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Vrijdagmarkt 5, Bruges, West Flanders, 8000, Belgium
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Exhibition
Reflections
Basilica of the Holy Blood,Brugge,Belgium.
The Markt Hallon, or Market Hall
please advise availability of canal trips in Bruges in January
I am afraid the canal boat trips do not run in December or January.
Don't be too sad about that, they hardly guide in any other language than Flamish and French anyway
@Indian Pacific: The guide is in Dutch, French, ENGLISH and somtimes, even German.
Where did you get the idea that boat tours only offer guides in Flemish and French? They do not even use Flemish for official businesses, they use Dutch!
The Flemish people are multi-lingual. They offer services in different languages. And by the way, Dutch is the language they officially use in Flanders. Flemish is the main term for all the dialects and accents.
The guide spoke English and French on the boat when we took the tour.
As I live, study, eat and sleep in Bruges, I often hear the boat tour guides in English. They even try to copy the British accent.
The boat tours, as well as the horse rides offer tours in Dutch, English, French and German. Some of them can even speak Spanish.
So... don't worry about the language!
Anyway, as ranger49 said, there are no canal trips in December/January or even February, especially when it's freezing.
@sallycoston, the poster: In the official website of Bruges, it says that the boat tours only operate from March to November. However, I have also seen them operate out of season, when the weather was good. There is a very small chance that it will not be available in January, but you'd never know. The alternative is the horse-drawn carriage or the bus tour. You can also go to the Tourist Information Center and ask for a pamphlet for different ways to discover Bruges.
Correction: There is a very small chance that it will be available in January.
"The guide is in Dutch, French, ENGLISH and somtimes, even German." A few words English, not a quarter of what is said in Flamish/Dutch and French.
"Where did you get the idea that boat tours only offer guides in Flemish and French?" It's my own experience
"They do not even use Flemish for official businesses, they use Dutch!" This isn't a discussion about if we call the Germanic language spoken in Belgium Flamish or Dutch.
"The Flemish people are multi-lingual. They offer services in different languages." Yes, that's correct, except the canal boats in Brugge.
"And by the way, Dutch is the language they officially use in Flanders. Flemish is the main term for all the dialects and accents." Repeat: This isn't a discussion about if we call the Germanic language spoken in Belgium Flamish or Dutch. Luckily for me spoken "Belgian Dutch" is much easier to understand for a Scandinavian than real Dutch.
Last year I made a boattour in Bruge and the guide spoke very well English and Dutch.
P.
Fine if they have improved.
Pick up a copy of the Use-It map if they have it at the front desk of your accommodation. It has tons of tips and useful info from natives about the real things to do. Info can also be found on their website: www.use-it.be
These maps also exist for Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent.
If you only have one day, take a boat trip on the canals. I had the opportunity to meet the musician who plays the carillon in the bell tower on the square. He invited me to sit in his 'studio' while he performed a Sunday afternoon concert. It was 360+ steps to get up there but it was well worth it. I'm posting a view from the bell tower.
Except for being an impressive, 83 meters high, midieval tower Belfry used to be a treasury of the royalty.
The tower was destoyed by fire for several times and had to be rebuilt, however some parts of it were never rebuilt again.
Belfry is located at the Grote Markt and it is possible to climb its 366 steps all the way to the top of the tower.
Contact the local tourist information center to check the visitors' hours.
This is a yearly event that is commeration of the arrival of the Holy Blood in Brugge.
Generally the whole city takes part in a very spectular event in period costume.
This occurs every year on Accension Day
As Brugge is going to be the Cultural City of Europe in 2002, then I guess these tips are needed,, Tips at restaurants, generally 10% of the total cost, do try to speak Flemish or French as the poeple in Brugge are just so much more helpful if you at least try. most of the people speak English, French, German, and Flemish.
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Address: Vrijdagmarkt 5, Bruges, West Flanders, 8000, Belgium
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