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Flanders travel guide: what makes it so unique
Flanders, a small region in Belgium, is a place where it’s almost impossible to get bored. It is a place to discover by bike in the heart of Europe, surrounded by natural beauty, historic castles, gardens, ancient stories, and innovative creations. Famous for cycling and beer, Flanders surprises with its modern architecture, street art, revolutionary paintings by James Ensor, and the North Sea. It’s impossible not to fall in love with it. Find out why you should visit Flanders! (and for lots of useful information, take a look at Visit Flanders!)
Where is Flanders?
Flanders is a small region located in the northern part of Belgium. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the east, France to the west, and the North Sea to the south. Its most famous cities, which you may have heard of, are Antwerp, Bruges, Leuven, Mechelen, and Ghent. They are all close together. Then there is Brussels, the capital of Belgium. It is famous for its French fries and the irreverent Manneken-Pis statue, which needs little introduction.
Why is Flanders famous?
When you think of Flanders, you probably think of chocolate, beer—you must try lambic and gueuze—and the famous double-fried chips. Other things that come to mind are epic cycling with the monumental classics that the strongest cyclists try to win every year, the great Flemish masters, and the romantic charm of Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp. However, to truly capture the soul of this Belgian region, you must look beyond the stereotypes. From street art and murals to modern art and visionary painters, experience the wild North Sea with an artistic twist.
James Ensor, a Flemish Master
James Ensor was a revolutionary artist. He was part of a small group of European avant-garde artists who, at the end of the 19th century, liberated painting from romantic heroism and banal realism. His art can be discovered in three cities in Flanders: Ostend, Antwerp, and Brussels. Ostend, his hometown on the North Sea coast, is the perfect place to immerse yourself in his world. Start at the Ensor House, the building near the beach where the artist spent the last 30 years of his life. Then, visit the Mu.Zee, a modern and contemporary art museum with a section dedicated to his works. His art is also worth seeing in Antwerp at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), which has the world’s largest Ensor collection, and in Brussels at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts Brussels (KMSKB), which exhibits emblematic pieces of his work.
Street art and modern architecture
Flanders has a creative side, and Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges are three perfect destinations for discovering it. Antwerp is a city in constant transformation. Its port is worth a visit for masterpieces such as Zaha Hadid’s Port House and the Felix Pakhuis, a wonderful example of urban regeneration. The M HKA is also beautiful. It is a place of pure innovation with contemporary art in the Het Zuid district. Ghent is the city of street art, but there are other attractions not to be missed. The City Pavilion, for example, is a magnificent piece of contemporary architecture made of glass and wood. Another notable site is De Krook, a media library shaped like a steel barge. There are also two other museums worth visiting: the MSK (Ghent Museum of Fine Arts) and the SMAK (Ghent Museum of Contemporary Art). In Bruges, be sure to check out the Art Triennial, which is held every three years.
Finally, if you like street art, the province of Flemish Brabant, around the capital Brussels, has murals dedicated to cycling. They were created by the Treepack collective and are connected by bike paths. This route combines art, nature, and sport in true Flemish style.
The unusual North Sea
The Flemish coast has everything you could dream of, including huge beaches and an uncrowded sea. But that’s not all. Two things make it truly unique: the Beaufort Art Triennial and the coastal tram. Held every three years, the Beaufort Triennial brings contemporary art to the Flemish coast in the form of sculptures made on or near the beach. You don’t have to wait for the triennial, though, to enjoy Beaufort; the Beaufort Sculpture Park features more than 40 works from previous editions. Then there’s the coastal tramway, the longest in the world. It runs continuously along 67 kilometers of coastline, and you can even load your bikes on it!
Visit Flanders by bike
If visiting Flanders is your dream, check out Girolibero’s tours. They offer bike and boat tours, bike tours for families, and the Tour of Flanders for avid cyclists. There’s something for everyone!
