Nice reasonably priced department store chain. Got some odds and ends here while traveling. They…read moresell a lot of different things and have a food court upstairs. You can self checkout and tap to pay or use your smartphone.

*** CAFETERIA REVIEW ***…read more Hema is an everyday supply store popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. They sell things like basic clothes, umbrellas, food items, home supplies and stationery. But did you know that some Hema branches have cafeterias?? These cafeterias are a life saver in Belgium where traveling and eating out is quite expensive, an average sit down meal (even lunch) runs over 20 euros per person. Some days, especially as a traveler, you just want to sit down, have a square meal for not too much money, and catch up on the internet! If you agree with this sentiment and you are visiting Ghent, Hema is the lunch place for you! As an American the best comparison I can give is the Ikea cafeteria. I do think it was inspired from the Ikea model as an attempt to try and get more people through the door (you have to walk thru the whole store to get to the cafeteria.) You can get basic dishes like sandwiches, soups, pasta, and oddly enough, indonesian fried rice with satay, keropok and pickles (??????) Of course, the latter thing was so beguiling and so unexpected in Belgium that I had to get it. It ran me about 8 euros. Portion wise it was small, but then again, it is refreshing to get a square meal that is not America super sized. I definitely needed the small Coke I got to round out the meal. At the end of the day, definitely worth it and a refreshing savings over getting ripped off at even non touristy restaurants for a lot of money. You have the choice of eating indoors or on the balcony. I didn't try it, but the balcony seems nice as it looks out over Korenmarkt. I would recommend this for your coffee break in Ghent so you can have a great view while relaxing on a terrace. BTW, just like Ikea, when you are done you bus your table and store your tray in a rack. Wish we had this sort of place in the USA! ... and omitting Ikea, too far away from me :(

My favourite Brussels store of the moment, beautiful good quality clothing and amazingly friendly…read morestaff. The store is a wonderful addition to the H&M family, very minimalist design yet really stylish. The Cafe is wonderful and is a great place to stop for tea in the middle of a shopping spree, where again you will be welcomed by the really polite staff.

I often come here to have a coffee or lunch. They have really good coffees and their baristas know…read moretheir job. Prices are very reasonable and I like the atmosphere. In summer you can also sit outside. They have free WiFi. Their lunch options are middle eastern / Mediterranean, while their cookie and cake section is more Scandinavian. Their salads and wraps are fresh and the staff as always been extremely nice!

Ladies before you head over to some basic department store, pause for a minute and think about…read more strolling right over to the fashion district in Antwerp. I woke up one morning and decided to explore some of the best shops in Antwerp. I came in here a few months ago and I loved the shop! The owner was extremely friendly. I am all about excellent customer service when it comes to shopping. I must say the price is extremely affordable. Shopping at Strictly Younique is like stepping into a wonderful boutique.This shop displays a showcase of exclusive brands from France, Italy, Portugal and Belgium. Plus this area is one of my favorite spots to shop around. Nationalstraat is known for Antwerps ultimate fashion experience. This wonderful small fashion district has the most unique bags,shoes, garments and trend setting clothes in Belgium. Amsterdammers go to Belgium and shop until you drop for a day!

Awesome store with great prices. Make sure to visit on your next trip. You will not regret.read more

Ok, so I was trying to steer away from purchasing any clothing abroad because I only took one…read morecarry-on PLUS I don't need more junk to clutter up my space. Boy was I wrong. I never felt the need to purchase any clothing in Paris (feigning shock), but Brussels offered too many options and the style here was trendy and modern. Walking around the shopping district close to the Grand Place was my undoing. So on my second to last day in Brussels, I basically chose to walk into every single shop on the street. This establishment is as if Ross married H&M and they had a baby. The store is packed with inexpensive clothing (deals, mind you) but the clutter and lack of signs is where they make up for the good deals. I went here for a cheap scarf and while their leggings were cheap, I was unable to find any in my size given that Americans are obese and the metric system here offers no mental relief. They basically cover everything from shoes to lingerie to clothing. The lines here were long, but moved in an efficient manner. Perhaps the DMV should sent some trainers here in order to get ideas on supply chain methods and efficiency improvements.

Apparently a Dutch chain that reminds me of Daiso, that sells a variety of cutesy little items for…read moredecoration to house hold products and beauty products. I was in the town during the holiday season and they had a lot of cute Xmas themed stuff like chocolates, lights, gift tags, pens etc. If you're tight on cash but want to still get presents for your friends and family, give this shop a try. I'm sure you won't leave empty handed

I like the H& M Home section mostly! :)…read more Well located. Nice variety of clothing at very low prices. All signs are in flemish, surprising since not everybody understands the language and they are tourists in thr summer in Mechelen.

Found this very classy store in "Le sablon" neighbourhood, Dundee concept is definitely worth to…read moresee! Many exclusive brands difficult to find like Nicole Farhi, Iris Von Arnim, Equipment, Adriano Goldschmied, Ellen See, Woolrich,.. Perfect place to find a nice Valentine gift to your beloved one. Open on Sunday's.

Mezzo Gent is a smaller gift shop with an automatic door that sells gag gifts, Father's Day gifts…read moreand other cute and fun silly gifts. The space isn't that big but there's a lot packed into it so you almost have to walk through multiple times to take everything in. The service was friendly and although the items are a bit on the lower quality gag gift end, it's a super cute little shop and definitely worth a visit if you're staying in the area.