Public Art at its absolute finest. Bravo Antwerp!…read more A beautiful, open, leafy park full of statues and sculptures. SO cool! It was a godsend after being cooped up inside the house for a few days of rain. We all got out to the park and my toddler was able to roam, explore, jump in the leaves, stomp in the dirt and I got to enjoy a gorgeous park and really nice art installations. Win/win. (Although I am pretty sure his favorite part was the construction equipment, but hey -- that's sort of art in its own way, right!?) Make your way to Middelheimmuseum -- fresh air, art, free space to roam, great for kids, and a quick stop into Cafe Mika, all the makings of a lovely afternoon. It was a nice mix of travelers and locals, kids, adults, dogs, everyone is welcome. *restrooms available at several locations. *free entry. *kits can be checked out at the gift shop (near cafe) for children to have guided exploration. Great for school aged kids.

Big beautiful parks with great sculptures, trees, lakes and creeks all around. Our hotel was just…read more10 mins walk to the park so we thought we will check it out. It's really a nice change after seeing too much of the city and buildings. A peaceful place with wonderful nature and art!

Everard t'Serclaes was a citizen of Brussels and in 1356 (yeah, a century and a half before that…read moreChristopher Columbus dude sailed the ocean blue!), led a party of patriots to scale the walls of he city and drive the Flemings from the city. Quite the hero of Bruxelles, he is commemorated by this monument that brings luck and grants wishes of all who touch it. Even more so, rubbing the arm ensures your return to Brussels. So yes, I rubbed his arm. Looking forward to returning to Bruxelles soon!

We walked by here and I was told, touch it for good luck. I didn't know what I was doing or why it…read morewas for good luck. I touched her arm then I was told, touch the dog too! What??? I hit my head while looking for the dog. So was that a bad luck? So after I got home, I looked it up. It is said among locals that the statue of Everard t'Serclaes brings luck and grants the wishes of all who touch it. So what will happen to me? Did I make a wish as I touched? I even bunked with my head!! It's late for me to learn the proper way, but the legend said rubbing her arm will ensure one's return to Brussels. Did I rub the arm? Can't remember but I sure hope I get to come back here someday again. She is located at the Grand Place, stop by and rub the arm.

A well laid out and inviting museum that allows you to get up close to some of the best artowrks by…read morethe Flemish masters. Van Eyck and Bosch are represented, as well as a smattering of post-modern artists from the 20th century. I enjoyed how each room represented a particular artistic movement chronologically. A nice way to spend 90 minutes or so.

Flemish art overload. Allow 1-3/4 hours. Each room had multi-lingual explanatory cards (a great…read moreidea). + padded benches €30 for 2

Amazing. I spent two days in Lille en route from Brussels to Paris. Not only is Lille a cool town,…read morebut, the Fantastic festival is remarkable. Artwork by Nick Cave (visual/performance artist not musician) and Theo Mercier, and so much more. Art around every corner. A great experience and well worth the trip to Lille! Lille was never on my radar until this. I'd love to come back for the next Fantastic!

The peeing boy fountain sculpture is meant to promote fun and humor of the city that is Brussels…read more He's been around since 1619 when he was created by Jerome Duquesnoy, and he still stands and pees proudly today. Manneken is absolutely worth seeing whilst in Brussels. His counterpart, Jeanneke Pis is also worth visiting. Manneken has different ensembles for holidays and celebrations throughout the year.

3.5. This was my…read moresecond visit to Brussels--on my prior visit, I basically states in the Grand Place, but unbeknownst to me, was the attraction. Someone I met in Paris informed me about this place, and I had no idea, it was so popular, or why. On my final day in Brussels, I came early morning to take some photos. Many people were there and I was still equally confused as to what's the big deal but nonetheless, this place remains as one of their greatest attractions.

