A slice of real life, for when you're tired of Brugge's fairy-tale tourist sites…read more The Dutch chain HEMA is ubiquitous--good for your basic needs in cosmetics, housewares, and cheap clothes. However, the secret of this Belgian HEMA is that it offers the famous 1 euro breakfast on the upper floor. People of all stripes start lining up before the store even opens: chic young things, middle-aged matrons, families with many kids, and a couple of impoverished-looking old men. Everyone patiently waited for the cafeteria-style breakfast: an egg/bacon sandwich on a baguette, croissant, jam, juice, and coffee. Even in this reduced-expectations setting, the niceties are not forgotten. You still get a speculoos cookie on your saucer, gratis. And the interior is clean and modern, IKEA-style, where that you can overlook the busy street below while you eat. Everything was, surprisingly, fresh and delicious. For a euro! The idea that you might want anything other than this amazing bargain is foreign to the staff. So an impatient cashier simply removed the chocolate croissant from my husband's plate and replaced it with a plain one. Stupid tourists! HEMA: for insight into the local mindset, a filling breakfast, and an all-too-rare bargain in Brugge.

We discovered Hema yesterday after spending 15 Euros each for breakfast at our hotel. This morning…read moreI got the (now) 2 Euro breakfast: An egg sandwich, croissant, and cup of latte. My wife bought a couple of rashers of bacon, yogurt with fruit, and a latte. I also bought a cup of yogurt with fruit and muesli. The entire bill came to 6.75 Euros! We might have paid more. But the person behind the counter advised us to switch a couple of things and buy the 2 Euro breakfast. This place is known far and wide among Europeans for good, inexpensive food. It's cafeteria style. Clean, good service, and a table near the window gives an excellent view of Steenstraat below with beautiful 15th - 18th century buildings across the street. If we had planned to return to Bruges, we might have kept it a secret!

There are many lace shops in Bruges (though not as many as Chocolate shops) and I think we visited…read morethem all (Ahem!). While I admire the craft, they can all start looking the same. We decided to go and purchase here after checking many out .We couldn't get to see the one on Bal Street (highly recommended by travelers and websites) by the Lace Museum (closed) as it had just closed for lunch (What is up with so many Bruges shops closing for lunch) on a cold day and we did not want to wait. We ventured back to the Markt area as we had liked most of the items at Lace Jewel. The range of products and prices was amazing. My wife purchased several pieces in the mid-level price range. There were large pieces she liked better (I reminded her of the missed opportunities from our last trip to Belgium to no avail) but opted for smaller items for herself and to give as gifts, etc. The cost was surprisingly satisfactory considering the quality but can get very expensive for the larger items. The shop owners were very attentive and friendly, helping customers with questions and needs. From the time we went in to leaving there was a constant check out line of three to four which attests to the popularity of Lace Jewel. While that size line may not seem long, in a small crowded shop like this, it is impressive. So, if you can't get to the Bal Street location, don't fret because the quality, service and variety can be found here.

I stumbled across Bubbles at Home while in Gent and took a sharp left into the store. I love bath…read moreproducts and am very loyal to a local Philadelphia brand, but sometimes you have to check out the goods in other cities, too. Bubbles at Home stocks a great array of bath bombs, soaps, masks, lotions and more. The product that jumped out at me was the Dead Sea bath bombs. I thought the scent was lovely so I picked up a handful while at the store. Later that evening, I took a bath at our B&B, and was regretful that I hadn't purchased more of the bombs. The scent was intoxicating and my skin felt so soft after the bath. I was so excited when I stumbled upon another Bubbles at Home location in Bruges, where we were staying. And I ran into the same employee from the store in Gent, Klodeta. She was so kind and helpful and it started to feel like she was my friend after running into her for a third time (yes, I went to the Bruges shop twice). In the end, I took three baths on our trip and brought home five bath bombs in my checked bag. I'm saving them for special occasions when I want to elevate my bath, but I also know they ship worldwide so I can order more when I run out. Great shop and perfect for a souvenir or gift!

OK, there are places where you can buy soap and bath bubbles all over the place, but I still liked…read morethis one, because they have nice original ones at a reasonable price. Like: your name in small soaps, or two small soaps i nthe shape of cupcakes for about 11 EUR.

So much lace. We went to a few lace locations and found this location and Lace Jewel to be our…read morefavorites. This location seemed to have more Tapestries (not interested) than the others. The quality was top notch. The prices seemed a bit higher here, but you pay for quality. We actually came in the store two ties during our trip just to make sure we did not miss anything. Ultimately, we did not make any purchases here as my wife did not want any additional pieces after making several purchases elsewhere. Besides, I think she was all laced out.

