Northwest Belgium

The provinces of East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen) and West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen) make up Northwest Belgium, though comprise only around half of the total Flemish region that covers the whole of northern Belgium.

The top highlights here are a series of enticing cities featuring fabulous medieval marketplaces, cobbled streets, belfries and begijnhoven. But it’s beautiful Bruges and somewhat grittier Ghent – each with atmospheric age-old waterways – that steal the show. Bruges is home to the breathtaking Belfort and a cache of spectacular classical architecture, while Ghent boasts art nouveau buildings and a big student population.

Buffer your explorations with the dunes and beaches of the Belgian Coast, the thought-provoking WWI sites and cemeteries of Ypres Salient, and the landscapes of the 'Flemish Ardennes' around Geraardsbergen. It doesn't take long to understand why folks keep falling for Flanders.