Christmas Magic in Bruges, Ghent, Brussels

‘So lovely! Amazing!’ Just some of the excited remarks a stay in Bruges will elicit. When you take a boat trip down romantic canals, stroll along centuries-old squares or admire countless art treasures in a museum. Wonder, amazement, inspiration. You'll experience all of them, because Bruges astounds, captivates and delights. How exactly does that feel? You'll have to experience it for yourself. And then you'll also be saying: Oooh! Bruges Walking tour with a local guide. Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its medieval architecture is especially beautiful during the winter months. We will take a walk around the city to admire the stunning buildings and historic landmarks. Belfry The Belfry of Bruges is a medieval bell tower, 83 metres tall, in the centre of Bruges. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other dangers. Free evening While Bruges is a great place to enjoy the festive season with its delicious food and drinks. During Christmas, the city is filled with stalls selling Belgian chocolates, waffles, mulled wine, and other traditional treats. It’s a perfect time to indulge in the local cuisine and warm up with a hot drink while exploring the beautiful Christmas markets. You can spend the evening taking a leisurely stroll around the city center to soak up the festive atmosphere and admire the thousands of twinkling lights that adorn the buildings and streets.

*Historium* In Historium Story you are taken on a time trip to medieval Bruges. Let yourself be swept up in a wonderful love story while walking through 7 historical themed rooms – magnificent medieval backdrops, with film, music and special effects. Using the audio guide you will hear everything about the Golden Age of Bruges and imagine yourself back in the time of Jan van Eyck. The Historium is located on the Market Square, where the Waterhalle used to be. This was the central warehouse for the shipping industry in the thriving trading city. The location has been reconstructed in the attraction and gives your visit an extra dimension. *Canal Boat Tour* Bruges is so romantic that it is popular as a romantic destination for people in love. So, apart from being renowned as the Northern Venice, it would also come as no surprise that the city has its very own “Lake of Love”. Hidden in a quiet part of the canals, in the southern part of Bruges, is a beautiful park called Minnewater. According to legend, a young and pretty girl was once called Minna. She fell in love with Stromberg, a strong and handsome warrior of a neighbouring tribe. But her father opposed the match and instead arranged for her to marry another man... How the story ends we will learn once we are on boat :) Legends say that if you kiss your loved ones in the Lovers Bridge, your love will last forever! *Church of Our Lady* The second tallest of the world, the115.5 metre-high brick church tower, illustrates the craftsmanship of the Bruges builders. Inside you can find a wealth of art treasures, with Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna and Child as the absolute highlight. The rich church interior contains numerous paintings, 13th and 14th century painted crypts and the 15th and 16th century tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. *Aurora Light experience trail* Inspired by the Northern Lights, this 2.5 km walk features 10 unique light installations that will take you on a journey through some of the city’s hidden gems. Each installation is connected by a cool blue glow and offers a different wondrous experience that’s bound to leave you feeling amazed. *The Beer Wall* We all know that Belgium is a leading country when it comes to beers, so this bar offers a variety of 1250 different real ales in different cabinets, along with their accompanying glass. The cabinets are 30 meters long and most of the cabinets are outside in all weather conditions, even in winter. The beers are arranged alphabetically as described in the book. *The Choco Museum* This specialty museum goes back to when Mayas and Aztecs used cocoa during their rituals where it was mingled with their mystical beliefs. ... and the processes of cocoa gradually evolving over the years and leading to the invention of solid chocolate in the 19th century. Free evening

Morning in Bruges and then we depart to Ghent! Ghent is mystical city which shines day and night. When night falls, Ghent is transformed. Discover the fairy-tale lighting that bathes all of Ghent’s architectural gems in beautiful light. Walk through a magical, sparkling city until midnight. Walking tour with a local guide *Historic quays Graslei and Korenlei* Set one opposite the other, once the city’s centre of trade, these quays remain a hub of activity, lined with cafe terraces and moorings for boat tours. They’re the gateway to the historical centre, as well as the neighbourhoods of Patershol, a former working-class district turned culinary hotspot, and Prinsenhof, a residential area that was once home to royalty. *The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb* This altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers is the most stolen artwork of all time — it was even robbed by Napoleon, and over the years, it’s been forged and almost destroyed. It marked the transition from Middle Ages to Renaissance in Flemish art: admire its genre-defining details at St Bavo’s Cathedral, where a VR tour leads visitors through its history. *Street art* Ever since a historical centre passageway — now known as Graffiti Alley — was given over to street artists in the 1990s, murals have claimed Ghent like vines. The ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ map pinpoints some of the most famous. Pieces from homegrown talent include the rabbits by big-name ROA on Tempelhof and the foxes on Napoleon Destanbergstraat, which helped artist Kitsune make a name for herself. *Museum of Industry* Housed inside a former cotton mill, this museum traces Ghent’s rise to textile powerhouse. The star of the collection is Belgium’s first spinning mule, a machine created to speed up yarn production. *St Michael’s Bridge* On a boat tour we will marvel at what once used to be a flat turntable bridge, but it was replaced by stone arches at the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the bridge is a beautiful central lantern with a bronze statue of St Michael. Free evening Taste a waffle by the river or wander among firs and pines, amble past stalls selling snacks and drinks, fancy trinkets and authentic crafts. The scent of pine resin and mulled wine make the experience complete; or go on a roller skating in the heart of Ghent!

Morning in Ghent, departure to Brussels Brussels is the capital of Belgium, Flanders and Europe. Medieval Grand-Place, is indeed grand, with many 17th-century buildings and daily flower markets. The city centre turns into an original and impressive Christmas Market with the lights parades and more than 200 chalets called ‘WinterWonders’. Combine this festive ambiance with some fun on the wide variety of fairground attractions or ice-skating in the covered ice rink. Walking tour with a local guide *Grand Place* The Grand-Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger edifices; the city's Flamboyant Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic King's House or Bread House building, containing the Brussels City Museum. *Manekin Pis* Is a landmark 55.5 cm bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. *Jeanneke Pis* The female version of Manekin Pis, a 50-centimetre bronze statue depicts a naked little girl with short pigtails, squatting and urinating on a blue-grey limestone base. *Royal Museums of Fine Arts* Considered one of Brussels' greatest museums, it houses an extensive collection of works from the Flemish School, featuring a number of masterpieces by Peter Bruegel. *Parc du Cinquantenaire* Planned by King Leopold in the late 19th century, this park holds imposing monuments including the Triumphal Arch, Exposition Halls and the Bordiau Halls, which house the prestigious Museum of Art and History. Free evening

Breakfast with amazing panoramic views at Atomium The most popular tourist attraction in the capital of Europe, an art center and an international symbol of Brussels and Belgium. Suspended 100 metres above the ground, in the highest sphere of the most impressive monument in the capital, the Atomium Restaurant invites you to enjoy an extraordinary experience. Belgian specialities or seasonal dishes, a la carte or formulas this restaurant brings you near the clouds. Visit inside Atomium Halfway between sculpture and architecture, the Atomium was designed and built for the Brussels World's Fair (1958), for which it was the flagship building and emblem. Representing an iron unit cell (9 iron atoms) magnified 165 billion times, the monument with its unique silhouette has, over time, grown to become the symbol of the country. On the inside the Atomium offers, not just the most beautiful view of Brussels, but also an entirely astounding and surreal ride through its interior spaces and volumes which alone makes the visit worth it. Here we are at the end of our trip, by 3 pm we say goodbye after an amazing trip that will leave us endless memories :)