Flemish Region

With its quaint cobblestone streets and impressive gothic cathedrals, the area of Belgium called Flanders offers both history and culture to its visitors.

Made up of several cities and towns, this region is impressive in its diversity. The backdrop could include an ancient church or a cutting edge club, or a flower-edged canal. Enjoy local breweries and pubs or hunt down works of art. Walk through the open air markets or find a quiet corner in one of the area's top end restaurants for a fabulous culinary experience.

Visit Antwerp to see how medieval architecture can be brought to Art Nouveau style. Dive into the diamond district in this city or enjoy a Bolleke beer. Or take a short train ride from your rented apartment or house to Bruges for a romantic getaway. With no vehicle traffic, its easy to see just how beautiful this small city is. Take a boat ride along the canals and find unique chocolate shops and return back to your rental to enjoy a night of relaxing and swimming in the pool.

Within view of Gravensteen Castle, Ghent is the Belgian locals' choice for a place to go in this region. Mostly blocked off to car travel, most people take to biking throughout its unassuming shops and restaurants, which hold unexpected treasures. Come to Ghent to get away from the more tourist driven areas of Belgium, where you can enjoy a quiet, relaxing vacation.

Come to where the sounds of bells fill the air. In Mechelen, people come from all over to learn how to play church bells in the local carillon school. Full of gardens and parks to stroll, while taking in the beauty of the eight gothic baroque churches throughout the town, visitors can enjoy a peaceful and retrospective trip.

Many of the other towns and cities of the Flemish region have their own breweries, where travelers can quench parched tongues after long walks or bike rides through museums, gardens or quiet streets. In a region of Belgium where the nationality (Flemish) and the language (Dutch) seem to be as diverse as its culture, visitors, in a setting that combines the medieval and gothic with the nouveau creating a truly unique experience.