Exploring Bruges in Belgium

Bruges is among the towns that cause you to wonder why you ever considered any other place to be beautiful. Tucked away in the middle of Belgium, it feels like entering a medieval postcard with cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and so many chocolate shops that a dentist would have nightmares. I wasn't expecting much when I got here, but five minutes into it, I was wondering if I had somehow found myself on a film set.

Probably what Bruges is best known for, and for good reason, are the canals. Reflecting the tall, gabled buildings that lean just enough to cause you to feel a bit unstable on your feet, they criss-cross the city like a liquid version of a spider's web. Mainly since they provide a smug feeling of success as you pass by centuries-old architecture while your tour guide energetically mispronounces Flemish words, boat trips are necessary. Floating beneath small bridges and picturing oneself as a long-lost European nobleman is really gratifying. Or maybe it's just the mulled wine speaking.

Talking of food, Bruges is a city that gives indulgence a lot of weight. Waffles are essentially a local currency around here, and you'll soon discover that sampling at least three types in one sitting is required for any visit to be complete. Include Belgian fries with their shockingly delicious sauces and, of course, the chocolate shops that make you feel like you've committed a crime just by walking in, and you have a gastronomic trap from which there is no way out. Don't ever consider skipping the beer. Essentially, a personality test is Belgian beer. Once you try, and all of a sudden you are evaluating your life decisions as you sit in a centuries-old bar with a faint scent of history and hops.

Bruges can fit if you like museums, but the actual experience is walking. Intentionally lose your way through the twisting alleys. You'll find small cafes, hidden squares, and maybe a street musician performing a song you swear you know but can't identify. It all feels dreamlike, as if the city is stuck in a time warp and travellers like myself are somewhat welcomed but secretly humorous.

And then there's also the Belfry. Climbing the 366 stairs to the summit is a venerable Bruges custom. Your legs will hate you, your lungs will stage a minor rebellion, and you will swear you'll never do stairs again. However, even if your efforts at selfies turn out horrible, the perspective from the top is worth it. Seeing Bruges splayed out beneath you—a mix of crimson rooftops and shimmering canals—is precisely the sort of thing that helps you forgive yourself for the waffle-related heartburn.

Ultimately, Bruges is lovely, annoying, luxurious, and strange all at once. Your nights will be spent pretending to understand Belgian beer menus, your days spent taking more pictures than you could ever need, and your evenings spent wondering at how such a little city could feel so vast. You'll also leave wondering when you can return even if there are lots of people, kitsch, and sometimes a little rain.