grand Place started to turn on (versus 6pm during my first winter visit in February). As one spins around 360 from the town hall, the different styles of the surrounding guild houses added a lot of character with their elaborate, unique facades and statues and even the darker King's House. It was nice to just stand around and not be bothered by any random person coming up to beg or sell something. From here it was an easy stroll to the Manneken Pis statue, the TinTin shop and mural, Royal Gallery of St Hubert and more.

This historic central square is probably one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. What an amazing…read moreplace to feel what it must have been like centuries ago, eat lunch, or people watch. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's pedestrian only. We've hung out and strolled through in the early morning, afternoon, late evening, and even after dark well after midnight. Every two years in August, a floral carpet is installed in the middle of the centre. It's a ginormous arrangement of breathtaking flowers. A Christmas tree and lights go up every year. The neo-gothic architecture is outstanding from the kings's house to the town hall. Such an amazing piece of history that should be on everyone's sightseeing list.

Highly recommended. Have been twice and both times it's been raining with a strong wind, worth it!…read moreGreat new additions since the last visit. Still a long 225 steps to the top, easy going back down! Unfortunately I didn't have enough time so climbing to the top of the A Butte du Lion, seeing the Le Panorama and walking through the gift shop was the best I could do. Maybe I'll have more time on my next visit.

This is an awesome place!…read more They have done a fabulous job maintaining the stuff around and exceptional work with the movies and scripts explaining the battle details. Amazing experience!

What an excellent tour in the quaint city of Maastricht. This hour long tour takes you through old…read moremines that span hundreds of kilometers long. Our guide was so knowledgeable & funny with our group. I highly recommend to do this if you find yourself in this lovely city. It is cheap too, maybe 6 euros. There's also a cute restaurant next to the caves, we didn't go there, but if we planned better, we would have. It is a nice view of the city.

A very heartfelt thank you to the men and women who maintain these cemeteries and to the Dutch…read morepeople who adopt individual graves of our fallen heroes. On another cold, very wet day I once again visited. I'll probably have visited 4 to 5 times over the last 15 years on the way or leaving Maastricht where I was attending meetings. Each time I go I see new things and learn new things of the men buried there and the men and women who take care of the Cemetry. It's a beautiful place. If you can watch a uTube video on the history and the symbolism of the monuments and statues prior to going. There's free parking and restrooms available and I recommended you take the time to visit the visitor center and chat with the staff and sign the visitor's log.

The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is one of the finest memorial sights that you will…read moreset your eyes upon in the Netherlands. I believe if you have a love for history or appreciation for the men and women that liberated Europe, then you will find this memorial sight as one of the most impressive monuments in Europe. It was an honor for me to view the names and information of the brave men who fought in World War II. The layout of the memorial has: Memorial Tower, The Mourning Woman Statue, Court of Honor with Reflecting Pool, The Maps, The Chapel and The Crown in the Chapel. The cemetery has a rich historical background site of the Romans, Charlemagne,Charles V, Napoleon,Kaiser Whilhelm II, German troops, and US troops. At the end of your visit, please make sure to sign the guest register book commemorating these brave heroes who served in World War II. What I also found remarkable was that the people of the Netherlands continue to honors these men fallen of war, by adopting a grave. A Dutch friend of mine had showed me the grave site, and personal records of the soldier that she adopted. It was so profound to have the opportunity to review his records.