Page 329 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  327

Canal Boats DIRECTORY
The city best known for its
canals is Bruges – this is why Buses
it is sometimes referred to STIB
(misleadingly) as the Venice KIOSK outlets at Gare Midi and
of the North. From March to Gare Centrale Metro stations.
November (and at weekends Tel 070 232000. ∑ stib-mivb.be
in winter), tour boats leave
from various points in the city
centre, and make tours of horse-drawn carriage. In
varying length around the Brussels, the carriages make
extensive canal network – a short trips from Rue Charles
delightful way to see the city Buls, which is close to the
from a quite different Grand Place, during the
perspective. One useful tip is summer months. In other
to take an umbrella if it has cities, the season lasts between
been raining, as the bridges spring and autumn. Tours in
drip. Ghent also has canals, Bruges start from the Markt or
although rather less extensive the Burg; in Ghent, they start
Cyclists on the seafront promenade at De than those of Bruges. They from St-Baafsplein, and in
Panne, on the Belgian coast again show the city in a new Antwerp from the Grote
and agreeably tranquil light. Markt. Bruges also has the
be hailed from the pavement – Paardentram, a horse-drawn
travellers will have to find one of tram available for group hire.
the taxi-ranks, which are usually Horse-Drawn Carriages Carriage-rides may seem to
found in strategic locations such Visitors can step back in time be an expensive indulgence,
as outside railway stations or in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and but they are also an unforgetta-
close to the central square. It is Antwerp with a ride in an open ble experience.
also possible to phone for a
taxi – a tourist office or hotel
can supply the relevant
numbers. Taxi drivers do not
necessarily have a detailed and
precise knowledge of their city,
so it helps to come armed with
full information about the
destination. The price of a
journey always includes service,
despite which it is quite normal
to round up the total fare.

Bicycles
Some towns and cities are good
for cycling in, others less so.
Thousands of students pedal The Paardentram making its way though the Burg in Bruges
around Ghent, for instance, and
the old streets of central Bruges
have rela tively light and slow- French/Dutch Place Names
moving traffic. Brussels is a One of the most confusing aspects of travel in Belgium is the
rather more challenging variation between French and Dutch spellings of town names. On
proposition, with congested, road signs in Brussels, both names are given, while in Flanders only
busy, cobbl ed streets filled the Dutch and in Wallonia only the French are shown. The following
with parked cars, trams and list gives main towns:
frustrated drivers. That said, French Dutch French Dutch
there are plenty of people Anvers Antwerpen Malines Mechelen
who do cycle in Brussels, and Ath Aat Mons Bergen
who take advantage of recom- Bruges Brugge Namur Namen
mended cycle routes. Tourist Bruxelles Brussel Ostende Oostende
offices and cycle-hire shops Courtrai Kortrijk St-Trond St-Truiden
can also provide information Gand Gent Tongrès Tongeren
on routes. In Brussels, bicycles Liège Luik Tournai Doornik
can be taken on the metro Louvain Leuven Ypres Ieper
except at rush-hour.

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