2Bruges, Belgium
Another hidden gem is the city of Bruges. Situated a short train ride from the more well-known city of Brussels, Bruges is the official capital of the Flemish section of the country. Its thriving city center is an honored UNESCO World Heritage site. Rife with olden canals, the city is referred to by some as the Venice of the North.
This is reportedly one of the world’s “best-preserved” historic, medieval towns. Other “must see” attractions include The Basilica of the Holy Blood, The Groeningemuseum, Cinema Lumière (for fans of alternative films), and the Aquariustheater. Bruges hosts such rock festivals as BurgRock, the Comma Rocks Festival, and Thoprock. Beer aficionados may also wish to browse the Brewery museum, or attend the beer festival known as the BAB-bierfestival.
