Belgium is perhaps one of the most under-rated countries in Europe, but a cruise on one of our hotel barges along its waterways, with tours of charming cities will convince you that it is a diverse and culturally rich land. Often called the ‘Essence of Europe’, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a land crisscrossed by waterways, is particularly proud of its medieval cities Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent.

Suspended in time centuries ago, Bruges, the ‘Venice of the North’, is one of Western Europe’s prettiest medieval cities, with its picturesque market squares and network of canals.

Antwerp on the other hand boasts the country’s most impressive cathedral and tucked away in cobbled lanes and backstreets are antiques shops, art galleries, exclusive chocolate outlets and, of course, diamond shops.

There is also the attractive medieval canal-side city of Ghent with its imposing architecture of churches and the former houses of rich traders. The city has an extensive network of canals and endless streets to explore and boasts the largest number of listed buildings in Belgium.
 

This map represents one of the sample itineraries we offer in this region.

Our barges Panache and La Nouvelle Etoile cruise through Belgium on their journeys between Paris and Holland.