The annual Brussels Flower Carpet returns to the Grand’Place in August. The famous Carpet of Flowers covers almost 2,000 m2 right in the centre of the Grand’Place. This year’s carpet theme is a celebration of Belgium’s presidency of the European Union.

The 2010 Flower Carpet is designed by 23 year old Belgian designer, Antione Durieux. Credit should be given to the flower growers from Ghent who specialize in growing the begonias for the different carpet design each year. Apart from the wide range of vivid and glowing colors these robust flowers are also able to withstand the hot sun. As proof of that, watch the craftsmen assemble them directly on the cobble-stones of the square without a layer of soil.

© Brussels International

If you’re in Brussels between August 13 – 15, 2010, don’t miss this spectacular  Flower Carpet in the Grand’Place.

The colored plant tapestry can be viewed best from the balcony of Hotel de Ville, which is open to the public from 9 am to 11 pm.  Admission is € 3 and children under 12 enter for free.

Every evening at 10.00 pm, 10.30 pm and 11.00 pm a celebration of lights and music will fill the Grand-Place.

Event:   Brussels Flower Carpet
Dates :  August 13, 14 and 15
Place:  Grand’Place

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The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix takes place in Brussels at the end of this month, from August 28-30, 2009. I hope some of you managed to make your Eurostar booking earlier as I suggested in my post of June 16th. You would have got return fares from London to Brussels for as little as £50.00 then.

If you didn’t manage to organize your Eurostar trip earlier, you can still secure fares of £59 return if you’re flexible with times and dates. This may be an excuse to stay on in Brussels a little longer and enjoy the Brussels Beer Weekend which runs from September 4-6, in town, at the Grand Place.

Brussels is a great place for a city break. With its amazing baroque architecture and Gothic town hall, the Belgian capital is full of charm and an abundance of pavement cafes, not to mention beer.

Eurostar Bookings
Your hotel choices
Your Brussels City Guide
Where to Shop in Brussels

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Okay, here’s another Eurostar cheap fare alert! 

For guys and gals who are keen followers of the Formula One Grand Prix, your fast car addiction needn’t stop at the British Grand Prix next week.   The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix runs from August 28 – 30,  2009 and with a bit of early planning, you can travel from London to Brussels on the Eurostar for a return fare as little as £50.00.  That is cheap as chips! 

As you would know, these cheap train fares go very quickly so why not be first in and book early.  Eurostar gives you hassle-free train travel and you can get from London to Brussels city centre in 1hr 50.

Brussels is a great place for a city break?  With its amazing baroque architecture and Gothic town hall, the Belgian capital is full of charm and an abundance of pavement cafes, not to mention beer. If you’re planning on an extended stay, the annual Brussels Beer Weekend, held smack in town at Grand Place, is on from September 4 – 6. 

To book your Eurostar travel, Click Here.
More on Belgian Beer festivals Click Here.
For more on travel to Brussels, see our Brussels City Guide.

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In which country can you practice four different languages, try 800 different beers, eat world-class chocolates and see all its great main cities in a one-day sightseeing tour? Belgium is the answer, not that you’d want to restrict yourself to such a short stay.

Belgium’s four great northern cities share a rich cultural heritage dating back to medieval times, when this was one of the most vibrant trading regions in the world. Yet each one of these cities is very different, not only in cultural sights, but in food and entertainment as well.

Brussels with its appointment as headquarters for the EU and NATO is often referred to as the “Capital of Europe”. But Brussels is not only for bureaucrats! Apart from its magnificent and different architectural styles, Brussels also has over 80 museums, tourist attractions, heaps of shops, a vibrant nightlife, and more restaurants than you could count or feed at. Its town square, the Grand’Place was built as a merchant’s market in the 13th century and now serves as the center of the city with concerts, festivals and their Christmas market all taking place here.

Bruges is one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities and with its network of canals, this beautiful city is also known as the “Venice of the North”. With the Eurostar bringing thousands of tourists here, Bruges is a tourist hotspot.

Brussels' Grand'Place

Ghent is a city made rich and famous by the cloth business in the 13th and 14th centuries. This historic university city has more than 150 concerts, theatre, street activities and shows for children. The Gentse Feesten is one of Belgium’s oldest festivals dating back to 1832. Today, more than one million people head to Ghent to enjoy these annual summer festivities from end July to early August.

Antwerp is the industrial centre and is one of the biggest and most important diamond centres of the world. It has played an important role in the diamond trade since the 15th century. More than 85% of the world’s rough diamonds, 50% of cut diamonds and 40% of industrial diamonds are traded here.

Good food, magnificent sights, diamonds, beer, chocolates, etc., Belgium has it all.

More on Belgium:

Belgium
Brussels City Cuide

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Almost everyone knows about Munich’s Oktoberfest, the king of all beer festivals, however not a lot is publicised about the beer festivals in Belgium.  Yet Belgium has a tradition of beer making and produces some world famous brands.  Looking at the 2008 calendar of events, there’s a major event or festival almost every month of the year:

The 2008 Zythos Beer Festival
March 1 – 2, 2008:  This great beer festival takes place in Sint Niklaas in eastern Flanders. There are approximately 150 beers from the 48 breweries featured. There is no entry fee and no pre booking is required.

