Bruges away from the tourist hordes

Oh, my goodness! I was really shocked by the sight of all the people waiting on the platform of Ghent-Sint-Pieters station. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones with the glorious idea of taking a day trip to Bruges, 50 kilometers away, on this glorious Saturday morning. When the train arrived, my mood sank a little more towards the lowest point. It was already jam-packed with enterprising families and seniors. Hallelujah! The prospect of a free seat vanished in an instant. So we had no choice but to push our way into the vestibule with the entire horde and bridge the ride standing. Basically, this is no reason for blasphemy. “It can happen,” you might be thinking. Agrees! Nevertheless, we had imagined the long-awaited trip to the much-praised Bruges differently. More relaxed, content, without hectic, with a view from the train window and anticipation of the picturesque small town, whose medieval core has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

The Hotspots

Well, we can also reach Bruges standing (train ride Ghent – Bruges takes just under 30 minutes). As the whole crowd slowly pours out of the train, we’re already not so sure if we’re going to like Bruges at all. Nevertheless, a detour to the hotspots must be included. We walk from the train station via Steenstraat to the market, from there we continue via the castle directly to the postcard motif par excellence – the Rozenhoedkaai. Bruges is pretty, no question about it. But we lack the leisureliness. Everywhere you have to meander past guided groups.

Blue Vein

As soon as we leave the heavily frequented alleys in the innermost core, the crowds of people also decrease in a flash. In the former Hanseatic quarter northeast of the market, we feel the flair of the city for the first time. We stroll along the canals and have to smile at the sight of the filled canal tour boats. The canal tour is one of the classics of a visit to Bruges. On foot, however, the blue vein of the city can be discovered just as well.

Idyll along the Vesten

The further we move away from the city centre, the more idyllic Bruges seems to us. With so much fascination for the picturesque city centre, most tourists forget to plan a detour to the green lungs that surround Bruges. The so-called Brugse Vesten – city ramparts – contain a variety of interesting corners and offer beautiful views of the turrets of the city centre. We first visit one of the four remaining windmills and walk back towards Minnewaterpark opposite the train station. Just across the street is the centuries-old beguinage “Het Prinselijk Begijnhof Ten Wijngaarde”. The whitewashed houses and the mighty trees radiate an incomparable peace. Here, between the Beguinage and the Minnewaterpark, we unexpectedly come across the wine bar One (Arrenallstraat 55), a small culinary paradise. Don’t be fooled by the inconspicuous façade and the name of the restaurant. Behind the thick ivy hedges hides a romantic little terrace. Far away from the hustle and bustle, fresh, homemade delicacies are served here. But shhh This place is currently still guaranteed to be free for mass tourists.

Note: My visit to Bruges was supported by Tourism Flanders. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.