Browse Topics
Tools
Editor's choice

Doing business in Belgium

A guide to doing gaffe-free business here.

Belgium country factbook

Includes geography, people, government, economy and transnational issues.

Student accommodation in Belgium

Find an affordable roof over her head.

50 years on, Asterix still holding out

Heroic Gauls celebrate their half century.

The not-so-secret recipe for Belgian frites

Kimberley uncovers the sacred rituals of Frite Almighty.

How to repatriate successfully

Tips for managing a successful relocation back home.

Internaxx Stock Market
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.3 0.50
DAX 5252.45 1.50
IBEX 30 10726.8 0.59
CAC 40 3377.59 1.40
FTSE 100 4564.5 0.79
AEX 276.85 0.95
DJIA 9096.72 -0.13
Nasdaq 1975.51 0.39
FTSE MIB 20341.67 1.65
TSX Composite 10570.54 -1.74
ASX 4148.9 -0.60
Hang seng 20135.5 -2.37
Straits Times 0.00
ISEQ 20 442.48 0.27
You are here: Home Leisure Travel & Tourism Great Belgian Getaways

09/05/2008Great Belgian Getaways

Keen to kick clear of the city, we explore four of the best weekend getaways in Belgium.

Nowhere in Belgium is too far, so here are some ideas for getting away from it all and breaking free of the city.

Be careful if driving during public holidays — traffic jams are common, especially on the coast roads in summer. The trains offer reduced fares at weekends as well as group and family specials.

Taking the Plunge
The eponymous town of Spa can take away the stress of modern life. Located in the heart of the Ardennes, it takes around two hours to reach by train.

Spa's sulphurous waters were originally discovered by the Romans, although it was to be another half century before it became famous as a resort.

After falling into 19th century disrepair and disregard, Spa has, since 2004, been transformed into a magnificent therapy and relaxation centre, worthy of a new millennium.

Go to relax, to be pampered, to take the waters and to enjoy the town itself and the surrounding forest.

Thermes de Spa
Colline d'Annette et Lubin
4900 Spa
087 77 25 60
www.thermesdespa.com


Dipping your Toes
The Belgian coastline is only 64km long, but it embraces the best of kiss-me-quick seaside activities, sophisticated living and wildlife sanctuaries

Oostende is a good place to head for if you want a taste of royal Belgium, for this place is known as the Queen of Belgian Resorts.

The royal bit comes from the fact that Leopold II built a fair number of villas there and even Queen Victoria crossed the channel to visit and take a paddle.

Much of Oostende was bombed during World War II, but what is left of the old is impressive.

0 reactions to this article

Inside Expatica
Looking for work in Belgium

Looking for work in Belgium

This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, Belgian management culture.

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Moving to Belgium presents a host of challenges to expats, not least of all finding the right home.

Learning to cope with life abroad

Learning to cope with life abroad

The psychological effects of global mobility can be physically painful.