Brussels Capital of Belgium: Part 1

Previously, I spent 2 days in the Medieval city of Bruges, and left for Brussels on a 10.45pm train:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/12/venice-of-north-canal-city-of-bruges-in.html

Brussels is my last stop before flying back to Glasgow. 

Thus complete my journey through Flanders

Brussels is the capital and largest city in Belgium, and the de facto capital of the European Union. It was September 2017, and Brexit discussions had started, and a deal was to be made in another year (by July 2018). In hindsight, writing this post on Christmas Day 2020, the interminably tedious UK-EU Brexit arrangement is at last, coming to an end. News came up that a deal has been struck today. Hopefully, some amicable consensus is reached, the countries involved would strive for peace and order. I think the world today is a gravely different place, having seen Trump, trade wars, Covid-19 and etc. 

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I arrived at Brussels Midi-Zuid Station at midday, after about 1 hour and 15 minutes on the train. I would stay at Midi Station Hotel for 2 nights. After having a quick lunch and storing my luggage at the hotel, I joined the 1.30pm walking tour. 

One of the hottest debate in this region is about who invented French Fries, yes the fried potatoes you eat at McDonald's. Apparently, French fries are not invented by the French, but Spanish Netherlands (present day Belgium) in the 1600's. The people here mostly speak French (85%) and Dutch (15%). It is possible that foreign armies during WWI mistook them as French, and it is easier to say "French Fries" rather than "Spanish Netherland fries". 

Tourist queueing for fries

There is a fantastic write-up on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries#Belgium_and_the_Netherlands

Anyway, I think McD's fries with chilly source are still the best. 

In Brussels, you need to visit Julien. The Manneken Pis is a statue of a boy (Julien) peeing into a fountain. This bronze sculpture has been standing and peeing in Brussels since 1619! It describes the humour and independent thinking of the people of Brussels. 

Different outfits are designed for different occasions, for Julien

It was 17th of September, and being a Sunday, the whole city seems to be having a carnival in a party-mood. 

Chill and stay calm. Why so serious?

Venice of the North - The Canal City of Bruges in Belgium

Previously, I travelled to Bruges from The Hague, a grueling 9-hour bus ride:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-hague-part-2-journey-to-bruges.html

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Similar to Venice and Amsterdam, Bruges is a city with canals, but calmer, quieter and more relaxed.

I have to admit that I hadn't heard of Bruges before. (They do not have a famous football team). However, while planning for my journey of Holland-Belgium, I decided spend 2 nights in Bruges. This UNESCO World Heritage site oozed a specialty that other nearby cities such as Antwerp, Ghent, Lille didn't have - Bruges had remained virtually the same since the 16th century. It was not damaged during the world wars at all. So it was like traveling back time in Europe. 

I had allocate 1 full day for Bruges, and will head to Brussels the next day. I booked a 2-night stay at Europa Hostel. This hostel was really comfortable, while the breakfast was superb. 

It was July 2017, but the weather in Flanders was no better than the British weather. From the hostel, I took a pleasant morning walk to the 'Markt' or Market Place in the city center.

The Market Place, as the name implies, is the busiest part in town (Car-free)

Legends of Bruges walking tour at 9.45am

The weather was not ideal for a walking tour... 

But Igor, our guide was superb throughout 2 hours. Bruges is unique in the sense that it has been the same since the 16th century. King Maximilian made the city extremely poor, and modernization didn't take place. During the two world wars, Bruges was deemed not significant to be bombed. So, it was quite a lucky escape. Bruges seems to be a happy-go-lucky city. 

Roman Emperor Maximilian may have come clubbing in Bruges

In contrast, Bruges is where the College of Europe is located - Center for European Studies

Road to Nationhood - Malaysia

 I must say, this is one of the best documentaries on the history of Malaysia. 

Stories of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Lee Kuan Yew, Donald Stephen, David Marshal, Sukarno, AM Azahari and co. did the "grand design".

The Hague: Part 2 & The Journey to Bruges

Previously on Part 1, I visited the Peace Palace (International Court of Justice), and had a sumptuous Indonesian lunch (you could call it nasi campur):

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-hague-part-1.html

It was a wet day, and I called it quits by 3pm. I spent the rest of the day at The Golden Stork Hostel reading.

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On day 2, I woke up to find the sun shining brightly, and some clouds on the horizon. I would need to leave for Bruges (in Belgium) after lunch. In the interest of time, I decided to skip the walking tour, and head to the seaside - Scheveningen, which faces the North Sea. 

I took the City Tram to Scheveningen, and by 9.30am, I found myself walking along a pleasant seaside village.

Always been a fan of the sea

Beach front

July is not a summer month in the Netherlands?

The Hague: Part 1

I was in Amsterdam for 4 pleasant days: 

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/search/label/Travel%3A%20Amsterdam

From Amsterdam, I took the 8am bus from Sloterdijk Station to The Hague. Flixbus is the continent's budget bus company. After an hour, I reached Den Haag Central, the central station of The Hague.

Situated by the North Sea, facing England, The Hague is where the central government of the Netherlands is located. It also houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located. In 2017, it was a time where China was brought to the ICJ for the dispute in the South China Sea. I felt it was interesting to visit The Hague.

The Hague is an important and impartial European city. 

Golden Stock Hostel, where I stayed had numerous books, and I enjoyed one of them

The first stop, after leaving my luggage in the hostel, was none other than the ICJ. 

The Peace Palace hosts the ICJ and Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)