Page 298 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

296  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Beer
It is well worth bringing home
some bottles of Belgian beer (see
pp278–9). There are at least 400
different beers to choose from,
and a huge num ber of brands.
Specialist beer shops such as The
Bottle Shop and the Brugse
Bierpaleis in Bruges, and a num-
ber of others in Brussels (see p91)
offer the best. Supermarkets carry
a large stock of many top brands,
at the best prices.
Jenever
Brands of Belgian beer on sale at a specialist beer shop, Bruges
Belgium produces more than
Fashion such as Filou & Friends, as well 270 types of this high-quality
Belgian fashion has become a as department stores such as gin (see p170), including fruit-
force to be reckoned with since Inno (which has branches in flavoured jenever, Liège pékèt,
the 1980s, when a group of 11 towns and cities) and even straight jenever and associated
designers, the Antwerp Six, the major supermarkets. spirits such as brandewijn and
rose to fame. Among them corenwijn. Some are still sold in
were Dries van Noten, Ann traditional ceramic bottles that
Demeulemeester and Walter Diamonds make intriguing gifts for
van Beirendonck. Although Antwerp is the global capital aficionados of fine spirits. Belgian
each is very different, they all for diamonds – the Jewish jenever is a gin to be drunk pure
developed a novel urban look, Quarter near Centraal Station, and on its own, not with a mixer
which was sometimes anarchic is where 70 per cent of the or even as a chaser. To taste the
and controversial, and some- world’s diamonds are cut and full range before buying, it is best
times demurely chic. polished. Retail outlets at to go to an authentic specialist
Led by the famous school of Pelikaanstraat and neighbouring bar such as De Vagant in Antwerp
fashion at the Royal Academy streets offer diamonds at prices or ‘t Dreupelkot in Ghent.
of Fine Arts, Antwerp is a key that are 15–30 per cent lower
player in international fashion than prices in the high streets
and a good place to shop. of other European cities. A good Biscuits and Patisserie
Dries van Noten has an outlet place to start is Diamondland, Belgium has simply fabulous
at Het Modepaleis. The shop the largest diamond shop in pâtisseries. Every town has
called Louis carries the work the city. Bruges claims to have several top-class specialist
of many top designers been a pioneer in diamond pâtissiers producing sumptu-
including Raf Simons and cutting and polishing in the ous chocolate cakes, glazed
Martin Margiela. Likewise, 15th century. fruit tarts and a range of sim-
Verso has Kris Van Assche pler tarts based on almonds
and Dirk Schönberger, as well as and crème pâtissière. Turnover
international brands. Boutiques Belgian Lace is high and competition fierce.
are also seen in Kammenstraat, Lace (see pp30–31) has been a Therefore, tarts and cakes are
Nationalestraat, Kloosterstraat traditional product of Belgium remarkably good value for
and Schuttershofstraat. since the 16th century. money. Belgium also has a fine
Coccodrillo is best for shoes. Handmade lace is expensive.
Leading designers also It is available at specialist
have shops in other cities, outlets such as Manufacture
most notably in Brussels Belge de Dentelles in Brussels
(see p90). Annemie Verbeke as well as The Little Lace Shop
has an outlet in Brussels, and Kantcentrum (see p120)
and Olivier Strelli has in Bruges – both cities long
branches in 11 towns associated with lace-making.
and cities in Belgium. The tradition of handmade
lace has been dramatically
undercut by machine-made
Children’s Clothes lace, particularly from the Far
Belgians produce some very East, and is also available for
attractive clothes for children. sale in outlets in Belgium. It
These are available from is therefore important to insist Clothes, purses and tablecloths trimmed
specialist high-street shops, on a certificate of authenticity. with fine Belgian lace

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