This document provides an itinerary for a 5-day tour of Belgium that includes visits to Brussels, Antwerp, Mechelen, Ieper, Bruges, and Ghent. Day 1 involves arriving in Brussels and includes an orientation tour and guided walking tour. Day 2 includes visits to Antwerp, known as the City of Diamonds, and Mechelen, which has a unique belfry tower. Day 3 focuses on WWI sites in Ieper and includes visits to memorials and museums. Day 4 is spent exploring Bruges, nicknamed the Venice of the North. Day 5 involves a visit to Ghent, including St. Bavo's Cathedral and the Castle of the Counts, before departing

1. Day 1 – Brussels:
Morning – Brussels
After arriving at Brussels International Airport a Meet & Greet will take place with
the Admire team. The opportunity then presents itself to enjoy an orientation tour
of Brussels. After all, it is the capital of Europe and a must see. After the tour,
check-in at your hotel from where you can experience the lively city centre.
Afternoon
After settling at the hotel, a guided discovery tour will re-boost your energy. This
refreshing walking tour ends at the amazing Market Square of Brussels. There
you can enjoy and taste a rewarding, typical, Belgian beer at the different cafés.
Belgium has over 650 different kinds of beers that are “all” most definitely worth
tasting.
Evening
After a great day, you can unwind, enjoying one of our biggest national prides;
mussels and fries served, of course, with a cool beer. Enjoy your meal at the
famous ‘Aux Armes de Bruxelles’ restaurant followed by a visit of the Music
Village.
Here you can listen to Jazz tunes, knowing that the most important instrument,
the saxophone, was invented by a Belgian named Adolph Sax.
Day 2 Brussels – Antwerp – Mechelen – Brussels:
Morning – Antwerp
The City of Diamonds is where you will start another day of discovering.
Antwerp is full of history and great food and drinks. The world renowned painter
Rubens was Flemish and lived a very interesting life, which you can learn all
about at his house, now ‘The Rubens House’ museum in the city centre. By the
river Scheldt lays the Fortress, which is the oldest building you will find in
Antwerp. It holds many stories and myths that will intrigue you from the very first
moment you hear them. One of the newest additions to the city is the MAS
museum. The MAS opened in 2011 and is famous for its unique structure. The
building allows you to experience a 360° view of Antwerp as you move to the
panoramic rooftop terrace. Enjoy a nice meal at the restaurant ‘De Groote Witte
Arend’ and discover over 90 typical beers such as a ‘Bolleke’.
WELCOME TO BELGIUM
5 DAYS PACKAGE

2. Afternoon
Walking through Antwerp’s smallest passageway
‘Vlaaikens gang’ and on to the square of the
Antwerp Cathedral, you will find lots of small shops
that sell the famous and loved-by-all biscuits
‘Antwerpse Handjes’. These biscuits not only taste
great, but they also represent a large part of the
history of Antwerp. According the urban myth, the
name ‘Antwerpen’ is derived from ‘throwing hands’ in
Flemish.
Evening – Mechelen
On the way back to Brussels you will make a stop in
Mechelen. Mechelen has a unique viewing of the
Belfry tower, the St. Rumbold’s Tower, which is a
UNESCO World Heritage site. The carillons bells
make beautiful sounds and have regulated the lives
of Mechelen’s habitants since the late 15th century. A
delicious meal will be served in a restaurant with view
on the St. Rumbold’s Tower.
Day 3 Brussels – Flanders Fields – Ieper
– Bruges:
Morning – Ieper
Check out and head to the West part of Belgium. It is
the setting of the 100th anniversary of WWI that
started in 1914 and ended in 1918. The Yser Tower
is your first stop. The tower represents freedom,
peace and tolerance and it is a monument to remind
everyone how terrible war is and how important it is to
avoid it at all times. In the tower we will support you
with some refreshments. The ‘Dodengang’
(“passageway of the dead”) is just nearby and will be
your next visit. These trenches and bunkers are
spread over more than 1 kilometer of land.
Afternoon
In Poperinge you can visit Talbot House, where the
general emphasis is not so much on the political and
military side of the story, but rather on life behind the
lines. After lunch, you will visit the Polygon Wood.
Here stands the official memorial to the 5th Australian
Division.
Ypres is an irrefutable part of world history as during
the WWI over 50 countries fought in the war of
Flanders.
‘In Flanders Fields Museum’ will get you involved in
WWI and allows you to see, hear and feel the terror
and significance of the period. A local beer
degustation will refresh your spirit after your visit to
this gripping museum.
Evening – Ieper – Bruges
The Menin Gate is the most important Memorial for
the British Missing of the Ypres Salient, with one aisle
totally dedicated to Australia’s Missing Soldiers in
Flanders. Every evening at 8 p.m. a moving
ceremony, called The Last Post, takes place under
the Menin Gate and has become a part of the daily
life in Ypres to honor the soldiers who died during
WWI.
After all these interesting visits, you go straight to
Bruges; a tranquil and medieval city which is part of
UNESCO World Heritage that enchants every one of
its visitors. Enjoy a good night’s rest.