Just a heads up -- the majority if art in here is by other artists. There are a few wonderful…read morepieces from Rubens himself but don't expect a museum of his work. This is mostly art that was part of his personal collection and the work of his contemporaries. Rubens is an example of an artist that was successful during his lifetime. He operated a studio and was very in demand. Thus, due to his wealth, the house is quite beautiful. The tour of the house is self-guided. They have booklets in various languages with numbers corresponding with art pieces. You just follow the path and bury your nose in your booklet to learn about the art. You don't need too much time here. If you move fast, you can probably see everything in one hour. This may change depending on how crowded the museum gets. The rooms are pretty small but it wasn't too bad when I came here since it was a rainy day at the end of August. **Make sure you see everything. The last room is the most beautiful (large paintings). Don't skip the courtyard in the back either -- gorgeous architecture (although they are currently restoring it). **Free on the last Wednesday of the month. I had no idea but just so happened to visit Antwerp on this day so I got very lucky.

The Rubenshuis, which was the home of the famous painter Pieter Paul Rubens is a site to see if you…read moreneed time to kill. From the outside it looks tremendous and while it does not disappoint from the inside, I felt a little down after seeing the whole thing. Now while this is not the cheapest attraction in the town by far, it will not break the bank, the problem really comes down to what you are expecting. I expected to see more of the lifestyle of Pieter Paul Rubens, but what I got was a refinished house full of art setup in the way of a small art museum. Do not get me wrong, the sculptures and paintings are wonderful, but nothing to write home about when compared to many other museums nearby. Couple that with the small hallways and large crowds and it will have you rushing for the exit as soon as possible. We ended up walking around pretty freely as not many were there an hour after the opening on a crummy weather day, but as we were leaving, we saw a HUGE group heading in, so be aware this may not be friendly for those with no patience or claustrophobic. On the plus side, the back yard and garden is beautiful in the Spring and Summer, but sadly the buildings facade was getting a makeover when we were there. Was it deserving of more than a three star, yes, but I'd leave it at a 3.5 out of 5 to be honest. Still worth visiting though if you read up on it beforehand and interests you.

The Markt Square in Bruges is the central heart of the city. Cobblestone streets are throughout the…read moresquare and it's surrounded by stunning architecture. Here you will see the Belfry of Bruges. A prominent bell tower that you can climb for panoramic views of the city. In the square there are Beautiful historic buildings with plenty of restaurants and outdoor cafes. It's a lively and picturesque place to explore.

The entire historical city centre is a World Heritage City. Markt is the central square of Bruges…read more The Belfry (medieval bell tower) located here is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colorful old Guild Houses are another point of interest. When we visited, the Christmas Market was being set up. It would've been a great experience if only we came a few days later.

I came here on a whim to kill some time on a cold December day. It was a lovely way to spend a…read morecouple of hours. This comprehensive museum of the Belgium comic book scene was both informative and entertaining. The artwork was just as impressive with the dedicated displays to varying contributors to the Belgium/French comic world. With multiple floors and interactive displays this is a must do if in the area.

As someone who has loved comics his entire life, visiting the comics art museum was a dream come…read moretrue. As a kid, I remember such characters as The Smurfs and TinTin with such fondness and I'm stoked I had the chance to visit a place dedicated to learning more about Belgian comic books. When you first enter the museum you are greeted by statues and a large book store that once again DOES NOT HAVE MAGNETS FOR THE ACTUAL MUSEUM, WHY NOT????? Okay, calming down now. Once you head up the stairs and pay, you are immediately submerged into endless information about the creation of Belgian comics, the history, and even statues of non Belgian characters like Goku from Dragon Ball and Porco Rosso from Studio Ghibli. The middle floor of the museum was full of comic strips, art, and an insane amount of information that wrapped around and brought you back to the staircase where you could go upstairs. The third floor was my personal favourite as it was where the Smurfs room was. When you enter you are immediately shown a replica of the village and a ton of merchandise everywhere. Guess what happens when you walk a little further? You get to see one of the mushroom houses! I also wanted a photo with the big painted wall but there was a class in session so I figured my 35 year old self wouldn't interrupt it for an Instagram photo. Overall, the Comics Art Museum is a mesmerizing place for any fan of comics, cartoons, or art in general to experience. It took us roughly an hour or so to see this place and I easily could have spent more time going over things again and again. This place is a must for any visitor!