Beer Festival of Bouillon
From April 21 – 22, 2008:  Bouillon shopkeepers display all beer products, including local producers of specialty beers.  There are tasting sessions.
 
Beer Festival of Mons
From May 2 – 4, 2008: This is an annual event where the Party Service and tradesmen of the Grand Place organize a weekend dedicated to beer. Numerous stalls allow visitors to taste traditional beers and the big brands that made Belgium famous as the World Center of Beer.
 
Belgian Beer Festival / Beer Collectors’ and Exchange Market
May 18, 2008:  This beer event takes place  in the town of Lustin and you will see displays of beer glasses, bottles, labels, coasters, old ads, clocks, mirrors, pints, jugs and other collector’s items. You can try or buy more than 850 varieties of beer, including meals cooked with beer.
 
Gambrinus Beer Truck Festival
From July 5 – 6, 2008: This unique event which celebrates brewery trucks and drivers takes place in Philippeville. The name Gambrinus owes its origin to the Duke of Brabant, Jan Primus, who was known as “the King of Beer” and “King of the Road”. This museum is in former maltings-brewery-farm buildings of the 19th century and its contains some 20 vehicles and 75 themed displays.
 
Meeting of the Breweries in Belgian Luxembourg
July 13, 2008:  The breweries of the province of Luxemburg gather in one location for beer tastings, explanation of different brewing methods, music, raffle for a basket with regional products, and street animations.
 
Arch’en Biers
From August 16 – 17, 2008:   The aim of this festival is to acquaint people with lesser-known beers in Walloon Brabant. Each year, the organizers endeavour to present new products to visitors and there will be numerous samplings throughout the weekend.
 
Brussels Beer Weekend
From September 5 – 7, 2008:   Brussels’ Grand Place hosts a multitude of stands offering the opportunity to discover some of our best Belgian beers. Many small, medium-sized and large Belgian breweries will present their best selections of beers. Entrance is free and beer prices are very reasonable! Entertainment such as jazz bands, brass bands, activities for children will accompany your beer tasting. 
 
Bruxellensis Festival
From September 6 – 7, 2008: The Bruxellensis festival in Saint-Gilles presents authentic beers.  You’ll find various Belgian breweries which buck the predominant trend and do not brew beers that are far too sweet and fruity.
 
Hop Festival in Val de Sambre
From September 12 – 14, 2008:  Great hops festivity  with amazing entertainments throughout the weekend including music, guided tours of the brewery, hot-air balloon rides, and craft exhibitions.
 
Brassigaume – The International Festival of Small Breweries
From October 18 – 19, 2008:  This takes place in Rulles where you can visit different stands and meet 22 Master-Brewers and taste their products consisting of more than 80 different beers. On the agenda: music, reading with beer historian Mr. Philippe Voluer, and local cuisine made from Belgian beer.

So, if you love a good brew, Belgium may a good stop for your next holiday itinerary.

Helen

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In this small nation of 10 million people, there are some 450 different varieties of beer.  Belgium has enjoyed an unparalleled reputation for its specialty beers since the Middle Ages.

To say that the Belgians take their beer seriously is no exaggeration.  Many beer varieties have their own personalized beer glasses in which only that particular beer may be served. The shape of each glass is made to enhance the flavor of the beer it is designed for. This is no snobbery as connoisseurs of wine understand how the shape of wine glasses help enhance the flavour of the wine.  It is also not unusual for restaurants and bars have separate beer menus.

Connoisseurs favor Belgian beers for their variety, real flavor and character and Tony can vouch for this.  Many years ago, he stumbled upon Gambrinus in our local bottleshop and although he didn’t know the brand then, it turned out to be a winner flavour-wise.  Unfortunately, his love of Gambrinus was a very short love affair as it was a one-off stock by that shop.

Belgium is most famous for its lambic beer. Lambic beer production follows an ancient style of brewing, depending on spontaneous fermentation to produce a bone-dry,  tart, and naturally effervescent drink which, like wine, improves with years in the bottle. By European Union regulation, it can be produced only in a small area in Belgium. There are almost as many beer styles as there are breweries in the small kingdom of Belgium. The choices are endless, including raspberry beer, white beer, chocolate beer, geuze beer, cherry beer, brown beer Trappist beer.

Belgium is a beer connoisseur’s heaven and there’s enough beer festivals throughout the year to keep amber fluid flowing.

Helen

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At Chez Leon, you can have your mussels cooked in 14 different ways, ranging from mussels cooked in different broths to grilled with cheese.  My favourite is Moules Marinieres as the tasty fresh mussels are cooked in a simple white wine sauce and there’s nothing to detract from the sweet taste of the fresh mussels.

The recipe below is provided by Chez Leon, but the big trick is getting their specially sourced Zealand mussels and cleaning the crustaceans.  I’ve had mussels in different restaurants and some of them can be quite disastrous, especially when the mussels are not cleaned properly and it feels like there’s parts of a beach in your broth.

