Ladies and Gents, I have my annual Europe trip coming up soon... After 5 nights in Munich at The Fest, I will likely spend 3 nights in the Bamberg area. Then I head to Maastricht. I have 6 nights there, starting 01Oct... In addition to a huge interest in bier, I also am very much into WWII history, specifically following the 101st ABN. So, my first day will be a short one, after a long train ride from Bavaria. I will spend day 1 in Maastricht, visiting new places Potshuike or Knijnspiep, or perhaps going to Take One to annoy the owner, Peet. For the next 5 days, I have these tentative plans... Hoping to hook up with Brabander for a day trip to Westvleteren; heading down to Bastogne to visit the battlefields; going up to the Dutch area called "The Island", near Arnhem and Nijmegen, for more WWII stuff (this is where Band of Brothers episode "Crossroads" took place). So that leaves 2 more days... Perhaps Brugges, which I hit last year; maybe a trip to Amsterdam for a day. Does Eindhoven have any good bier spots? I may go there for a combo war/bier day, and try to fit in Venlo as well. Tilsburg and Konigshaven? For all this I will be shlepping around on a rail pass (though I may just try hitching from Maastricht to Bastogne, as the train/bus trip is 4 hours +). Anyhow, that's what I have for 1-6Oct.... Any thoughts and suggestions are most welcome and appreciated... Prosit!
If you have time on October 6th and are near enough to Brussels, the Cantillon Quintessence tasting at the brewery is a great time. Looks like there are about 20+ beers this year paired with great food. For more WWII history, there is a cool WWII history museum in Luxembourg and also a General Patton museum in Luxembourg and the American Military cemetary in Lux has a nice memorial and it is where Patton is buried.
If you are planning to go to Westvleteren and depending on the time left that day, you could drive 70km further southwest into France. In Eperlecque there's something called the 'Blockhouse' which is a huge German concrete bunker used for manufacturing and launching V2-rockets in WWII http://www.leblockhaus.com/intro.htm If you're heading to Bastogne, both the trappist abbeys from Rochefort & Orval abbeys are app. 40km in resp. west and south direction. You can't visit the brewery but in Orval they have a nice museum w/ shop. http://www.orval.be/en/27//
Sorry, just noticed that you will be using public transportation which will make time and how to get there a mission impossible
Your not visiting the westhoek ? Where most of the battles took place from WW I ? Yper , with the brand new " in flanders fields " museum , all the graveyards in the surounding fields etc ... Passendaele , Diksmuide , where you can stil visit a part of the trenches etc ... Those are must do's for people intrested in the WW's
If you do go to Bruges, stop here: http://www.degarre.be/ and get their signature tripel. The best one I've ever had, and a great way to kill a couple of hours. It's right off of the main square, too, so it's easy to get to. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48/13889/
I must admit that 99% of my WW interest is for WWII, especially since I do 101st ABN reenacting. Thnx for the tips, though. Just not enough time to even see all the WWII stuff I want to... Prosit!
Anyone heading to In de Vrede between 02-06Oct and going by Brussels or Ghent? I could get to these places by train and hook up if anyone is travelling through... If not, nbd... Thnx
On my last trip to Germany I was within a day trip's visit of Hagenau and didn't find out till I was home! Hope you have fun.
The Westy brewery might be a challange to get to using public transportation, not imposiible but time consuming. The gift packs were 24 euro (2 glasses, 2 blonde, 1 8, and 1 12). At the cafe the beers were about 3.50, 4.00, and 4.20 respectively. Another patron told you can buy 1 of each directly from the monks (3 euro each) on weekdays. I was there on a Sunday so I can't confirm this. This was in early July 2012. There are a two good bottle shops within a few blocks of the center of Bruges (or as my navigation system called it: Brug-gah). Neither claimed to have Westy, but one had new looking empty wooden cases laying around. In Amsterdam, they had Westy (16-20 euro/bottle) at Beer Temple and De Bierkoning (both just off of Dam Square). Paying the huge / unethical gray market mark-up may be worth it since you will only be over there for a short time. Even if you aren't hunting for a particular beer, these places are so close to Amsterdam's attractions they are worth a visit. Don't forget to check the grocery stores and smaller beer stores because you can find St. Bernadus, trappist singles, and other treasures in the 1.50 - 3.00 range. Definitely jealous, have fun
Thnx for the tips, Keith.... I'd like to go to In de Vrede if someone was headed there, but I'm not making a special trip otherwise. I think I'd pass on the exorbitant prices elsewhere; was just hoping to experience it at the source. If I can't, nbd; I still have 2 bottles in the cellar (thnx Thijs!). Prosit!!
It will be real dutch weather, sun, wind and some rain! Mail me when you see the chance to come to Tilburg! Thijs
