/countries/show/belgium/1.rss en-us When you visit Belgium, make sure to do it on a Tuesday—but don’t just pick any Tuesday. Be sure to choose the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Why? Because on this day, a quiet Belgian town hosts Belgian’s best festival: The Carnaval de Binche. The Carnaval de Binche (Carnival of Binche) is an annual event that takes place in a dreamy Belgian town called Binche, located south of Brussels. The industrialized town is invaded by tourists from everywhere to participate in the festival that involves a lot of street dancing, musical acts, parades and costumed-men throwing oranges at the crowd. The Belgian festival is for everyone, with unwavering focus on unity within the community and people coming together for some honest to goodness fun. The Carnaval de Binche dates back to 1395, derived from Pagan rites which were later merged with Christian religious celebrations. Listed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity,” the pre-Lenten carnival is most awaited for the clown-like performers known as the Gilles de Binche. The Gilles de Binche slow-dance around town wearing vibrant costumes, wax masks, wooden footwear and enormous white ostrich feather headdresses. Be prepared for a bruising as the Gilles are not exactly harmless, despite their cuteness. It is a custom of the Binche Carnaval that the Gilles happily throw oranges at the crowd to bless the forthcoming summer season. Shops around town cover their glass windows ahead of time because things could get really messy, and the windows will not be spared. But no matter how tempting, you must never throw anything back at the Gilles. Instead, turn the other cheek. The fruit that may have hit you smack in the forehead is actually a blessing. That is according to a 700-year-old Belgian tradition. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:50:52 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/carnaval-de-binche http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/carnaval-de-binche Handmade lace was once integral to Bruges’ industry, particularly because it was a craft that many poorer families would pass down through the generations. Although Bruges lacemakers only usually made a pittance, it was enough to support their families in a time of great poverty. The history surrounding this craft, which dates back to the sixteenth century, is absolutely fascinating. Many people view Bruges as synonymous with lacemaking, but they know little about the industry and the lives of the Belgian workers. Taking the time to delve into the heart of this beautiful medieval city, and really experience the artistry of the Bruges lace industry, is definitely well worth the trip. Lacemaking in Bruges was predominantly for the upper classes as the fashionable nobility were obsessed with the intricate floral patterns. They frequently adorned themselves in it as a way of expressing their prestige and bourgeois style. You can see many samples of such charmingly crafted material at the Bruges Kantcentrum. If you are interested in lacemaking, then Bruges is definitely the place to immerse yourself in times gone by. Located right in the heart of Bruges, the gentle walk through the quaint little cobbled streets is almost as appealing and fascinating as the actual Bruges Kantcentrum lacemaking museum. Furthermore, the entrance is located right next door to Bruges’ stunning Jerusalem church. In fact, you will find that you spend a good deal of your lacemaking excursion marvelling at the enchanting fifteenth century architecture, which remains virtually intact to this day. Taking the time to look at the elegant stained glass windows, and even the mausoleums of the church’s founders, before you move onto the lace museum, is highly recommended. The Kantcentrum museum is housed in some beautifully restored almshouses, which is a lovely surprise. The thing many visitors find most interesting about the Kantcentrum museum is the live lacemaking displays that take place in the afternoon. After wandering around the museum at your own pace, you can make your way to the open lace atelier where a highly skilled lacemaker will demonstrate their skill and dedication right in front of you. They generally slow down for the proper demonstration, but to see a skilled lacemaker at work, at their normal pace, is awe-inspiring. Using up to two hundred beautifully wood-turned bobbins, the intricate details form right before your eyes as the lady’s fingers move in a blur. The speed at which they weave the bobbins in and out, under and over, through and between is incredible. The demonstrators are more than happy to answer your questions, which makes the experience truly worthwhile. Also, if you fancy taking a piece of lace from Bruges home with you, there is a fantastic gift shop on site that supplies all kinds of different designs of traditional Belgian lace, as well as lots of informative books if you fancy learning a little more. You can even purchase one of the lacemaking patterns to have a go at it yourself. After your trip to the museum, take a walk around the city. Lace and lacemaking is omnipresent in Bruges! Down almost every picturesque little street there is a lacemaker sitting in a shop window or doorway making bobbin lace. Watching them is mesmerizing as they work so fast and with such skill and precision. It really is a true work of art, and it must take a lifetime of dedication to produce such wonderful pieces. If you can draw yourself away from the sights, make your way to the Katelijne Lace Shop where you can buy your own special piece of Bruges lace as a memento of an experience to be treasured. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:17:58 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bruge-lace-making http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bruge-lace-making When traveling in Belgium, you can't just ask for "a beer", doing so will only produce a lager of some sort that can be found practically anywhere in the world. Belgium is home to many unique beers including abbey beer, lambic beer, and trappist beer, who derive their distinct taste from ancient brewing traditions. It is said that you can taste a Belgian beer everyday for a year, and still leave some brews untouched. With such deep history and selection, the best way to learn about Belgian beer is the equivalent of a pub crawl through Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. To taste a new and exciting beer in Belgium you can go pretty much anywhere. Even convenience stores have hundreds of different kinds. A great place to start, however, is by doing a brewery tour. This gives visitors a window into the creation of beer, and a brief introduction to the various types that can be produced. De Halve Maan brewery, the last active brewery in Bruges is an excellent place to go for a little beer education. The comic, polyglot tour guides show you the current and original ways of making Belgian beer. It really is amazing how the process has changed over the past 500 years, which is approximately how long parts of this brewery has been active. On the Halve Maan brewery tour, you will discover that the depth of flavour depends on the roasting of the malts; the longer the roast, the darker the beer will be. Spice blends are also used in the production of beers, which, in part, accounts for the various flavours you can taste in the different varieties. This brewery also showcases the fact that in Belgium they take their beer very seriously. Therefore, just like in wine, all Belgian beers need to be served in specific glasses to compliment their flavour. The Bruges brewery tour concludes with a tasting of one of the two beers that the brewery still produces, Brugse Zot, which turned out to be one of my favourite beers in Belgium. A blond beer with 6% alcohol, it is a great beverage for a sunny afternoon on a patio. The restaurant and patio area of Halve Maan brewery also has a full food menu. To continue the celebration of Belgian beer, why not try the beer soup on offer? It makes a great lunch as it is a hearty soup made with beer, cheese, and ham. After seeing Bruges, Brussels is a great next stop in the search for a great Belgian brew. With many famous Belgian beer bars, you are sure to find something new and wonderful. There are a few beers that are very typical to Belgium. Lambic beers can only be produced in Belgium because they are fermented with a wild yeast that only exists in Belgium. Lambic beer is a little different in flavour and more sour than other beers. Trappist beers are another famous Belgian variety, and can only be designated as such if they are under control of at least one Trappist Monk. Because of this, there are only 7 such breweries in the world, one in the Netherlands and the other 6 in Belgium. To try these or any other beer you could ever imagine, go to Delirium Cafe, where they have one of the largest beer menus in the world – 2004 beers. With chocolate beer and grapefruit beer, you can be confident that you'll be able to try something new and exciting. The staff at this Delirium Cafe are very cool and will advise you on a beer selection if they have time and if you ask. What search for great Belgian beer would be complete without a stop at Duvel brewery, just outside of Antwerp. A tour through this famous Antwerp brewery introduces you to the production process of this well-hopped golden ale. One of the most famous Belgian beers, Duvel packs a punch at 8.5% alcohol, so be prepared. If Duvel doesn't tempt your palette other favourites to try are La Rulles Estivale and La Rulles Triple Blonde. Whether you prefer something light and sweet, or spicy and hopped up, a Belgien Beer tour through Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels is sure to delight the sense. Mon, 31 May 2010 14:17:55 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/beer-in-belgium http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/beer-in-belgium The entrance gate to Vondelpark in Amsterdam provides a perfect first impression. Distinguished doors frame the park in green and regal gold, and the swirl embellished bars of the gate suggest