Creativity has always been an inherent part of Antwerp. In the 16th and 17th century, Antwerp was home to great masters such as Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck. In the 20th and 21st century, the city has been an inspiration to famous fashion designers such as Dries Van Noten and Walter van Beirendonck. Aside from the cultural agenda, the city is well worth a visit for its excellent restaurants, bars and clubs. And of course for shopping: retail stores are also open on each first Sunday of the month. Much like Antwerp diamonds, the city sparkles with an impressive range of architecture from medieval buildings to Art Nouveau townhouses and the beautiful contemporary MAS or "Museum Aan de Stroom" ("Museum at the river").

Our suggestions:

• EAT While at De Koninck city brewery, visit one of the on-site establishments. Chocolatier Jitsk makes sweet creations that are appreciated the world over. Cheese ripeners Van Tricht have a shop there and meatlovers will enjoy the Butcher's Store. Add a bakery, a bike store and a place to enjoy a freshly tapped 'Bolleke' and you have all you need.
• SHOP In Belgium's most sartorial city, fashion stores are everywhere. To find the best of Antwerp fashion, start at the Nationalestraat and move your way towards Het Zuid (South district).
• LATER Well-heeled creatives make a beeline for the café-bar Vitrin (Marnixplaats 14), located on a key square in the trendy Zuid (South) district. Or go to Bar Palmier (Volksstraat 16) for raw wines, craft beers and stylish cocktails.

"Here's a secret within a secret: Ghent might just be the best European city you've never thought of visiting, in a country that continues to be criminally overlooked." - Lonely Planet. If you're the type who prefers exploring away from the tourist hordes, funky Ghent is definitely the place to go.

Ghent is praised for its brilliant mix of a rich history and a vibrant present. Here hides one of Europe's finest panoramas of water, spires and centuries-old grand houses. But this is no place to simply kick back. It's also Flanders' biggest university town, which means linger-as-long-as-you-like cafés, well-priced restaurants and a laid-back atmosphere. Under the watchful eye of Gravensteen Castle (a.k.a. Castle of the Counts), the city boasts an Opera House, 18 museums, 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings.

The most visited site in Ghent is the famous polyptych, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, also known as the Ghent Altarpiece, painted by the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck in 1432. It still shines in its original location, the St. Bavo Cathedral. The locals, while intensely proud of their city, are very modest and would never brag about its merits. That might be one of the reasons why it has taken so long for the rest of the world to discover this unique gem.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Enjoy gastronomy in a 16th century chapel at Holy Food Market (Beverhoutplein 15). Stop by for delicious street food; there are plenty of vegetarian options in the veggie capital of Europe!
• SHOP Looking for unique vintage finds? Around the Vrijdagmarkt you'll find plenty of little shops, each with their own retro vibe.
• LATER Sip inventive cocktails at the timeless cocktail bar Jigger’s (Oudburg 16). Allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised with a mix of local and homemade products.

The historic centre of Bruges is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is teeming with places of interest. Bruges is so magical that it's akin to a film set. This seems appropriate given that the 2008 film In Bruges was filmed on location in the city. This film, starring Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell, features two hit men holing up in the city after a difficult job. During Bruges’ Golden Age, the 15th century, the fine arts prevailed. In the wake of the prestigious Burgundian dynasty, the great Flemish Primitives made a name for themselves. The world-renowned works of Jan Van Eyck, Hans Memling and those of other prominent Flemish Masters can be admired at the Groeninge Museum, St John’s Hospital, St Saviour’s Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Bistro Bruut (Meestraat 9) has had a radical facelift; its dining room now combines vintage industrial-style lampshades and reclaimed-wood tabletops. The honest Franco-Belgian cuisine at Assiette Blanche (Philipstockstraat 23-25, assietteblanche.be) is a hit with the chic local crowd.
• SHOP Family-run chocolatier Dumon (Eiermarkt 6) occupies a dollhouse-like shop near Markt Square, while BbyB (Sint Amandstraat 39) features chocolates from top chef Bart Desmidt in minimal Pantone-style packaging. There is no accounting for taste, but at Goûts et Couleurs (Ezelstraat 5), they know their stuff. Furniture by Hay, accessories with a Scandinavian or Belgian twist, quality retro designs and mini gadgets you can treat yourself or others to. Optiek Hoet (Vlamingstraat 19): No trendy look, whether it's that of a designer, advertiser or woman in the media, is complete without Hoet glasses. This is the place for Hoet’s own design classics. Fashion for trendsetters. Popular the world over, but with its cradle in Bruges. 
• LATER Venerated 't Brugs Beertje (Kemelstraat 5) offers 300 different beers, including Brugse Zot ('the fool'), the city's only official home brew. Comptoir des Arts (Vlamingstraat 53) is a hip and atmospheric cellar jazz bar with a roaring fire. The latest hype in Bruges is called Groot Vlaenderen (Vlamingstraat 94), a wonderful and particularly elegant cocktail bar where every cocktail is prepared right in front of you in an expert fashion.

