Belgium Travel Thread

[METSBWD]

Not sure tbh, I'm probably going to try to get some when I'm there for the BXLBeerfest. If they're selling them by then I could pick some up for you

Usually they only start selling them a week or two before the event. Last year they weren't available until September 17 for Zwanze Day on October 1. If they're available on September 1 during the 3F Open beer days, I plan to pick up tickets then, otherwise will pop down on the weekend of September 9 or 16. I usually pick up a few extras for people I wind up meeting there who didn't have tickets...

 

[Saind]

Usually they only start selling them a week or two before the event. Last year they weren't available until September 17 for Zwanze Day on October 1. If they're available on September 1 during the 3F Open beer days, I plan to pick up tickets then, otherwise will pop down on the weekend of September 9 or 16. I usually pick up a few extras for people I wind up meeting there who didn't have tickets...

They're going to sell them from the 16th onwards. Get some for BusinessSloth and me bud Saves me a trip down to Brussels that weekend

 

[BusinessSloth]

They're going to sell them from the 16th onwards. Get some for BusinessSloth and me bud Saves me a trip down to Brussels that weekend

 

[GetchaPull]

A buddy and I will be in town from 8/25-8/30 (no 3F Open Days ), hitting BXL and maybe Lambikstoempers. De Heeren for sure, maybe Grote Dorst if time allows. Of course, a couple other usual stops...gotta get revved up for Zwanze Day. Let's open some bottles; see you there.

 

[swivelhips1]

Is it normal for Cantillon to stop selling bottles to drink in house 35 minutes before closing? It was a little annoying that they wouldn't let 3 of us split a 750 in that amount of time, even though they would do 3 single glass pours of things on the left side of the menu.

 

[BelgianChris]

Is it normal for Cantillon to stop selling bottles to drink in house 35 minutes before closing? It was a little annoying that they wouldn't let 3 of us split a 750 in that amount of time, even though they would do 3 single glass pours of things on the left side of the menu.

Yes , they always do that 'cause their opening & closing times are very strict.

 

[swivelhips1]

Yes , they always do that 'cause their opening & closing times are very strict.

Yeah, it was clear the closing time was strict, but I just didn't understand why they would sell me the exact same amount of beer if the concern was having people finish before 5. I just wish I knew that was the case, as we had been done drinking our last bottle for quite some time before I went up to order again because it didn't even cross my mind it would be an issue. Alas, I drank a lot of good beer I wouldn't have otherwise had so I am very stoked. Just caught off guard by that one.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Heading to Belgium for 3F open days in a few weeks. Anyone have any good food recommendations while in Lot? I know Lambik-o-droom offers snacks but anyone know of places in town that offer a bit more than that?

 

[Saind]

Heading to Belgium for 3F open days in a few weeks. Anyone have any good food recommendations while in Lot? I know Lambik-o-droom offers snacks but anyone know of places in town that offer a bit more than that?

Pretty good fries down the street near the bridge across the Zenne.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Pretty good fries down the street near the bridge across the Zenne.

I took a quick tour on google maps and i'm guessing you mean the snack shack near the bank? Lot looks like a really charming town, I look forward to stumbling through it a few times during my stay.

 

[Saind]

I took a quick tour on google maps and i'm guessing you mean the snack shack near the bank? Lot looks like a really charming town, I look forward to stumbling through it a few times during my stay.

Yeah, technically I believe it would be a "fritkot" or fry shack. Doesn't look like much but nothing really does in Belgium.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Yeah, technically I believe it would be a "fritkot" or fry shack. Doesn't look like much but nothing really does in Belgium.

I appreciate the unassuming look that Belgium seems to have. Thanks for your suggestion, I will certainly check that spot out.

 

[Saind]

I appreciate the unassuming look that Belgium seems to have. Thanks for your suggestion, I will certainly check that spot out.

A lot of Belgium is just assumingly ugly though, check out the Facebook page "Ugly Belgian houses"
Good thing it's just the built environment, not the people, nature or food and beer.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

A lot of Belgium is just assumingly ugly though, check out the Facebook page "Ugly Belgian houses"
Good thing it's just the built environment, not the people, nature or food and beer.

Oh wow, there are some real gems in that group

 

[ggfunk]

See you all in October!

 

[GregorySingh]

Is it normal for Cantillon to stop selling bottles to drink in house 35 minutes before closing? It was a little annoying that they wouldn't let 3 of us split a 750 in that amount of time, even though they would do 3 single glass pours of things on the left side of the menu.

