Travel Blog: Touring the Heart of Europe
By Aline Verduyn
A newly coined term in Korean is ranseon yeohaeng (랜선여행), which can be loosely translated as “online travel.” I was lucky enough to physically travel home recently and found it only fair to let you in on my travels. I visited the places that bring back fond memories, as well as landmarks I newly discovered as a tourist in my own country.
I would first like to introduce you to my hometown of Grimbergen. Grimbergen is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 kilometers north of the capital, Brussels. Grimbergen is the brand name of a variety of Belgian abbey beers. Originally made by Norbertine monks in the Belgian town of Grimbergen, it is now brewed by different breweries in Belgium, France, Poland, and Italy, and is even imported to Korea. Each Grimbergen is crafted from a classic recipe that dates back to the year 1128. The beer has been crafted with precision and care ever since.
A few kilometers closer to the center of Brussels, we have the Atomium. The Atomium was constructed for the first post-war universal world exhibition (EXPO 58). The nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. They represent the faith people had in the power of science and moreover in nuclear power. Still the most popular tourist attraction in Europe’s capital, the Atomium offers a surrealistic walk through tubes and spheres, the most beautiful panoramic view over Brussels and its surroundings, a permanent exhibition about the history of the building, and most importantly, a Belgian dining experience in the top sphere, overlooking the city at a height of 95 meters.
Belgium may not have any high mountains, but we do have a coast. On the northwest side, we have 67 kilometers of coastline along the North Sea. My favorite beach, Knokke-Heist, spans about 12 kilometers and is what I would call the Haeundae (해운대) of Belgium – elegant, exclusive, and yet family-friendly. It has so much to offer: five beaches, a nature reserve, excellent sports infrastructure, architectural gems, and shopping galore. My favorite activity there is cycling along the dike and eating the local specialty – Zeeuwse mosselen – mussels with fries.
To the east, in the Limburg province that borders Germany, in an old town called Bokrijk, I discovered one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places according to Time magazine. “Walking on water may elude most of us, but this bike trail offers an experience that’s almost as divine,” Time spouts. Opened in 2016, Cycling Through Water is a unique and magical experience in which you cycle more than 200 meters through a pond. In the middle, the water is at eye level on both sides. You can feel, see, and smell the water. From a distance, you see people’s heads passing by just above the water level.
In that same province we have Scherpenheuvel (translated as “sharp hill”), the most important pilgrimage site in Belgium. Once a holy oak on a hilltop, it was “Christianized” with a statue of the Holy Mary. Legend has it that around 1500 A.D., the Virgin Mary performed a miracle here, freezing into place a shepherd boy who tried to take the statue home. Ever since, devoted pilgrims have come to pray for the health and recovery of their loved ones. Other traditions that have survived the centuries at Scherpenheuvel are the Kaarskensprocessie (procession of the candles) on November 2 and the blessing processions for people, pets, animals, and even vehicles. The popularity of the pilgrimage also has a lot to do with the year-round fairground atmosphere that characterizes the place: Many stalls sell souvenirs, sweets, and typical baked goods such as pepernoten and noppen; and restaurants of different kinds abound.
The basilica is surrounded by a beautiful and special seven-sided square. In the square is the candle chapel. I took the opportunity to offer a “candle of manifestation” to reflect on what I am grateful for, and also for what I would like to see manifested in 2022: world peace and an end to the pandemic.
It is said that there are more castles and châteaux per square kilometer in Belgium than anywhere else in the world. Whether or not this statistic is true, we do know there are more than 3,000 castles and chateaux dotted around Belgium, from the top of Flanders to the bottom of Wallonia. These castles may seem medieval at first glance, but they have a magical charm to them that is timeless. To maintain these castles, they are often occupied by public offices, or even rented out as wedding venues to complete every girl’s princess dream.
Situated in the northwest, Rumbeke Castle is one of the oldest Renaissance castles in Belgium and dates from the 16th century. The first Count of Flanders lived there, and it is considered the birthplace of Flanders. In the former coach house and caretaker’s lodge, the restaurant and bistro offer a magnificent view of the castle. I found the gray skies and chilly wind very fitting for the medieval setting.
That was my tour of the northern, Flemish half of Belgium. In another article, I will show you the beauty of Wallonia.
The Author
Aline Verduyn has been living and loving Gwangju for almost three years. In her spare time, she likes to take pictures of the local beauty Korea has to offer. Instagram @gwangjumiin