Belgium Flemish

Antwerp is the second most populous city in Belgium. In the 16C, Antwerp was noted for the wealth of its citizens ("Antwerpia nummis"); the houses of these wealthy merchants and manufacturers have been preserved throughout the city. Antwerp Zoo was founded in 1843, and is home to more than 6,000 animals (about 769 species). One of the oldest zoos in the world, it is renowned for its high level of research and conservation. Antwerp had an artistic reputation in the 17C, based on its school of painting, which included Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, the two Teniers and many others. Antwerp is home to many interesting sites and museums.

Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact. The historic centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Many of its medieval buildings are notable, including the Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire reaches 122.3m, making it one of the world's highest brick towers/buildings. The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is believed to be Michelangelo's only sculpture to have left Italy within his lifetime. Bruges' most famous landmark is its 13th-century belfry, housing a municipal carillon comprising 48 bells. The city still employs a full-time carillonneur, who gives free concerts on a regular basis.

Much of the city's medieval architecture remains intact and is remarkably well preserved and restored. Its centre is the largest car-free area in Belgium. The beguinages, as well as the belfry and adjacent cloth hall, were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Ghent is also home to several fascinating and eclectic museums. The numerous parks in the city can also be considered to be tourist attractions. Most notably, Ghent boasts a nature reserve (Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen, 230 hectare[15]) and a recreation park (Blaarmeersen, 100 hectare).

Louvain is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium. One of Belgium's finest conservatories is based in Leuven: the Lemmens Institute, which is described as "Faculty of Music, Performing Arts and Education". It is known for its Music Therapy Education and its Wordart-Drama Education. Leuven also has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers. It also has several bars priding themselves in offering a wide variety of local and international beers, including a bar that claims to offer more than 3000 different beers. Louvain is also home to several interesting buildings and landmarks.

Mechelen is one of Flanders' prominent cities of historical art, with Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven. It was notably a centre for artistic production during the Northern Renaissance, when painters, printmakers, illuminators and composers of polyphony were attracted by patrons such as Margaret of York, Margaret of Austria and Jeroen Van Busleyden. Mechlin is also home to many places of interest, including some UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Much of the city's medieval architecture remains intact and is remarkably well preserved and restored. The city center is one of the largest car-free areas in Belgium. The beguinage, as well as the belfry, were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Kortrijk is also home to several museums. Cars are required to yield to pedestrians and cyclists. In general, cars are led to large underground parkings in the historic center of Kortrijk or Park&Ride parkings at outside the city center. Large parts of the historic center are car free.

The area known as Het Zoute (Le Zoute in French) includes the exclusive Royal Zoute Golf Club, located in the dunes.Knokke is home to the Zwin, a 158 ha coastal nature reserve. This large salt-water marsh area is also a protected bird sanctuary.The Sincfala museum, located in Heist, documents the regional history and way of life. A butterfly garden (Vlindertuin) was established near Moeder Siska, the coffeehouse that makes clover-shaped waffles which dates from 1892. It is also home to the Schaarpoort, a concert hall.

Blankenberge is a town and a municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Blankenberge proper and the settlement of Uitkerke. Like most other Flemish coastal towns, a main characteristic of this one is that it is a national and to a certain extent international seaside resort. Apart from the sandy beach, there's a structure unique along the Belgian coast: a 350-m long pier, constructed in 1933.

The Beguinage, founded in 1257 is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another site is the Tongeren Basilica, built in Gothic style in the 13th century, where recent excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders. The Church of St. Catherine, built in Gothic style in 1294 but modified later in different styles. he Gallo-Roman museum, which houses Celtic gold, Roman glassware, Merovingian filigree work, and a Roman dodecahedron, an unusual Gallo-Roman object found during excavations. The original Roman wall, dating from the 2nd century, still visible for more than 1,500 meters. Some of the medieval defensive towers are also still visible today.

The biggest tourist attraction of Genk is Bokrijk, an open-air museum consisting of authentic relocated buildings (mainly dating from 17th till 19th century) from all over Flanders. Genk was established as one of the entrance "gateways" of the Hoge Kempen National Park, the first National Park in Flanders, at its opening in 2006. Also noteworthy are the old coalmines of Zwartberg, Waterschei and Winterslag, surrounded by slag heaps, huge black mountains of dug up soil and coal remnants. Some of the mine buildings and housing can be visited. It sports a nature reserve called "De Maten", the large recreational area Kattevennen (with the Europlaneterium), Bokrijk, and several other green areas.

De Panne is a town and a municipality located on the North Sea coast of the Belgian province of West Flanders. There it borders France, which implies that it is the westernmost location of Belgium. De Panne is home to Plopsaland, a themepark aimed at young children and located at the former Meli-Park. De Panne was also the place where the first land yachts intended for sport were built and used by the Dumont brothers in 1898. The Blegian Militaty Cemetery is located at Kerkstraat 69 in De Panne, 1 km south of the church. Besides Belgian soldiers who died in WWI there are also British soldiers who died in WWII. 3744 soldiers have been buried here.

Interesting locations are the Casino and Fort Napoleon. Ostend is also famous for its sea-side esplanade, including the Royal Galleries of Ostend, pier, and fine-sand beaches. The Mercator, the ex training sailing ship for Belgian merchant navy officers, is now open to the public to view. Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified Atlantic Wall, open to the public as the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum located in Raversijde. You can wander the little streets around Het Vissersplein. At certain times there are local markets in the streets and in the summer the Vissersplein has music festivals. The Vissersplein has many brasseries where you can sit outside and have a drink.