FLANDERS TOURISM

Accounting for 60 per cent of Belgium’s population but just 44 per cent of its territory, Flanders is a land of flat horizons, medieval splendour and a culture shaped by centuries of global trade. Polders, dunes and waterways are threaded by one of Europe’s densest networks of hiking and cycling routes, linking villages and art-rich cities distinguished by stepped gables, ornate guildhalls, brick belfries and UNESCO-listed beguinages. Craftsmanship runs deep—from monastic and experimental breweries to master chocolatiers, textile-makers, designers and artists who blend tradition with innovation—while the North Sea coast, unique to Flanders, adds wide beaches and breezy resorts. Flat but never dull, historic yet forward-looking, Flanders is essential to any Belgian itinerary.