Whether you're looking to quench your thirst for knowledge or just your thirst, Leuven is the ideal place. This youthful town, less than half an hour by train from Brussels, is home to one of Europe's oldest universities (KU Leuven). You'll find a bit of history in every street corner. A few lucky students even have the privilege of living in a piece of that heritage: the 13th century stone beguinage (Groot Begijnhof) selected as a world heritage site by UNESCO. And where there are students... there is beer! Leuven is Belgium's reigning brewing capital – no small feat in a country that produces hundreds of delicious varieties. Leuven is the headquarters of AB Inbev, the largest brewery in the world, famous for Stella Artois beer. The university, one of the oldest and most important in Europe, has its roots in the centre of Leuven, and its historic college buildings dominate many of the squares and streets. The university and its 40,000 students and professors have a special tie with Leuven, ever since the university's founding in 1425. Leuven is a great place for the curious traveler with time to explore. It is an intimate city; any spot can be easily reached on foot or by bicycle.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Located at the heart of Leuven's culinary scene, Essenciel (Muntstraat 23) is run by a top young Flemish chef.
• SHOP Parijsstraat, Mechelsestraat and the Vismarkt: the 'place to shop' for those who favour different and fashionable. With lovely boutiques, restaurants and culinary shops.
• LATER Sample Con Domus and Nostra Domus beers at home brewery Domus (Tiensestraat 8).

Picturesque Mechelen is small in size, but big on charm and history. It's probably best known for its carillon school. Students from all over the world come to Mechelen to learn to play church bells. Go and sit on a terrace, with a local beer, listening to the delightful bell music dropping down from the sky. It truly is one of the most pleasant experiences to have in Mechelen. Mechelen is a city thriving with quaint shops, car-free areas and amazingly pleasant little squares, brimful of heritage. It has more than 336 listed buildings and monuments and is featured on the UNESCO World Heritage list no less than five times. As from March 2018 the new museum Hof van Busleyden invites you to discover life during the Burgundian era and 14th to 16th century art. Mechelen is a city for all ages. Youngsters can actively enjoy themselves in the Toy Museum, Technopolis or Planckendael, whereas the young at heart can entertain themselves at the Anker, one of the oldest operating breweries in Belgium.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Brasserie Het Anker (Guido Gezellelaan 49) serves classic dishes prepared with beer and at Lam'eau (Van Beethovenstraat 8), you can enjoy classic French-Belgian cuisine in a former brewery next to the Dyle.
• SHOP Kaashandel Schockaert (IJzerenleen 28) is a shop selling almost 300 cheeses and is particularly famous for its Gouden Carolus Brouwerskaas, which is made with local beer.
• LATER Unwined (Steenweg 22) with a glass or two of grape at this unpretentious bodega. The sommelier has removed the snobbery associated with choosing wine by creating a selection chart based on country of origin and occasion.

Ypres city centre also offers many friendly cafés and splendid restaurants, shops and delightful accommodation options proposing everything you need for an unforgettable stay. The Flanders Fields Country – also known as the Westhoek – is the region where you can remember and honour the memory of the 500,000 victims of WWI in Flanders. It is also a warm and welcoming region, full of beautiful scenery. You can walk through Ypres city centre and discover the surrounding area by bike, scooter, minibus, etc.

2018 is the centenary anniversary of Armistice Day. Visit the temporary exhibition 'To End all Wars? From Final Offensive to Peace from Versailles" in the In Flanders Fields Museum (29/9/18-30/6/19).

Our suggestions in Ypres:

Sint-Arnoldus Beer Café: located in the Menin Street, this beer café offers no less than 25 local beers on draught.

Fashioned on industrial urban landscapes such as Liverpool, Birmingham, Bilbao or Metz, which have opted in favour of urban regeneration and where culture has played a determining role, Charleroi is now undergoing a complete transformation. The changes to come will make the town unmissable.

Many museums such as the Chocolate Museum, the IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art, the Historical Museum of Eupen town and so on, await your visit. Hikers and cyclists will find a vast network of walks and well-maintained trails here. The choice is diverse (rambling in Eupen, Ravel…).

This town on the Vesdre River, once rich due to the textile industry, abounds in sumptuous Patrician and imposing town houses, churches and fountains. The new town centre, with its welcoming squares and numerous terraces, is a great place for strolling. Gourmets will enjoy the culinary wealth of the region. Make the most of the quality of life the town of Eupen has to offer.