3. Day 4 Bruges:
Morning
A relaxed morning starts with a great breakfast at the
hotel. In the late morning, you will have the
opportunity to discover Bruges, ‘The Venice of the
North’. Visit the Historium museum. This museum
allows you to relive the time and experience it in
every way possible.
Lunch will be served at the brewery ‘Halve Maan’
where the ‘Brugse zot’ and ‘Straffe Hendrik’ are
brewed. Enjoy one of these two beers matched to
different kinds of food.
Afternoon
A tour by boat on the canals is the perfect sequel to
your experience of Bruges. The canals allow a
different perspective of this beautiful city. Nearby the
dock lays the Church of Our Lady, where you can
glimpse at a sculpture created by the world renowned
Michelangelo.
After your boat tour and a savory meal, belongs a
sweet dessert. You won’t find a better sweet in
Belgium than chocolate. A chocolate tasting is the
perfect way to discover all the different kinds of
chocolate, from white to dark chocolate, flavored with
nuts, spices, fruits and so on.
Evening
A day of exploring Bruges ends at ‘Cafedraal’
restaurant. This restaurant lies at the heart of Bruges
and serves local Belgian food with a French touch.
‘Cafedraal’ describes its kitchen as a culinary
adventure and will leave your taste buds craving for
more.
Day 5 Bruges – Ghent – Next European
Destination:
Morning – Ghent
The final day of your stay in Belgium will be spent in
Ghent. Ghent is a historic city, yet at the same time a
contemporary one. The modern daily life of the city’s
active inhabitants takes place in a gorgeous historical
backdrop. ‘Graslei’ is one of the most loved places in
Ghent to relax and hang out with friends.
A must see in Ghent is the painting ‘The Adoration
of the Mystic Lamb’ by the famous Van Eyck
brothers of 1432 at St. Bavo’s Cathedral. It is a
milestone in art history and the highlight of the
Flemish Primitives. After being requisitioned many
times by, among others, Napoleon and Nazi
Germany, it now hangs in its original spot. There is
still one panel missing that was mysteriously stolen in
1934.St. Michaels Bridge allows you to admire many
marvelous buildings at once, for example the Three
Towers.
The ‘Castle of the Counts’ is the last stop of your
city tour.
It was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace who tried, and
succeeded, to impress the habitants of Ghent and
enemies he might encounter. A visit to this castle
results in great views and an insight as to how
wealthy its owner must have been.
Lunch will be served at the ‘Brasserie Pakhuis’, a
former warehouse, which is located in a cosy alley
with the towers of Ghent in the background.
Afternoon
After a lovely meal it is time to pick up your luggage
and travel to your next destination in Europe.
For further details, contact:
BRIGITTE BOONE CMP CMM
Managing Director
Tel: +32 2 361 65 59
brigitte.boone@admire.be
www.admire.be