Belgium Through the Eyes of a Local (2013)

After a four-day visit to the Netherlands, I took the train down to Antwerp, Belgium, to visit my friend Timothy, a native Belgian born and raised in this Northern city.

Enjoying Different Waffle Styles with Timothy in Antwerp, Belgium

I have to confess I knew very little about Belgium before my visit: if asked about it, I’d pretty much only be able to mention chocolate, beer, waffles… and a fountain of a little boy peeing. After spending five days in Belgium with a local, I am blown away by the beauty and the history of this small European country.

Timothy showed me around his hometown, Antwerp, over a few days. Together, we also visited Bruges, a Western medieval town which, as touristy as it may be, is a must visit spot in the country; and Brussels, Belgium’s majestic capital. From incredibly detailed building façades, statues, monuments, parks and open public squares, Belgium’s cities are really a sight to see.

And let’s not forget about the food, which extends much further than chocolate, beer and waffles; Belgian cuisine is something to write home about! Timothy was kind enough to cook me a few homemade traditional dishes: Gentze Waterzooi with chicken and meatballs, tomaat garnaal (grey shrimp and mayo salad stuffed into tomatoes), Meatloaf with Cherries, and a Dame Blanche ice-cream dessert. He also took me to restaurants where I could try more Belgian cuisine: Lapin aux Pruneaux (rabbit with prunes), and Mussels & Frites, with tons of mayonnaise.

Tim introduced me to multiple Belgian treats as well (yes, including different waffle styles and many chocolates). Of course there were also afternoons and evenings spent tasting many of Belgium’s different world-famous beers, at various spots around the three cities we visited.

With a local by my side, I was able to learn about the history, funny / interesting facts about the places we visited, and also got the opportunity to go to out-of-the-way neighbourhoods and visit local restaurant and bars. There is nothing like seeing a country through the eyes of a local, and I could not be any more grateful to Timothy for showing me around his country and helping make my stay here that much more memorable!

I will eventually write about each city visited in Belgium, and due to my love of food, I will dedicate an entire post to Belgian cuisine when I’m no longer on the road… stay posted!