Belgium

When you think about fashion, which destination comes to your mind? Paris? Milan? New York? What about Belgium? Most people don’t know, but Belgium is also one of Europe’s biggest fashion meccas, with Antwerp being the star of it. From years of tradition with the lace and cloth industries that were exported to places like Italy and France to contemporary fashion designers known worldwide like Dianne Von Furstenberg (who haven`t heard about her iconic wrap dresses), Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, or Martin Margiela, the Flemish fashion industry is creative, experimental and bold, without losing its elegant side. In this tour, you will discover what makes Belgium such a surprising and unmissable destination for all fashion lovers.

Are you ready to embark on a unique fashion journey?

Upon arrival at the airport, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Once you`re settled, you will head to the Halve Maan brewery where you will have a private tour to discover the process of Belgium beer-making in the oldest brewery in the city, dating from 1856, and marvel at the wonderful panoramic views from the rooftop. After that, you will come down for a delicious Flemish welcome lunch and traditional beer tasting!

After lunch, you will be met by your local guide that will take you on a magical walking city tour to show you the most beautiful and Instagram-worthy features of this beautiful city. During the visit, you will also find out about the story of the medieval-flemish-cloth industry. Flemish cloth has a long history of being admired. When the Romans entered Belgica, the high-quality cloth woven by the locals was soon taken and used for a man’s toga and a woman’s stola. In the early Middle Ages, records exist of Flemish cloth turning up in the markets of Novgorod in Russia. To end the first day in Belgium, you will be able to explore the cities most charming feature, the channels, on a sailing tour, so you can get unique views that will transport you to a fairy-tale world. Return to your hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast, you will meet your specialist guide at your hotel and visit the KANT Lace Center, where you fill a showcase of unique pieces of lace from Bruges collections. Displays include the basic techniques and movements, types of lace and their geographical origins, the lace industry then and now, and lace teaching in Bruges. The craftsmanship and aesthetics of lace are honored and, in addition, the contemporary and international appeal of lace is featured.

Back to the hotel, check out, and take the train to Antwerp. You will arrive at the Antwerp Central Station, an architectural feature itself. From there, you will head to your hotel for check-in. There you will receive your Antwerp City Cards, valid for 72 hours. Free time for lunch. After lunch, you will meet your guide for a historical walking city tour around the old town, where you will visit some Belgian masterpieces like the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Sint-Pauluskerk (Saint-Pauls Hidden churchyard), and the main square. You will finish the afternoon with a mouth-watering Belgium waffles tasting! Overnight.

After breakfast, you will meet with your guide and head to the Plantin-Moretum Museum and visit the exhibition “Leading Ladies”, where you will discover the history of the family who founded the museum through the women of the family, strong characters who managed the family for over 300 years and be able to appreciate how their style and fashion evolved throughout the years. In the afternoon, you will visit the MoMu Fashion Museum, and after, you will meet your guide, a fashion expert, for a private walking tour of the Fashion District and the Nationalestraat street – Antwerp`s biggest fashion street, and through the elegant Latin Quarter and the busy Meir shopping street. You will finish the tour in the beautifully restored Festival Hall in Meir. Return to your hotel. Overnight.