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What do you get when you mix a dreamy fairytale village, quiet canals, rich chocolate and decadent waffles? You get Brugge. Any travel to Belgium should include Brugge. Not quite sure? Keep reading and I will show you 5 ways to fall in love with Brugge.
A Little History
To gain a deeper appreciation for this historic gem, we need to take a look at how Brugge began.
Brugge was settled as early as the 9th century, during the Viking age. It rose to fame in the 12th-15th centuries due to being a major hub for trade. Often called the “Venice of the North,” it was one of Europe’s richest cities during its golden years. After years of decline, Brugge had a resurgence in the 19th century and is now known for chocolate, beer and gothic architecture. The natural beauty combined with mouthwatering food and drink really make it easy to fall in love with Brugge.
Let’s Wander
The first of the 5 ways to fall in love with Brugge is really quite simple. You see, Brugge is a strolling town. There is absolutely no better way to experience Brugge than by setting out and wandering through the town. No set plans, no set time to be anywhere, just explore the cobblestone streets and alleys.
We chose to spend one day exploring as much of the historic area as possible. We wandered into our favorite breakfast spot, then took off with no set plan and ended up in quiet areas with stone bridges and calm canals. Open doors to antique shops made it easy to pop in and look around. True to us, we ended up in the square with a beer in hand. Of course, it was the tart cherry lambic for me.
The beautiful thing about wandering is you can simply head out and see where the winding streets take you or you can wander with a bit of purpose. Selecting your favorite interests and then setting out to explore then further would also make for an amazing day. I think a self-guided food tour of Brugge would be a fabulous way to spend the day!
Canal Tour
Much like Venice, I think it would be hard to visit Brugge and not take a canal tour. The views from the water allow for a different perspective of the town you have been exploring on foot. Another bonus is the canal tours are not too long and can easily be added to your stay. Don’t be surprised if you spend a good portion of your tour taking pictures. The views and angles from the water are stunning and a photography dream.
Maybe you would like to add a walking portion to your tour. This is an excellent way to hear a little more about Brugge’s history and what makes it special. This tour is a good option for a walking and canal tour. There is so much history hiding among the beauty of Brugge that hearing it from a local adds a greater depth to this historic gem.
Where Chocolate Feels Like Magic
No doubt you have heard about the infamous Belgian chocolate. Are you wondering if it is really that good? I can promise you if you go to the right chocolate shop, yes, it is that good.
Admittedly, I thought ALL of the chocolate shops in Brugge would be incredible. You will quickly learn that is not the case. Before I tell you my favorite, I want to advise you to skip the ones that look kitschy and have questionable objects made of chocolate. Of course, they might be good for a funny gift, but that is not where you want to get your Belgian chocolate.
Many debates have occurred over which chocolate shop is the best. Which one is it? That’s the fun part, you get to decide! Spend part of your day sampling the divine truffles melt in your mouth chocolates and let your tastebuds choose which ones you take home. For me, The Chocolate Line was my favorite. I had to go back a second time because we ate all of it in our hotel room. Another good option is Chocolatier Dumon. You can’t go wrong with either one. Happy tasting!
Just One More Waffle
Did you ever think the 5 ways to fall in love with Brugge would be this easy? Chocolate, waffles, wandering, it’s a dream come true.
Let me ask you, how well do you know your Belgian waffles? Probably better than I did when if first arrived. Though after much research, I am a self-proclaimed waffle expert.
Let’s talk basics: First you have your traditional Belgian waffle which is square, fluffy and not overly sweet on its own. Toppings are a Belgian waffles best friend. Personally, I lean towards the classics of chocolate, strawberries, bananas, whipped cream. You get the idea. Don’t overlook the savory options if that is more to your liking. There are so many to choose from.
Next, we have the Liege waffle. You may think you have had a Liege waffle, but until you have had a warm one handed to you from a little window on a street in Brugge, you haven’t really had a Liege waffle. Made from a brioche like dough, this waffle is denser and sweeter than its cousin the Belgian waffle. Large sugar crystals are mixed in, and they melt creating crunchy caramelized edges. So sweet, so delicious. Purists will say that Liege waffles are best eaten on their own. While you can absolutely do that, if you should choose a topping, go with something simple. I would stick with chocolate or strawberries or whipped cream, but not all of them. This waffle stands out on its own.
Trappist Treasures
Brugge is not only known for sweet treats, but it also has a strong reputation for some of the world’s best beer. Even if you aren’t normally a beer drinker, there is probably a beer that you will enjoy. So, what sets Brugge’s beer apart from the others?
Trappist beer is more than just beer, it’s about faith, tradition and flavor. There are a handful of Trappist breweries with most of them being in Europe. This unique beer must be brewed inside the walls of a Trappist abbey and under the supervision of monks. The proceeds must also go towards nonprofit uses, particularly back to support the monastery.
The small batches are brewed in Dubbel, Tripel and Quadruple as well as Pale ale and Blond ale. If you aren’t sure which one you will enjoy the most, try them all! A flight is the perfect solution to this beer dilemma.
Lambic Beer is brewed using spontaneous fermentation with yeast and natural bacteria found near Brussels. The open-air fermentation process creates a beer with a sour, earthy flavor. Rarely sold straight, Lambics are commonly flavored with fruit flavor. Kriek is my favorite Lambic beer. This tart cherry blends beautifully with the sour notes of the beer. Framboise is the raspberry blend and is popular for good reason. Whichever sour fruity mix you choose, you will taste the deep flavor that lambic beers are known for.
Conclusion
Brugge has a way of weaving itself into your heart. Whether you are wandering the streets during the quiet mornings, sipping your favorite beer or savoring a waffle hot from the window on the street, your heart will sing. Each experience will reveal a different layer of Brugge’s charm and rich history. Truth be told, there are more than 5 ways to fall in love with Brugge. Find your favorite ways and savor every moment you are there because once you experience Brugge, you will realize it was inevitable you would fall in love with it.
Combining Brugge with Munich is and easy trip. We chose this last year as Chris wanted to go to Oktoberfest. I highly recommend experiencing Oktoberfest and for some first-time information, you can check out this recent post. Prost!
