help with Antwerp public transportation

What is the best way to get from the Centraal Station to the Antwerp Diamond Hotel? I know this has been addressed previously on this site (take #2 or #15) but when I look on Google maps there are no little %26quot;M%26quot;s near the hotel. Some of my Antwerp friends refer to it as the tram, some people call it the metro, are there two separate systems?

Is there a tram/metro station inside the Centraal train station or do I have to use the Diamont station? I tried the Delijn trip planner and my Flemish isn%26#39;t good enough.

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From the train platform in Antwerpen Centraal walk 4 min. to premetro station Diamant (lowest level IN the station), take premetro (tram/metro) no. 2 in the direction of Hoboken and get off at stop Charlottalei (3 min.). Then walk another 4 min. to the hotel.

I think it%26#39;s faster to walk to the hotel than having to wait for a tram!

Metro/tram/premetro ... it%26#39;s all the same system.

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Thank you for the clarification. I think you%26#39;re right about walking even with luggage but if it%26#39;s raining I may want the tram. Also, I%26#39;m expecting some late nights and will need to use your directions in reverse!

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Removed on: 4:23 pm, October 09, 2009

How best to celebrate a special occasion in Brussels??

Hi everyone

I will be in Brussels for a long weekend in December and will be celebrating an important birthday and anniversary.

As such, I was wondering if you could give me any ideas about what to do or where to eat or drink to make it memorable?

I%26#39;ve already read about the Christmas markets and the ice skating which sounds great, but I just wondered whether there%26#39;s anything else you would suggest.

It doesn%26#39;t need to be anything really fancy or extraordinary - maybe even a restaurant or cocktail bar with a great view or something?

Thanks

Laura

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Brussels is not known for views although I do recommend a visit to the Musical Instrument Museum for the rooftop café.

You might find Belga Queen quite memorable, if only for the design, including transparent toilet doors (they become opaque when you turn the handle a couple of times): see www.belgaqueen.be/home.asp?city=1%26Lang=1

I have enjoyed quite a few meals there although you can certainly eat better for less in less-memorable surroundings.

Not fancy or with any sort of a view but the best waffles you will ever taste are to be had in the café above Dandoy in the rue de l%26#39;Etuve, opposite the Amigo Hotel, about a block from the Grand%26#39; Place in the street leading to the Manneken Pis.

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Great - thanks so much for the advice. The tip about the waffles is exactly the type of idea I%26#39;m looking for to build a perfect day.

Is this the type of place you would recommend for breakfast?

Thanks

Laura

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No. We do not eat waffles for breakfast but, as with pancakes (crêpes), as a mid-morning/afternoon snack. I doubt that Dandoy would be open at that time anyway although I have never been there to find out.

For breakfast you might consider Aroma in the Grand%26#39; Place - opposite the Town Hall, near the rue au Beurre. Or for somewhere really cheap, Panos opposite the (Grand%26#39; Place/rue du Marché aux Herbes side) entrance to the Galeries St. Hubert.

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There is a restaurant at the top of the Atomium (and a terrific view) and whilst we were there this weekend there were several people carrying bottles of Champagne and presents for a celebration they had arranged so I guess it might be a nice place for a lunch celebration.

You also get priority in the queue if you have booked a table.

It did look very nice from what I saw of it.

Jewels

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Thanks - I%26#39;ll definitely look into these options!

Cheers

Laura

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Removed on: 12:32 pm, October 09, 2009

Oostende to Calais

Hi, what are my options in traveling to Calais from Oostende(Brugge) to get my rental car. Thanks

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Oostende is not in Brugge, but from either town it would take you 3 or 4 hours by train with 1 change in Lille or 2, in Lille and Kortrijk: slightly faster from Brugge than from Oostende.

You could take the coastal tram from Oostende to De Panne near the French border and then find a bus to Dunkerque and then another from Dunkerque to Calais, but I don%26#39;t think this would be any faster.

Why not rent the car in Belgium?!

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Removed on: 12:20 pm, October 10, 2009

Trains from Schipol to Brussels

Just incase anyone is not aware the IC train (Not Thalys) time from Schipol airport to Brussels has changed.

It used to be 40 mins past every hour and has now changed to 12 mins past every hour and leaves from Platform (spoor) 5.

The train from Brussels back to Amsterdam Schipol is at 19 mins past every hour from Gare Central (obviously different times from Gare du Nord and Gard du Midi)

It may vary on weekends.

Just incase anyone is doing the same journey by train

Jewels

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Thans for that. I wonder if its got anything to do with them starting to introduce the new hi speed service Ams-Bru?

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It probably has.......there were signs for the Hi-Speed all over the place and leaflets about it too.

