Ah yes, the waffle very much isn't a breakfast dish in Belgium, we do have lots of different ones ranging from tiny ones to eat with a cup of coffee at home to large and crispy yet fluffy ones most often eaten in a tearoom. Of course I wrote about them all at https://sarahfrison.substack.com/p/wait-is-that-a-belgian-waffle ☺️.
You would have loved the horses on the Grote Markt, had they left them. I used to feed them sugar clumps as a toddler. I think Bruges might still have them. Don't worry about the waffles, though, eat as you see fit, when found.
If you like to see the modern art scene and the trending part of the city, consider walking upwards from the Groenplaats towards Nationalestraat (Fashion Museum) and - a longer part - further up the Nationalestraat, moving south: the Modern Day Art Museum (MHKA) not so far from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts.
What a fun childhood memory! I would love to go back and spend a little more time - if I get a chance, I would definitely like to explore different parts of the city!
Great guide to a beautiful city. Loved the story of the artistic fly drawing on the canvas securing a marriage okay. And the UN idea of preserving cultural heritage to preserve cultural diversity. Art as a great unifyer along with writing. Your letters show how the world is different and the same so much more the same family than not. The waffles of Antwerp are maybe not so different from the waffles of Augusta, Georgia in America. It's a waffle world, small world after all.
Lol - it is a waffle world! Thank you for the wonderful comment - it's one of the great lessons of travel, isn't it? How people are so similar not just around the world, but throughout history...
Jodi, Jodi, Jodi, you have made realise we missed a beautiful city when we were in Brugge, why did I not explore more and give us a few extra days to enable spending time in Antwerp. As close as we got was meeting a couple from Antwerp when we were travelling back to Brussels. Oh well, at least you have given me a wonderful experience today and I thank you. My first Dutch word was a swear word, of course… my best friend whom I met in Primary School was one of our first Dutch immigrants to Australia, and with spending so much time with her and her family I understood a lot of the language but could never really speak it. And when in Paris on a o previous trip we travelled to Brussels for the day, and I did try the waffles, I wasn’t overly impressed, I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, perhaps it would have been better if I was seated at a table rather than eat it in my hands. As usual magnificent photos 👏👏🤗
If you're interested, I wrote an article a while ago about all the different waffles Belgium has and solved the mystery that is the 'Belgian' waffle. You might also just learn why the waffle you tried in Brussels didn't live up to expectations 😉.
Thank you so much Sally! I love that your first word in Dutch was a swear word - kids never change, do they? Thank you for the kind words - I really appreciate it!
If you’re in Antwerp again, you have to visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum! It’s the house and workshop of a 16th century printer family and has some of the oldest printing presses in the world and some beautiful books. It might sound a little dry, but it’s a really incredible place to visit (and UNESCO listed!), one of my favourite museums in the world and certainly the best thing I went to in my trip around Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges and Ghent.
Ah yes, the waffle very much isn't a breakfast dish in Belgium, we do have lots of different ones ranging from tiny ones to eat with a cup of coffee at home to large and crispy yet fluffy ones most often eaten in a tearoom. Of course I wrote about them all at https://sarahfrison.substack.com/p/wait-is-that-a-belgian-waffle ☺️.
Thank you, Sarah!
You’re welcome!
Beautiful! Thank you, Jodi 🩵
Thank you, Victoria!
I love that there is a List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity! I had no idea— 😁
Thanks for this, as ever. 👏
Thank *you*, Victoria!!
Really enjoyed this, the tales and the photos. Looks like a very interesting place to visit I’ll definitely be adding to my list. Thank you ❤️
You would have loved the horses on the Grote Markt, had they left them. I used to feed them sugar clumps as a toddler. I think Bruges might still have them. Don't worry about the waffles, though, eat as you see fit, when found.
If you like to see the modern art scene and the trending part of the city, consider walking upwards from the Groenplaats towards Nationalestraat (Fashion Museum) and - a longer part - further up the Nationalestraat, moving south: the Modern Day Art Museum (MHKA) not so far from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts.
What a fun childhood memory! I would love to go back and spend a little more time - if I get a chance, I would definitely like to explore different parts of the city!
I love Antwerp and all of Flemish Belgium, and have been lucky to get up there a number of times.
I would love to go back!
Great guide to a beautiful city. Loved the story of the artistic fly drawing on the canvas securing a marriage okay. And the UN idea of preserving cultural heritage to preserve cultural diversity. Art as a great unifyer along with writing. Your letters show how the world is different and the same so much more the same family than not. The waffles of Antwerp are maybe not so different from the waffles of Augusta, Georgia in America. It's a waffle world, small world after all.
Lol - it is a waffle world! Thank you for the wonderful comment - it's one of the great lessons of travel, isn't it? How people are so similar not just around the world, but throughout history...
What a delightful read, thank you
Thank you for sharing this travel journey with such detail along with wonderful photos!
Jodi, Jodi, Jodi, you have made realise we missed a beautiful city when we were in Brugge, why did I not explore more and give us a few extra days to enable spending time in Antwerp. As close as we got was meeting a couple from Antwerp when we were travelling back to Brussels. Oh well, at least you have given me a wonderful experience today and I thank you. My first Dutch word was a swear word, of course… my best friend whom I met in Primary School was one of our first Dutch immigrants to Australia, and with spending so much time with her and her family I understood a lot of the language but could never really speak it. And when in Paris on a o previous trip we travelled to Brussels for the day, and I did try the waffles, I wasn’t overly impressed, I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, perhaps it would have been better if I was seated at a table rather than eat it in my hands. As usual magnificent photos 👏👏🤗
If you're interested, I wrote an article a while ago about all the different waffles Belgium has and solved the mystery that is the 'Belgian' waffle. You might also just learn why the waffle you tried in Brussels didn't live up to expectations 😉.
I will check it out Sarah, thank you for the heads up.
Thank you so much Sally! I love that your first word in Dutch was a swear word - kids never change, do they? Thank you for the kind words - I really appreciate it!
What a strange story about the foundings of Antwerp. Almost like a fairy tale. Beautiful photos, Jodi, as usual.
Thank you Jeanine! Yes - who knew there were so many giants around?
OK, you've convinced me. I'm adding Antwerp to my list.
Antwerp is great. GO!
I’ve convinced one person - my work here is done!
Make that three!
Yay!
lol
If you’re in Antwerp again, you have to visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum! It’s the house and workshop of a 16th century printer family and has some of the oldest printing presses in the world and some beautiful books. It might sound a little dry, but it’s a really incredible place to visit (and UNESCO listed!), one of my favourite museums in the world and certainly the best thing I went to in my trip around Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges and Ghent.
Ah, you have to wait until my next post! Spoiler alert: it’s one of my favorite museums in the whole world, too! 🙂
Ah brilliant! So glad you didn’t miss it! It’s just phenomenal.
EDIT: just googled and it actually houses the two oldest surviving printing presses in the world 😱