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and Bruges...
PLACE DU SABLON
Saturdays 9am to 5pm, Sundays 9am to 1pm.
A great Antiques market in a beautiful cobbled square in the centre of the antiques district, and a great source of antiques as the dealers bring their stock out in to the fresh air to tempt the bargain hunter.
PLACE DU JEU DE BALLE
Daily 6am to 2pm.
General flea market with a better level of stock on a Saturday. More general household wares during the week, although there are a few interesting items. The road towards trhe square from the centre of town is home to a large number of antique, interior decor and general junk shops, so the walk back may be as fruitful as the market itself.
Other flea markets noted:
Boulevard de la Woluwe - 1st Sunday each month: 08.00-13.00
Westland Shopping Center - Sundays: 08.00-13.00
BRUGES
A second trip to Belgium took us to Bruges, European City of Culture 2002, and a fantastic weekend visit. Cobbled streets, canals and medieval houses combine with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to make this a truly relaxing weekend.
Vismarkt (Fishmarket)
The fishmarket (still used for fish, at least in part) hosts a few craft stalls and one or two bricabrac dealers, in particular one dealing in deep sea diving equipment - if you need a helmet or a full suit, there's one here.
Djiver
Saturday and Sunday afternoons sees this canal side fleamarket bustling with tourists and bargain hunters. A beautiful location, and some bargains to be had. [April to October only]
Oud tegelhuis
(Peerdenstraat 2, closed Sunday and Monday)
This small shop tucked away up a side street was a revelation - the owner calls it the shop of a thousand tins, but it has signs, magazines, advertising material and tins. Lots of tins. Well a few less than before, now that we've been there, but still a great selection of all shapes and sizes. | 
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FURTHER INFORMATION
We flew to Brussels byRyanair (£3.84 plus tax each way!), but be warned, there is a one-hour bus journey from the airport (only £4.50 each way), and the return to the airport gets a little tense if you get stuck in the rush hour - we were just lucky the flight was delayed. . . We stayed in Hotel Mozart (5% discount offered if paying cash when we checked out), an attractive small hotel in a street 50 yards from the Grand Place and a 10 minute walk from Central Station. Nice breakfasts, comfortable room. The main art gallery and Horta House Museum (an Art Nouveau jewel) were highlights, and the chocolate museum had its moments of interest! Dozens of restaurants, although the habit of pestering passers-by to come in for a meal was more reminiscent of the front door of a 1960s Soho strip club, and a bit irritating, especially if you were full just after a big meal. Great chocolate shops of course... and Tintin collectables are easy to find.
Bruges is an easy journey - Eurostar to Brussels, then a one hour Intercity train (every half-hour). Bruges station is a 10 minute walk or £4 taxi fare to the centre of town. We stayed at Hotel Azalea, 200 yards from the t'Zand Square and very comfortable - 4 star comfort from €111 per night. The Markt (main square) has great Frites & Mayo stalls, and the 1930 Ice Cream van was a delight. But the highlight for us (as usual) was the chocolate - dozens of chocolate shops as you would expect in Belgium, but above all De Proeverie tea room (Katelijnestraat 5-6) - a saucer of melted chocolate, into which you pour the steamed milk, and mix with whipped cream while tasting the small selection of chocolates from Sukerbuyc, the sister shop over the road. Luxury...  
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Visit the Belgium Tourist Board's Web site for everything you need to know about visiting Brussels, and of course the rest of this lovely country.
http://www.visitbelgium.com |  |
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