Overview
A really lovely city for sightseeing. Especially during the Christmas market season, the city was beautifully lit up and buzzing with life. Weekends were a bit crowded due to post-COVID syndrome, but it's absolutely nothing compared to the crowds in Bruges.
What to See
We got the chance to visit Gravensteen Castle for free on a Friday evening. If you check the dates of your visit and there happens to be an event at the castle, try to time your visit accordingly. There was a choir performance when we went; it was both delightful and the castle's ambiance was gorgeous at night.
Food & Drink
The tall Max van het Huis beers at the traditional bar called Dulle Griet are truly wild. The concept of handing over your shoe as a deposit is fun, drinking from such an enormous glass is an experience in itself, and the buzz hits wonderfully. Just be careful though, the alcohol content is quite high and it sneaks up on you hard.
Le Pain Quotidien's breakfast is quite impressive and the place is spacious. A good weekend choice for larger groups. We also discovered a nice patisserie called Julie's House; worth trying for different flavors.