Day trips

BRUGES

BRUGES IS THE CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST FLANDERS IN THE FLEMISH REGION OF BELGIUM. IN IT’S RELATIVELY SMALL TERRITORY BRUGES HAS CONCENTRATED MORE CASTLES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. THANKS TO IT’S LARGE NUMERS OF CANAL AND BRIDGES (OF WHICH THERE ARE MORE THAN 80) BRUGES IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS VENICE OF THE NORTH. TOURISTS CAN EXPLORE THE CITY BY SAYLING ALONG IT’S CANALS. 15 MINUTES TRAIN RAIDE FROM OSTEND.

YPRES – MENIN GATE

THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF YPRES WAS LOCATED AT THE CENTRE OF THE 1914 – 1918 BATTLEFIELDS OF THE YPRES SALIENT. YPRES WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND DURING FOUR YEARS OF FIGHTING IN WORLD WAR 1. ONCE A MEDIEVAL TRADING CENTRE, YPRES IS A CITY WITH A LONG AND RICH HISTORY. YPRES ALSO MAKES GREAT BASE CAMP TO EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING AREA, BATTLEFIELDS AND MEMORIAL SITES. EVERY EVENING AT 8PM PRECISELY, THE ‘LAST POST’ HAS BEEN SOUNDED SINCE 1928 UNDER THE IMPOSING ARCHES OF THE MENIN GATE. THIS MEMORIAL SHAPED LIKE A ROMAN TRIUMPHAL ARCH DISPLAYS THE NAMES OF 54.896 SOLDIERS OF THE THEN BRITISH EMPIRE WHO WENT MISSING IN ACTION. FAMILIES CAN ALSO ENJOY A FUN DAY OUT AT BELLEWAERDE THEME PARK, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE SITE OF A FORMER BATTLEFIELD.