Social programme

For those interested, there will be an optional social programme on Friday afternoon and on Saturday.

Friday afternoon

On Friday afternoon a guided tour of Brussels will be organised. Tis tour will guide you through the centre of Brussels. The famous Grand Place is just a stroll from the hotel and houses the 15th century Gothic City Hall and extraordinary ensemble of Baroque facades. It is surrounded by a labyrinth of small streets, which are lined with shops offering Brussels’ famous lace, typical Belgian restaurants, boutique and centuries of history.
Under a splendid glass vault, the Royal Saint-Hubertus Arcades (the oldest in Europe) are lined with building having pre neo-classical facades. Strolling through the Arcades, you will find many superb shops, bookstores, furriers and design stores and emerge just below the imposing towers of Saint-Michael-and-Gudule Cathedral, one of the glories of Brabant Gothic.
Manneken-Pis, the most famous little boy in the world, has more than six hundred and fifty costumes. He is only a few minutes walk from the hotel.

Saturday

On Saturday we would invite the participants for a tour of Ghent.

For those leaving on Saturday
The bus back to Brussels will be able to drop you off at the airport at 16:30. Those who are leaving earlier can take a direct train to the airport in Ghent at any time. The fastest connection takes one hour (one change); the slowest one hour and a half (direct). More information on: http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/ (Search for from GENT SINT PIETERS to BRUXELLES NAT AIRPORT)

Ghent

The city combines an impressive past with a vivid present. Numerous tourists visit Ghent of which the citizens carry the nickname "stroppendragers" or noose-bearers. The historic heart of the city offers a lot of places of interest. From St Michael's bridge there is a wonderful view on the skyline of Ghent with the three impressive towers of St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry with its bell tower and St Bavo's cathedral with the world famous painting "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck. Traces of the Middle Ages were preserved at a lot of places. The old port with its guild halls on the Graslei and Korenlei is merely one example of the beautiful views this town has to offer. Not far from the Graslei arises the Castle of the Counts, once the medieval fortress of the Count of Flanders. Nowadays it is a major tourist attraction.

The Saint-Michael's bridge is the most monumental bridge in Ghent.
From this bridge one can enjoy the beautiful view of the famous Ghent towers: Saint Nicholas' Church, the Belfry and Saint Bavo's Cathedral.

This splendid cathedral on St. Bavo's Square combines various styles: Romanesque style (the crypt), high Gothic and late Gothic. Emperor Charles V was christened in St. Bavo's Cathedral in 1500.

St. Bavos is an impressive building. The Cathedral's magnificent pulpit is a combination of white Carrera marble and Danish oak dates from the eighteenth century. St. Bavos layout includes an enormous number of chapels, tombs, and artwork, including "The Mystic Lamb" by Jan and Hubrecht van Eyck and a Rubens titled "Conversion of St. Bavo". The church is of medium size but has endless surprises.

The most famous masterpiece is 'The Mystic Lamb'. This work of art by the Van Eyck brothers from 1432 is considered to be a high point in 15th century Flemish art and we will visit it on our tour.