Belgium
Belgium is a country of contrasting experiences. Its location nestled between France, The Netherlands and Germany gives Belgium almost any travel experience you could ask for: gothic city cores and modern metropolises; North Sea coastline and Ardennes Forest; French influence and Dutch Influence. Belgium is the country of contrasts.
My visit to Belgium was a key portion of my European lowlands trip for the tulip season (see Netherlands article). In a quick 2 days, I was able to traverse large portions of the relatively small country. In spirit of the contrasting experiences of Belgium, this article will focus on three unique experiences in the country. First, visiting the famed Grand Place in Brussels. Second, learning about Napoleonic military history at Waterloo. And last, photography in the picturesque town of Dinant.
Grand Place
A trip to Belgium would not be complete without visiting the famed capital Brussels. At the heart of the European capital lies the Grand Place, or the central square. First built way back in the 1100s, the modern Grand Place has looked mostly the same since the mid 1400s. Now, the Grand Place is the most recognizable landmark in the country and a must visit.
While visiting the Grand Place in the day allows you to visit the shops and historic sites in the area, a nighttime visit truly brings out the beauty of the attraction. At night, the lights in the plaza illuminate the gothic buildings lining the center. As always with low light photography, a tripod is a must. A variety of lenses is also a plus given the sweeping 360 degree views at the plaza center.
To photograph the plaza at night, I set up a low tripod– about a foot or two high. With this, I could keep the patterns of the old brick floors in frame alongside the historic buildings. Then, if there is enough light (which there was because of the full moon), I like to set an f8-9 aperture to ensure full focus across the image. The last step, pick a subject and shoot! The Brussels Town Hall is an obvious choice for a subject, as its stunning gothic architecture is sure to catch an eye (and is the only remaining original medieval building in the Grand Place). The King's House and Row houses also give cool subjects, especially with some moon positioning. To diversify my shots, I made sure to also explore the alleyways alongside the plaza, specifically looking for cool views of the plaza buildings.
Waterloo
I have always been a huge fan of history. But with living in the US, up-close European history is few and far between. While in Belgium, visiting a Napoleonic Battlefield would be a great addition to my historic-site collection! Luckily, the famed Waterloo Battlefield is just 5 miles south of Brussels. After escaping his exile from the island of Elba, Napoleon was able to muster an army and take on another war against the coalition. This war ended with the Battle of Waterloo, leading to his second exile to the remote island of Saint Helena where he would live the rest of his life.
Any visit to Waterloo begins at the visitor center. There, I was able to explore an in depth museum of the history of the Napoleonic Wars and The Battle of Waterloo. They also had a panorama painting which gave a 360 degree rendition of the battle. The main outdoor attraction of the battlefield is the Lion’s Mound, a cone shaped mount commemorating the spot where Prince William of Orange was wounded. A 226 step climb up the mound leads to distant views of the battlefield.
Dinant
My final stop in Belgium was in the riverside town of Dinant. Right on the French border southeast of Charleroi, Dinant is a picturesque village on the Meuse. My target was photographing Dinant at sunset and in the blue hour following sunset. After arriving in the town just before sunset, I positioned myself on the west bank of the Meuse facing towards the historic town core. That night’s sunset put pink and orange hues in a stripe over the town but the real photographic magic occurred right after sunset. The blue hour (and full moon) gave a calm glow to the town and river. With a long exposure setting, I could smoothen and bring out the reflections in the river allowing the observer to focus on the intricate architecture of Dinant.
Squished between European powerhouse nations, Belgium is an often overlooked country. But after getting a small taste of the country, I think it is heavily underrated. Between architecturally stunning cities, loads of history and gorgeous small towns, Belgium truly has it all. I hope to visit more towns such as Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges in future visits.
