Verouderd en nogal saaie bedoening. Het doet overkomen dat het half jaren zeventig mooi was en…read moredaarna niet meer goed onderhouden. Het Restaurant/cafetaria heeft bepaald geen kwaliteitseten en ook geen sfeer, nouja de sfeer van een middelbare-schoolkantine. De rondvaart was leuk, maar puur omdat het een boot is. De uitleg van de kapitein (?) was onverstaanbaar of door overstuurde speakers.

This was another ship related excursion and for someone like me, who loves major construction…read moreprojects, it was heavenly.. The first thing we saw when we walked into the visitor center was the skeleton of a mammoth that had been unearthed during construction of the Delta Works. http://media2.ct.yelpcdn.com/photo/fTk-twKk-NUpScAITT6BXw/l It was a very cool, very complete skeleton. There was an exhibit of the 2000 year history of the Netherlands' battle w/ the North Sea. After wandering through the exhibit we saw a half hour film about the Great Flood of 1953, which inundated 2/3 of the country, twice a day because of the tides, for NINE months! At that point the plans for the storm surge barrier were laid. Rather than give you the details here, I'll just include their website: http://www.deltawerken.com/Deltaworks/23.html There was one leftover tower from the construction project which is in a field across from the visitor center and is used to teach climbing and firefighting techniques, if I'm remembering correctly. There's a waterpark--mostly for kids, I think--on the same property but we didn't visit it. After the film we went through the gift shop filled w/ overpriced junk and then continued by bus to the Delta Works itself. It was a massive project, w/ 62 40 meter wide gates suspended between tall towers. The gates can be lowered mechanically if very stormy seas are predicted. We were able to walk through the structure and then to climb a series of stairs up to the top. Inside the structure were explanatory exhibit and our guide gave us further information. The project was competed 25 years ago and has been used three times since, successfully. It's tested regularly to make sure it's mechanically fit. The expectation is that it will have to be rebuilt in the future, using technology that has been developed since. You can be sure the Dutch are paying attention to the issue of climate change and will be factoring that into their plans. The hope and expectation is that what's in place now will be adequate to protect the country from the rise in the sea that's currently predicted.

We visited the Zwin in April of 2016, when the visitor center was closed, so we *only* got to enjoy…read morethe wildlife. We walked from Knokke on the avenue along the beach. Once we entered the Zwin area, there were plenty of signs explaining the park, the habitats, the wildlife, and the history. The trails were fairly well-marked, and designated as for pedestrians, bicycles, or horses. There was a great jack rabbit statue facing the Netherlands, and periodic benches (and trash cans) to enjoy the scenery. There was a working farm a bit inland, but again, since the center was closed, all we could do was read the signs. It was free for us to walk around the park and enjoy the scenery. A great way to experience the coast, particularly the shifting weather, and to see plenty of unique birds.

Parc du Cinquantenaire is one if the most beautiful parks I have ever seen in my entire life. The…read moregrass seemed greener here, the people seemed happier, and it was such a beautiful afternoon when we walked through it I truly don't think I could have had a better afternoon in this beautiful city. When got dropped off at the corner of the property and headed towards the large archway with the flag of the European Union blowing in the wind for some pictures. Parc du Cinquantenaire is home to multiple museums as well including Autoworld, Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, and Art & History museum. This park is a special place. As someone who lives in a city like Las Vegas that doesn't really have a place like this to come to, it makes me extremely jealous. The people here seemed so happy to just be hanging out with friends and family with such beauty surrounding them it truly made me appreciate that just for a brief time, I was able to join them. If you find yourself reading this or come across this review when deciding if you should come to Parc du Cinquantenaire, just go and see the beauty for yourself.

This large 19th century park was built by King Leopold II in honor of the 50th anniversary of the…read moreBelgian Revolution. It houses gardens, museums, and a massive arch. There's often a waffle/ice cream truck selling treats by the east fountain.