Remnants of the Liège’s history can still be found in the old Citadel offering a panoramic city view and the Archeoforum museum located beneath Place Saint-Lambert. In addition, Liège’s extended shopping area has lots of chic and trendy fashion boutiques, designer stores, cafes and brasserie-restaurants with great typical food for a real great time with amazing Liégeois hospitality! Furthermore, why not benefit from a free half day bike or scooter rental to discover Liège in a different way?
Liège's most famous tourist attraction is the long stairway Montagne de Bueren - after taking on the more than 400 steps, you'll be rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Definitely a challenge that's worth the effort! The city is located on the banks of the river Meuse, which divides the city into two parts. The Outremeuse (which translates to 'the part beyond the Meuse river') is famed for its more creative vibe and folklore. The most important character in Liège's folklore is Tchantchès, a marionette doll representing the stubborn and rebellious yet good-natured character of Liège. Enjoy the puppet theatre at the Musée de Tchantchès and learn more about Outremeuse's history with the help of Tchantches and his wife Nanesse.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Every bite is an adventure at Mandibule en Roue Libre (rue Souverain-Pont 38), a cosy bistro where chef-owner Fabien Henrard encourages customers to pick up their own orders from the kitchen and play their own vinyl records during meals. For typical and savoury Liégeois cuisine, enjoy the warm atmosphere of Le Bistrot d’en Face (quai de la Goffe 8) and La Maison du Pèkèt (behind City Hall, rue de l’Epée 4).
• SHOP For a genuine Liégeois shopping experience, forget the high street stores and join the foragers at the city's many antique markets. Every Sunday morning on the left bank of the Meuse river, La Batte (Belgium's oldest outdoor market) is a beehive of activity. Alternatively, try the Saint-Pholien junk market every Friday morning on the Boulevard de la Constitution.
• LATER Party until the wee hours in the pubs and nightspots of the Le Carré neighbourhood.

Louvain-la-Neuve is a unique example of urban creation that combines country charm with all the benefits of a modern town! A major tourist centre, Louvain-la-Neuve is a constantly changing new town whose planning projects deserve exploration.

Immerse yourself in our museums and attractions such as the Artothèque (art library); the Losseau House; the BAM (Museum of Fine Arts); the Belfry; the Mundaneum (archive centre); Mons Memorial Museum; the Doudou Museum; the François Duesberg Museum; the Regional Museum of Natural Science; the SILEX’S (Mons); the site of Grand-Hornu (in Boussu); the Pass (Science Adventure Park located in Frameries); Van Gogh’s houses (in Cuesmes and Wasmes) and the Fair and Memory Museum (in Saint-Ghislain) to name just a few.

Finally, regarding architecture and design, there is the Centre of Design (Mons) or major urban projects like the MICX (Convention Centre Mons) designed by the architect Daniel Liebeskind or even the project of Mons’ new railway station designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Jean-Philippe Watteyne is famous in Mons, thanks to his run on the French TV series Top Chef. He's also the genius behind iCook (Rue des Fripiers 2, restaurant-icook.be), one of the city's most popular restaurants.
• SHOP The Official Souvenirs Shop visitMons (Grand-Place 22) is ideal place to find a souvenir of Mons and a showcase for local artisans. Many reference books on Mons and its region. A shop with something for all tastes.
• LATER Cuba'R (Rue de Nimy 57) is a cellar bar that has brought Cuban music, Cuban drinks and some great cigars to Mons. 

Namur is the capital of Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium. Enjoy a stroll through the XVIIIth century centre or the Citadel, one of Europe's most impressive strongholds. If you want to give your feet a rest, you can join one of the many boat trips on the rivers Sambre and Meuse, as the city is neatly tucked in between where both rivers meet, an ideal and romantic way to explore the region. Do you prefer a more challenging way of exploration? Namur is also the gateway to various nature hikes in the Belgian Ardennes, an extensive forest region famed for its gorgeous landscapes and hillsides.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Le Grill des Tanneurs (Rue des Tanneries 13b) Set up on the first floor of the Hôtel des Tanneurs in Namur, the Grill des Tanneurs offers a convivial and generous cuisine. Wood-grilled meats, fish, salads and crudités, specialities from the region… The place has been an unrivalled success for the last 20 years.
• SHOP b.d.Librairie (Rue Saint-Jean 8) has been selling bande dessinée (comic book), that great Belgian art form, for 18 years.
• LATER Exterieur Nuit(Place du Chanoine Descamps 6) is open until 11pm but it's a good place for Belgian beer and French wine.

Our suggestions:

• EAT Traditionalists eat mussels only from September to April, and the busy De Mosselbeurs (Dwarstraat 10) serves up more than a dozen versions, from basic to Thai-style, spiced with coconut, curry and coriander. Otherwise head down to Ostend Queen (Westhelling 12), where you'll feel like you've stepped aboard a cruise liner that serves excellent seafood.
• SHOP Stock up on local delicacies at the outdoor market on the Wapenplein every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
• LATER Choose from 500 types of beer and 50 kinds of genever (a Belgian juniper-flavoured spirit) at the English pub-style Café Botteltje (Louisastraat 19) or throw shapes on the dancefloor at Tao Bar (Langestraat 24-26).