A Quick Trip to Belgium; Where Should I Go?

I want to chime in and say I'll be in Brussels for one night after leaving France. I am also looking for good food, particularly local to Cantillon.

 

There are plenty of resources on here for Brussels, so I'll skip that part of your trip. As long as you're driving through Flanders, I'd highly recommend a stop at Ghent or Bruges. Very pretty historic sections and good beer locations (again, plenty of resources for that area). Westvleteren is really just a glorified cafeteria, so don't bother budgeting more than a couple of hours there. However, think about deDolle, deStruisse, or other nearby places that are more warm/quaint. Westy is worth the trip if you really just want to check it off your bucket list, but if all you want are bottles or to drink a quick glass, you can probably find that without too much effort at assorted bottle shops as you walk around in Brussels (granted, not cheaply). If you're into history, the town of Ypres is very close to Westvleteren. There's an excellent WW1 museum, trenches/cemeteries, and a nightly ceremony to the fallen troops that's very touching and their version of a combo of the Vietnam Memorial and the changing of the guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Brasserie Kazematten in a nice little brewery built in an old artillery bunker just down the street.

Since you'll be down in the Ardennes, Sedan France happens to have the largest fortress in all of Europe. It's now a hotel and very cool to say you spent the night within such an impressive castle. Orval is totally worth a stop to see the ruins of the old abbey and to have an Orval petite at the off-site brasserie. Wallonia is also very pretty to drive around. Also while you're down there, the town of Bouilloin is very pretty, with another cool castle to tour. I'd be careful planning a tip to Fantome - the hours are very hit or miss, and I've never had good luck nailing down the owner on when he's actually going to be open. I'd actually rather suggest Brasserie Caracole near Dinant (a very scenic river town with a nice church) or Brasserie Achouffe over by Bastogne. Both places have reliable hours and are good stops. Especially Caracole with the 1700's-era fieldstone building.

 

Maredsous Abbey is touristy, but enjoyed my stop there.

 

In multiple trips, I don't think I've ever missed seeing Westy in at least a couple of different bottle shops in Bruges or Brussels. Specifically in Brussels, there are little bodega-style shops on every other corner downtown. Westy bottles in stores are a bit of a grey market, so it's been pretty hit or miss in my experience at any one specific store. They won't be cheap (10-15 euro/bottle), but I've never come up empty if I keep my eyes open and I'm willing to do a bit of wandering. I think Biertempel is the best actual craft shop downtown - they have a pretty impressive selection. There are a couple of excellent shops in Bruges if you're over there.

I've only been down to the SE section of Belgium once to visit Bastogne last year. I stopped at a bottle shop there that was ok. Keep in mind, though, that what we'd consider to be fairly rare offerings can probably be found a lot easier because of local proximity. You can always try your luck at Fantome, with Achouffe as a backup - they're 30 minutes or so apart.

 

Does your family like chocolate? Brussels is lousy with high-end boutique chocolatiers. Great gift ideas, but they're very pricey. However, Neuhaus Chocolatiers has an outlet location in the southern burbs. Not only are the prices 1/2 of the actual stores, but they sell in bulk and have free samples of everything. I've eaten so much fancy chocolate during my visits that I haven't wanted lunch afterwards.

 

Remarkable that no one gave this suggestion yet: Café Foeders in Amsterdam focuses on lambics. Definitely a must-visit if you're in the area.

 

Maybe no one gave the suggestion because it is not in Belgium?

 

Don't know how it ended up here, I replied in another topic (or at least I meant to).

 

To add to what others have said. Brussels food- Bier Circus and Spinnekopke. Ardennes Caracole (call ahead to arrange visit), Here's a shocker for you-Most Belgian Breweries are only open for visits on certain days/times or by pre-arranged visit. Go to each breweries website you want to visit for information. For places to stay in the southeast-if you want to add some historical military stuff then Bastogne, otherwise I would choose Dinant, a beautiful little riverside town. If you don't speak Flemish or French than scratch Fantome off of your list.

 

3 Fonteinen is a very nice brewery to visit, and also the 'Oud Beersel' brewery.

 

Be aware that a lot of things in Brussels are closed on Mondays.

 

I think you intended to post your list in the forum asking for places to go in Bruges/Brussels/Amsterdam