I normally do not write reviews for stores, but this is an exception. The woman who ran the shop…read morewas extremely helpful and informative. While we were browsing, she explained the difference between needlepoint lace and Bruges' original bobbin lace. Also, she told us a bit about the Rose of Bruges pattern. There is a good selection of products available. Not the cheapest, but the quality is good, and this is great if you would like to learn a bit more about what you're buying. Apparently they also run a lace-making school.

A delightful shop, full of a wide range of interesting and unusual high quality products,…read moreassociated with Belgium. Well worth a visit.

If you're a Christmas lover like me this is a must do. I try to get ornaments from every country I…read morevisit and this was THE PLACE to get that. The ornaments and overall Christmas decor in here is nothing like I've ever seen. I ended up buying a couple of things pictures, the glass tree and snowman tea candle holder. Everything in the store is absolutely gorgeous so you can't go wrong. I think it's a tad pricey, but what do you expect at a higher end Christmas store and in a touristy spot? All of the employees were super kind and offered to help with different selections of ornaments and decor while shopping. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you have the time!

Buyer Beware! We loved the store until all the stuff we bought started falling apart. They honor…read morenothing and don't respond to emails and don' answer calls. Items from street vendors are better quality! They either swapped items with broken or broke them wrapping, then refused to honor. Waste of time and money and they overcharge for everyrhing. They are looking to take tourist money and run! It's polished garbage and nothing more.

Shopping Middelburg town centre has every kind of shop you…read morecould wish for. Dedicated shoppers know that shopping is not just about quantity but also about quality. Here again Middelburg scores high marks. In fact, it is one of the three most varied shopping towns in the Netherlands! Shopped till you dropped? Take heart, you just found the ideal excuse to take a break in one of the many small restaurants or pavement cafes. Middelburg town centre is a perfect mix of shops and refreshment venues. The shopping precincts The open air shopping precinct in the famous market square is characterised by the tall, impressive gables of the buildings that house the shops. Their elegant ambience combines with the pavement cafés to create an inviting atmosphere. The shops in the nearby Nieuwe Burg precinct also exude elegance and are where you will find, among other things, the exclusive designer brands for fashion and shoes. The Langeviele shopping precinct is the place to go for small fashion boutiques, designer furniture and gourmet snacks. Just behind Langeviele are Korte Geere, Lange Geere and the Geere Arcade. These are packed with quaint, specialist retailers offering furniture, flowers, kitsch and gifts. The best time of year to admire the Lange Delft is around Christmas when Middelburg's longest shopping street is beautifully lit up. The shops in Lange Delft are mostly branches of nationwide chains. The most surprising shopping streets in Middelburg are the small side streets off Lange Delft. These are Sint Janstraat, Herenstraat and Segeerstraat and are home to many original and exciting, smaller shops. Since 2005 Middelburg has also been home to a retail park outside the town centre on Mortiereboulevard. Here you will find the mega stores with a huge range of products from DIY through flowers and plants, furniture, appliances to every conceivable household item. Markets Middelburg's markets cater to food shoppers seeking fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and fish, as well as to those in search of bargains or that elusive book to complete their collection. Below you will find a list of markets in Middelburg. Antique and collectables market From mid-June to the end of August, Thursdays from 9.00 to16.00 hours Location: Vismarkt Books and collectables May to mid-October, Mondays from 8.30 to 16.00 hours Location: Markt Fruit and vegetable market Every Saturday from 8.30 to 16.00 hours Location: Markt Flea market Every first Saturday of the month except in January, from 8.00 a.m. Location: Vismarkt Mixed market Thursdays from 8.30 to 16.00 hours Location: Markt Incidental flea markets and night markets are also organised. For more information about these please contact the Tourist Shop. Opening hours Most shops are shut on Monday mornings. Late shopping day is every Thursday and there are a number of extra late shopping days in the run up to Christmas in December. The shops are also open on every first Sunday of the month between 1 and 5 p.m. Supermarkets often have longer opening hours. Mon. 13.00 to 18.00 hours Tues. to Fri. 9.00 to 18.00 hours Thurs. 9.00 to 21.00 hours Sat. 9.00 to17.00 hours

The chocolates are amazing from this shop, and the woman was so kind and explains in detail all…read moreabout the chocolate making process. Truly, this is a family owned business -go and buy chocolates here. You will be happy you did!

We tried 4 different chocolates. Salted caramel and coconut were our favorites. Lady behind the…read morecounter was very helpful.