Was it the old guy with an earring and long hair that denied you ?

 

[swivelhips1]

Was it the old guy with an earring and long hair that denied you ?

It was definitely an older guy but I don't remember anything else about him besides he was grumpy.

 

[ggfunk]

So here's where I am at so far
10/10 - 11 - Brussels
Cantillon, Moeder, Comic Strip Museum

10/12 - 13 - Gent
Gravensteen, MSK

10/14 - Antwerp
Kulminator, Castle Den Brandt

10/15 -Open-
10/16 -Open-

If any other TBers want to meet up and drink stuff, let me know!

 

[tylerk88]

Hey all, I'm starting to plan a visit to Belgium (mostly Brussels/Ghent) and Amsterdam. Dates aren't finalized yet, but in the meantime I have a few travel-related questions and some general curiosities.

1. What's the easiest way to get to DHVL if I'm departing from either Ghent or Brussels?
2. I'm not finding much info about touring Tilquin and how worthwhile it is. It would probably be my activity for the day, otherwise I'll probably visit Drie Fonteinen for a second time. Unless both is doable?
3. Any hotel recommendations in Ghent/Amsterdam/Brussels is welcomed. As lame as it sounds, staying in hotels is often one my favorite parts of travel so I'm willing to splurge a bit. Amsterdam prices seem sorta crazy but Ghent/Brussels are surprisingly affordable.
4. Lastly, any thoughts on how challenging eating vegetarian will be?

 

[LuxWanderer]

Hey all, I'm starting to plan a visit to Belgium (mostly Brussels/Ghent) and Amsterdam. Dates aren't finalized yet, but in the meantime I have a few travel-related questions and some general curiosities.

1. What's the easiest way to get to DHVL if I'm departing from either Ghent or Brussels?
2. I'm not finding much info about touring Tilquin and how worthwhile it is. It would probably be my activity for the day, otherwise I'll probably visit Drie Fonteinen for a second time. Unless both is doable?
3. Any hotel recommendations in Ghent/Amsterdam/Brussels is welcomed. As lame as it sounds, staying in hotels is often one my favorite parts of travel so I'm willing to splurge a bit. Amsterdam prices seem sorta crazy but Ghent/Brussels are surprisingly affordable.
4. Lastly, any thoughts on how challenging eating vegetarian will be?

Don't have much recommendation wise other than consider staying in Haarlem and taking the train into Amsterdam. Tons of cool stuff and a great vibe in Haarlem, cheaper hotels, and only a 15min train ride to Amsterdam

 

[shanrath]

Don't have much recommendation wise other than consider staying in Haarlem and taking the train into Amsterdam. Tons of cool stuff and a great vibe in Haarlem, cheaper hotels, and only a 15min train ride to Amsterdam

Seconded on Haarlem, but I'd also recommend staying in Naarden Festung if you can find an AirBnB (I'm not up on their hotel situation, unfortunately). The sheer novelty of being in a medieval walled fortress town makes it worthwhile. Plus it's about a twenty-minute train ride from Amsterdam proper and was one of the highlights of my first trip to The Netherlands.

 

[BeerWorld]

Hey all, I'm starting to plan a visit to Belgium (mostly Brussels/Ghent) and Amsterdam. Dates aren't finalized yet, but in the meantime I have a few travel-related questions and some general curiosities.

1. What's the easiest way to get to DHVL if I'm departing from either Ghent or Brussels?
2. I'm not finding much info about touring Tilquin and how worthwhile it is. It would probably be my activity for the day, otherwise I'll probably visit Drie Fonteinen for a second time. Unless both is doable?
3. Any hotel recommendations in Ghent/Amsterdam/Brussels is welcomed. As lame as it sounds, staying in hotels is often one my favorite parts of travel so I'm willing to splurge a bit. Amsterdam prices seem sorta crazy but Ghent/Brussels are surprisingly affordable.
4. Lastly, any thoughts on how challenging eating vegetarian will be?

I did #1 about a year and a half ago. I took a train from Brussels Midi station (10 minutes?) and then walked from the station about 20 minutes to DHVL. Easy enough. I am assuming you're not driving.

 

[tylerk88]

I did #1 about a year and a half ago. I took a train from Brussels Midi station (10 minutes?) and then walked from the station about 20 minutes to DHVL. Easy enough. I am assuming you're not driving.

