Northern Belgium : Flanders with Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp

Award-winning guide: Winner of Best Guidebook at the British Guild of Travel Writer Members' Awards.

This new second edition remains the only standalone guide to Northern Belgium and Flanders, a captivating region home to more Michelin-starred restaurants per head than France and the largest number of comic-strip cartoonists in the world. Whether you're drawn to the sandy North Sea coast, medieval cloth-spinning cities like Bruges and Ghent, or charming villages, this guide covers every inch of the region with expert insight and local knowledge.

Discover in-depth coverage of Brussels, including often-overlooked outer communes with excellent off-the-beaten-track eateries and quirky museums. Unique features include eyewitness accounts of life under German occupation during World War II, a rare interview with one of the 29 Cistercian monks at Sint-Sixtus abbey who brew the revered Westvleteren Trappist beer, and a guest contribution from Tim Webb (author of the best-selling Good Beer Guide: Belgium) covering the best local beers and breweries to visit. New to this edition: information on Brussels Airlines' Hi Belgium Pass, nationwide Belgian rail passes, city passes, and the region's best Christmas markets, plus details of new WWI information offices and permanent artworks.

Fully revised restaurant listings keep pace with Flanders' dynamic dining scene, while new features highlight quirky accommodation options and museums—including Brussels' Underpants Museum. Carefully designed walking tours of Brussels city centre, comprehensive maps, and an in-depth festival calendar showcase everything from the hip Pukkelpop festival to village fêtes. Plus, enjoy more coverage of the region's official national park and nature reserves than any other guide.