Ypres : Belgium

Ypres Travel Guide
Ypres (locally: Ieper) is a small cosy town in Western Flanders, Belgium’s coastal region. Its roots are back in the early middle ages. In those days, Ypres lived from its sheet-weaving industry. The trade was mainly with France, London, Italian States, and also up north with the Hanze. As the wealth was amounting quickly, the inhabitants raised some very impressing buildings, such as the cathedral. In the end of the 18th century, Flanders and Ieper were under French rule. Their famous architect Vauban designed the impressing fortifications, still in place today.
In the first world war, Ypres was just 8 km away from the frontline, within shooting range of the german canons. (more…)

Veurne : Belgium

Veurne Travel Guide
Veurne , 6 km from the Belgian Coast in the Westhoek near the french border, is a very old, charming little town in the Polders landscape. A famous inhabitant of Veurne was the surrealist painter Paul Delvaux (1897-1994).Veurne is also well-known for his annual Procession of Penitence which is organized by the Sodality since 1644 on the last sunday of July.
The city of Veurne exist of the following boroughs:
Avekapelle, Beauvoorde (Vinkem and Wulveringem), Booitshoeke, Bulskamp,De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Veurne, Zoutenaaie.

Tournai : Belgium

Tournai Travel Guide
Located on the Scheld River 10 km from the French Border, Tournai is one of the oldest cities in Belgium, established by the Romans on the road from Cologne to France.The Franks of Merovingian dynasty chose Tournai as the seat of their kingdom for a time in the 5th century: Chlodewetch (who aquired the more familiar nickname Clovis from storytellers centuries after he died), was born there. Our Lady’s Cathedral of Tournai is one of the most spectacular churches in Belgium. Another famous native of Tournai is Flemish master painter Roger de la Pasture, better known as Rogier van der Weyden.
Barry, Beclers, Blandain, Chercq, Ere, Esplechin, Froidmont, Froyennes, Gaurain-Ramecroix, Havinnes, Hertain, Kain, Lamain, Marquain, Mauldem, Melles, Mont-Saint-Aubert, Mourcourt, Orcq, Quartes, Ramegnies-Chin, Rumillies, Saint-Maur, Templeuve, Thimougies, Vaulx-lez-Tournai, Vezon, Warchin, and Willemeau are all are boroughs within the municipal district of Tournai.

Oostende : Belgium

Oostende Travel Guide
Oostende is one of the nicest beach resorts on the North Sea. With its Pier, its Casino and its Boulevard it has the grandeur of any of the resorts on the riviera. Combine that with the Belgian charm, the Moules & Frites and the great Belgian beer and you have an ideal place to spend your beach holiday.
But Oostende has more to offer than that. James Ensor’s name and fame are closely linked to that of Ostende. Both his house and the Provincial Museum of Modern Art (PMMK) have very interesting exhibitions on his work and life.
If you want to get around a bit, there is a very nice streetcar running from Knokke (north of Oostende) to De Panne, near the French border. It is an ideal way of visiting some of the other charming towns along the coast. (more…)

Nieuwpoort : Belgium

Nieuwpoort Travel Guide
Nieuwpoort is a fishing harbour by the North Sea, and is very well-known for his shrimps.Nieuwpoort is the greatest belgian harbour for sailing-boats and yachts.It lies at the mouth of the river Yser. This river was during the Worldwar I and II a fighting place against the Germans.