that art antiquity lies just beyond. Although works of Van Gough and Rembrandt are found outside of Vondelpark, the ornately sculptured park is actually the art form implied upon. There is, however, a sculpture by Picasso (The Fish), and an abundance of places for repose and tranquility. By far the best way to explore the lush grounds is to use the beloved local means of transport in Amsterdam: the bicycle. A bicycle ride through the 47 hectares of Vondelpark is reminiscent of travelling back in time through art history, as many artists absorbed inspirations for their work here. Although Vondelpark is an artist’s dream, you can also enjoy the many other aspects the park has to offer—largely the many soft, cool, shady knolls traced by quiet ponds and streams. Biking along the crushed white stone paths, you'll be lead to countless willow trees inviting you to stop and enjoy the view. Looking out over well-manicured ponds dotted with ducks, the air of relaxation is hard to resist. And if you wish to inject yourself into more traditional tourist activities afterwards, you can always visit the Bull Dog Cafe. During the summer, Amsterdam's largest city park is also host to many musical performances in its open-air theater. Since the early 70s, Vondelpark's theatre has welcomed a regular schedule of performances ranging from cabaret and dance, to Orchestra and pop groups. On any old random day, you might also cross an impromptu drum jam session, lined by bohemian dancers and rhythm keepers. Vondelpark, Amsterdam is one of the top parks in the world to chill out in. Here you can enjoy music, food, art, nature (and also marijuana, should your tastes be so inclined). It is one of a few places where cannabis lovers can enjoy their guilty pleasure before heading out for an afternoon of sweet relaxation. For a livelier event, you can even enjoy bike ride through Vondelpark on a 19-person beer bike! Whether with life-long buddies or new best friends, a beer bike through Vondelpark is one satisfying ride. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:14:41 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/vondelpark http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/vondelpark Bruges, a UNESCO world heritage site is perhaps one of the most under appreciated cities in Europe. The pristine and immaculately preserved medieval city will instantly arrest your senses. Bruges is inadequately dubbed ‘The Venice of the North’ and thus, erroneously equates the city’s series of canals as an oversimplified comparison to the Venetian model. However, the comparison ends abruptly there. Bruges espouses a vanity that is in no regard subjugated to the storied Venice. The city’s affinity for 12th century architecture is a clear indication to resist modernity and celebrate Belgian tradition. Bruges’ city centre is large enough to occupy yourself for a few days, but also small enough to transverse on foot. From the moment you cross the four-lane roadway from the train station and make your way into Bruges’ city centre, nowhere is there a more abrupt contrast between ‘old’ and ‘new’. The smooth, paved roadway succumbs to uneven cobblestone streets and modern glass paneled buildings relent to elaborate brick structures. For a moment you have entered an alternative dimension that is until an Audi A6 maneuvers down the street, nudging you against the brick wall. Follow the sweet chocolate scent from one of the numerous chocolate shops that pave the path to Market Square. The Bruges Grote Market is surrounded by countless café’s, shops and pubs that offer cuisine rivaled only in France. Find comfort on one of the sprawling patios that lie under the watchful eye of the marvelous Belfry Tower. Once you have washed down your unworldly Belgian waffle with a shot of espresso, employ your energy and walk off those calories with a 366-step ascent to the top of the Belfry Tower. The shoulder width spiraling wooden staircase makes two way traffic a challenge, but don’t fret, the stairs wrap around a cylindrical wooden beam adorned with a rope for grip. Once you have climbed the 83-meter high tower, you are rewarded with unobstructed views of Bruges' medieval city centre, and on a clear day maybe even the North Sea. Culminate your eventful day in Bruges with a well-earned Belgian beer. An enchanting and cozy pub, De Kuppe, is located just off the main square and offers more than 100 Belgian beers, each with a taste unique as the glass it is served in. Commence your taste-testing marathon with a Duvel, or Kwak, but don’t be surprised if your tolerance is challenged. The menu card is kind enough to list the alcohol percentages attributed to each beer and most offered lie between 8% and 13%, a pleasant surprise given their light and smooth taste. The eclectic mix of beers and welcoming atmosphere offers beer enthusiasts an ideal haven to engage and celebrate the Belgian process. Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:34:47 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bruges http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bruges