So, according to Chez Leon, this easy, economical and tasty recipe must be followed to the letter with first-class ingredients.  It says that no cream or wine should be included, although I’m pretty sure that the restaurants in France include white wine in their version. The flesh should be cooked exactly right to retain its flavour.

Cooking time: 7 minutes
Ingredients for 4 people include:

2 kilos of Zealand mussels
2 onions
2 branches of celery
butter, water, salt and pepper

Instructions :
- Thoroughly wash and brush the mussels.
- Chop onions and celery into small cubes.
- Take a high-sided and deep receptacle such as a casserole dish or stewing pot.
- Put butter and vegetables in the pot and cook for 3 minutes. Add water.
- Bring to the boil and keep boiling on a high flame.
- Throw in the mussels. Allow to cook for 7 minutes exactly.
- Season to taste. Serve scalding hot from the casserole dish accompanied by thickly-sliced French fried potatoes or a salad.

It sounds simple enough but I feel that food like this is best enjoyed in a restaurant.

Helen

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There’s something very special about this small nation of 10 million people that makes it world capital of Europe, beer, chocolates and many other things.  During the 1958 World Expo in Brussels, Belgium became the true capital of Moules et Frites or mussels and chips, with the Chez Léon, the House of Leon being king of this gastronomic offering. 

Chez Léon has been a family business since 1893 when Leon Vanlancker first opened Friture Léon. Domestic success spurred the family onto international expansion and in July 1989 they opened the first Leon restaurant in Paris, on the Place de la Republique.  More than 40 restaurants were opened in France over a 15-year period culminating with the opening in 1992 of Léon de Bruxelles on the Champs Elysées.

 It was at the Champs Elysées restaurant that I was first introduced to Moules et Frites by my French friends in 1993, but I didn’t know then what a popular restaurant Chez Léon was.  As we love moules et frites, Tony and I have made it our tradition to have at least one meal at Léon de Bruxelles each time we’re in Paris.

Chez Léon in Brussels offers 14 different mussel specialities as well as 120 traditional Belgian dishes, e.g. rabbit stewed in kriek (cherry) beer and stoemp (bubble and squeak) … I’ll stick to my mussels, thank you! 

Note that when dining at Léon’s restaurants internationally, adaptations have been made to the ingredients to suit local tastes and to ensure its long-term success.  For example, the large-sized Belgian mussels gave way to smaller ones resembling the Bouchot mussel which are more familiar to the French and the Belgian large chips with a definitive potato taste had to make way to pommes allumettes.

Leon de Bruxelles’ training school in France not only teaches it’s staff how to cook Belgian dishes, but its curriculum also includes a course of Brussels humour.  Leon obviously believes that the positive side of this humour based on the Belgian character will transcend into good quality cuisine and service.

Well I must say that apart from loving their food, this seems like a great Belgian company.

Helen

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1.  Chocolates – This country takes its chocolates very seriously, with Chocolate Festivals, Chocolate Museum and lots of other chocolate events to keep you sweetly entertained.

2.  Moules et Frites - Mussels or moules are the national dish of Belgium and are in season from September to February. Moules et Frites is one of my favourite foods and we’ve had many pots of delectable mussels at Leon de Bruxelles on the Champs Elysées in Paris.  This is a definite goer for me.

3.  Beer – Belgium is one of the beer capitals in the world, producing more than 400 varieties, including Gambrinus, one of Tony’s favourites. Bars in Belgium often have a separate menu just for their beers.  Beer goes well with Moules et frites.

4.  Rich history and amazing architecture – Going back to the times of the Ancient Celts, Belgium’s history is very complex and its modern history is equally interesting.  In 1977 the country was divided into three administrative regions:  Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, with more autonomy given to the local regions.  Brussels owns the distinction of being ‘capital’ of Europe and headquarters for the EC and NATO.

5.  River Cruising - Belgium’s waterways offer great opportunities for enjoying a river cruise.  River cruises are a great way for seeing the sights of the great historic cities, as well as exploring the rustic countryside.
- the Lys (Leie) provides easy access to the beautiful cities of Bruges and Ghent
- the Escaut River (Schelde) brings you to Tournai, Bossuit and Ghent or near the coast
- the Meuse (Maas) and Sambre in the south will take you to Namur and Liege , and
- the Willebroek-Charleroi Canals let you experience the Boatlift (lock-gate) of Ronquière

6.  Great Festivals and Carnivals – from the medieval Ghent festival, Bruges’ Procession of the Holy Blood to Carnival de Binche, etc.

7.  Opera – Belgium has a great and ‘exciting’ opera tradition.   Apparently following the performance of a stage rebellion of “La Muette de Portici” the spectators were so incited that they rushed out of the theater to the neighboring Royal Park and started the revolution that led to the separation of the Belgians from the Dutch, and the independence of the country.  That’s one amazing opera performance!

8.  Christmas Markets – Belgium has a great tradition of Christmas markets and many towns and villages throughout Belgium hold these markets.

9. Languages – Practice your French, Dutch, or German in this one country.

10. The entertainment calendar is huge, but if you’re not into jazz, pubs, nightlife, etc., you could always go for more chocolates ….

Helen

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