Guess something had to make way for it and it would be useful.........if the price is right

Jewels

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Does anyone know when this high speed train goes into effect?

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Removed on: 1:18 pm, October 10, 2009

December weekend trip

I%26#39;m going to be in Brussels for work from December 1-5. I will have Saturday and Sunday (Dec 6-7) to see more of Belgium before I fly out of Brussels on Monday. I would like to see everything, but of course a 2 day weekend is somewhat limiting. In selecting from my %26quot;list%26quot; of things to see, I am wondering if Flanders Field, in Waregem, is a worthwhile December attraction, or would it be too cold/dreary and the time better spent elsewhere? Other options include the Christmas market at Liege or spending the two days in Brugge or Gent (partaking of museums, culture, history mostly). Is there anything that is a December-only sort of activity besides Christmas markets? What would you do with the 2 days? Thanks!

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Unless you have a particular reason to visit the Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem, you might do better, in December, to visit the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ieper (Ypres). 1h44 from Brussels by train.

Otherwise, if you haven%26#39;t been to Brugge I would recommend you go there. In addition to the Christmas market there is an Ice Sculpture festival and it%26#39;s right next to the station. 1 hr from Brussels by train.

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Removed on: 1:20 pm, October 10, 2009

Need hotel for one night, great location near cafes

Hello,

My sister and I will be in Brussels for one night on our way back to the states from Italy.

We arrive around 7 PM and would like to stay at a hotel near all of the great restaurants and cafes. We must leave the following morning to go back to the airport to catch flight to NY.

Can you please give us some options for hotels. We would like to spend no more than 125 euros. Location is important to us. We would like to be able to see the famous statue of the boy.

Also, we would appreciate restaurant suggestions.

Thank you,

Wendy

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See question below about Christmas markets, the hotels mentioned as being near the Bourse are also close to the café/bar area of St. Géry (just around the corner from the Hotel Café Pacific) and - if you must - within walking distance of the %26quot;famous statue of the boy%26quot;.

Although, any hotel in the Grand%26#39; Place/Gare centrale area would be fine, and if you need to leave early the following morning you would do better to stay on the other side of the GP, e.g. at the Madeleine (see list of %26quot;Brussels Hotels%26quot; on the left of this page for more details of individual hotels). You would then be closer to the central station from which you can catch the train to Brussels Airport the following morning - and indeed arrive from the airport: for the Bourse/ Orts/ Dansaert area on the other hand, you would do better to get off the airport train at gare du Nord or gare du Midi and take the underground tram to Bourse, although trams are not all that convenient if you have a lot of luggage.

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Removed on: 1:22 pm, October 10, 2009

Favourite places for Breakfast, Fondue and Pancakes please?

Hi All,

HURRAHH!!! Nearly time for our Bruges trip - setting off tomorrow morning....fingers crossed for the Eurostar ;-)

So what I was wondering is if any of you knowledgable or local folks could please tell me your personal favourite places for:

a) Yummy Belgian breakfasts (we%26#39;re staying the Crowne Plaza but thought we%26#39;d head out in the mornings for brekkie!!)

b) Great Fondue!! I%26#39;m so excited about fondue....YUMMY!

c) Pancakes %26amp; Waffles ...my Dad is desparate to try!

d) Mussels (for boyfriend, its a must)

e) Great Steak! (For Mum!)

I%26#39;ve read lots of reviews of course but would appreciate you sharing your real favourites - where would you take your folks to?

Thanks All!!

Nx

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b) I don%26#39;t know of any Swiss restaurant in Brugge. There is a Belgian dish called, in French %26quot;fondus au fromage%26quot; - in Dutch, Kaaskroketten - but these are cheese croquettes, deep fried and nothing like the Swiss dish.

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d) for moules go to looftje%26#39;s, he is the expert

tripadvisor.com/…12256243

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c) If you want to buy waffles and pancakes, their are a lot of oppurtunity%26#39;s in the city. In the two main shopping streets you will surely find your waffles and pancakes. But I can perhaps suggest something. Their is a shop called %26#39;laurenzino%26#39; in the noordzandstraat 1, bruges. And if you%26#39;re there, and the sun is shining, you can also buy an ice-cream at the other side off the road in %26#39;da vinci%26#39;, with very good ice-cream.

e) A good place to go to for a steak is %26#39;het nieuw museum%26#39;

In %26#39;t Nieuwe Museum

Hooistraat 42

B-8000 BRUGGE

It%26#39;s a good place with typical old beer commercials on the wall... just go there.

I hope you can do something with the information.

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Removed on: 11:19 am, October 10, 2009