Correct. I could, in theory, rent a car for the day, but what you've described sounds easy enough!

 

[Digita7693]

Seconded on Haarlem, but I'd also recommend staying in Naarden Festung if you can find an AirBnB (I'm not up on their hotel situation, unfortunately). The sheer novelty of being in a medieval walled fortress town makes it worthwhile. Plus it's about a twenty-minute train ride from Amsterdam proper and was one of the highlights of my first trip to The Netherlands.

I'll add another vote for Haarlem! Much chiller, significantly cheaper and only a 15min train ride to Amsterdam Centraal.

 

[Maakun]

4. Lastly, any thoughts on how challenging eating vegetarian will be?

Amsterdam is great for vegetarian food. Brussels not so much, though most places will have one veggie dish. At least it's getting slowly better now. Beware of the 'traditional' fries as they're sometimes fried with beef grease.

And yes Haarlem is great, lots of nice bars/breweries as well.

 

[Saind]

Amsterdam is great for vegetarian food. Brussels not so much, though most places will have one veggie dish. At least it's getting slowly better now. Beware of the 'traditional' fries as they're sometimes fried with beef grease.

And yes Haarlem is great, lots of nice bars/breweries as well.

Ossewit is glorious

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Hey all, I'm starting to plan a visit to Belgium (mostly Brussels/Ghent) and Amsterdam. Dates aren't finalized yet, but in the meantime I have a few travel-related questions and some general curiosities.

1. What's the easiest way to get to DHVL if I'm departing from either Ghent or Brussels?
2. I'm not finding much info about touring Tilquin and how worthwhile it is. It would probably be my activity for the day, otherwise I'll probably visit Drie Fonteinen for a second time. Unless both is doable?
3. Any hotel recommendations in Ghent/Amsterdam/Brussels is welcomed. As lame as it sounds, staying in hotels is often one my favorite parts of travel so I'm willing to splurge a bit. Amsterdam prices seem sorta crazy but Ghent/Brussels are surprisingly affordable.
4. Lastly, any thoughts on how challenging eating vegetarian will be?

1. From Brussels take the train from Midi/Zuid to Liedekerke and walk through the town to DHVL. Its a 20 minute walk and you get a good feel for the area. The train comes about every 30 minutes from Midi/Zuid and its one stop (~15 minute ride). I believe its the De Panne line, but youll want to double check that. It only cost like 5 euro one way.

2. Tilquin isnt that easy to get to without a car. Also very limited hours, plan accordingly.

3. Cant comment on hotels since I did an airbnb but I cannot recommend that enough!!! There are some gems in the area for very cheap.

4. It will be a bit challenging but not impossible. There are tons of vegetarian options if you enjoy middle eastern food.

 

[Maakun]

Ossewit is glorious

Well, supposedly it is. My girlfried doesn't eat meat but she does try those fries when we're in Brussels, so it must be something special

 

[steinbbr]

Posted in the lambic thread, but realized it's more appropriate here...
I'll be in Brussels for Cantillon Open Brew Day. I'm traveling solo and hope to meet up with people. I hate drinking alone, but I'll do it if you make me! I have no firm plans other than I get in Nov 13 and leave Nov 18 and there will be beer. Probably hitting up Lambic-O-droom, DVHL, a few bottle shops in Ghent, Grote Dorst, and obviously Cantillon. If anyone wants to join in on the fun or if your group is looking for another liver I'm your guy. Also GetchaPull are you going to be around during the week or just the weekend?

 

[GetchaPull]

Posted in the lambic thread, but realized it's more appropriate here...
I'll be in Brussels for Cantillon Open Brew Day. I'm traveling solo and hope to meet up with people. I hate drinking alone, but I'll do it if you make me! I have no firm plans other than I get in Nov 13 and leave Nov 18 and there will be beer. Probably hitting up Lambic-O-droom, DVHL, a few bottle shops in Ghent, Grote Dorst, and obviously Cantillon. If anyone wants to join in on the fun or if your group is looking for another liver I'm your guy. Also GetchaPull are you going to be around during the week or just the weekend?

Wife and I will be there from 10-13 Nov (Fri-Mon) and happy to meet up wherever. Likely will have a couple friends (in-towners and out-of-towners) along with us. If you get in on 13 Nov, then I believe you will miss OBD (11 Nov).