Blankenberg

[AndyMichelle]

Right, we love Brugge but have been there too many times recently and have done most of the tours. 

Loved them all, but wondered if there is enough to do for a few hours near to where the shuttle bus drops you in Blankenberg? 

We don't want a lot, just maybe something interesting to see in April. 

Also any recommendations for good waffle/coffee shops would be welcomed. 

Thank you in advance, 

Andy 

[Eglesbrech]

24 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Right, we love Brugge but have been there too many times recently and have done most of the tours. 

Loved them all, but wondered if there is enough to do for a few hours near to where the shuttle bus drops you in Blankenberg? 

We don't want a lot, just maybe something interesting to see in April. 

Also any recommendations for good waffle/coffee shops would be welcomed. 

Thank you in advance, 

Andy 

In short yes.
 

If you like walking then cross the road from the drop off and walk right to the end of the main shopping street until you reach the large set of stairs, which you can’t miss. They take you up onto the very long promenade and beach (April will not be sun bathing weather) but it is a lovely area for a walk and there are a few seaside attractions on the walkway and pier. There was an exhibition on storms but I’m not sure if it is still there.

 

There are not too many shops in Blankenburg but at least a couple for the ubiquitous Belium chocolates.

 

Opposite the drop off across the road the first big cafe you come too is great for people watching and coffee. Also if you go half way up the Main Street and off to the right there are a couple with nice outdoor seating (with cover for rain and heaters).

 

You can spend a very pleasant half day there. Enjoy.

 

 

[AndyMichelle]

9 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

In short yes.
 

If you like walking then cross the road from the drop off and walk right to the end of the main shopping street until you reach the large set of stairs, which you can’t miss. They take you up onto the very long promenade and beach (April will not be sun bathing weather) but it is a lovely area for a walk and there are a few seaside attractions on the walkway and pier. There was an exhibition on storms but I’m not sure if it is still there.

 

There are not too many shops in Blankenburg but at least a couple for the ubiquitous Belium chocolates.

 

Opposite the drop off across the road the first big cafe you come too is great for people watching and coffee. Also if you go half way up the Main Street and off to the right there are a couple with nice outdoor seating (with cover for rain and heaters).

 

You can spend a very pleasant half day there. Enjoy.

 

 

Thank you so much. 

We love a walk near the sea, so that sounds perfect. 

Andy 

[bee-ess]

There is a very good tram service that runs up and down the coast  which you can catch from either Zeebrugge  or Blankenberg - there is a nice little seaside resort called De Haan which has a beach and some really pretty buildings and tram station which is only a few tram stops from Blankenberge.

This is the link for the tram https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en/inspiration/coastal-tram and you can google De Haan for more info about the town.

Makes a nice change from Brugge.

[AndyMichelle]

7 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

There is a very good tram service that runs up and down the coast  which you can catch from either Zeebrugge  or Blankenberg - there is a nice little seaside resort called De Haan which has a beach and some really pretty buildings and tram station which is only a few tram stops from Blankenberge.

This is the link for the tram https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en/inspiration/coastal-tram and you can google De Haan for more info about the town.

Makes a nice change from Brugge.

Excellent, thank you. 

That's what we are looking for, an easy alternative to Brugge. 

Googling now. 

Andy 

[kalos]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

Excellent, thank you. 

That's what we are looking for, an easy alternative to Brugge. 

Googling now. 

Andy 

Andy, sent you a link of Google map showing the sea front war memorial .

From there turn map right and take first right and you are back on the steps Eglesbrech describes.

We used this as a marker to get back to the steps and the  P&O coach which parked at the other end

of the road by  a church .

Hope this helps 

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3160089,3.1270691,3a,75y,337.45h,94.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siLA7DL2m0-UvPgeZ-uvFBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Tom Baker]

Look out for the giant, creepy babies crawling up the casino wall.

[Harry Peterson]

I’d agree.  Spent a very pleasant day there a few years back, not doing a great deal, but just wandering around. It was sunny though, and the weather would make a difference.

 

And, as you’d expect, a Leonidas shop - best value chocolates in Belgium. Available in the UK too, but only at stupid prices.

[AndyMichelle]

22 minutes ago, kalos said:

Andy, sent you a link of Google map showing the sea front war memorial .

From there turn map right and take first right and you are back on the steps Eglesbrech describes.

We used this as a marker to get back to the steps and the  P&O coach which parked at the other end

of the road by  a church .

Hope this helps 

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3160089,3.1270691,3a,75y,337.45h,94.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siLA7DL2m0-UvPgeZ-uvFBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Excellent, thank you. 

We have been using the 'find my car' app to get us back to the coaches, works a treat if you remember to set it when arriving😊

Andy 

[AndyMichelle]

23 minutes ago, Tom Baker said:

Look out for the giant, creepy babies crawling up the casino wall.

? Sounds interesting?? 

Andy 

 

[AndyMichelle]

21 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

I’d agree.  Spent a very pleasant day there a few years back, not doing a great deal, but just wandering around. It was sunny though, and the weather would make a difference.

 

And, as you’d expect, a Leonidas shop - best value chocolates in Belgium. Available in the UK too, but only at stupid prices.

Thanks Harry. 

We were just a bit concerned there was nothing to do but a nice stroll, chocolate and waffles is our idea of Heaven.. 

Andy 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Right, we love Brugge but have been there too many times recently and have done most of the tours. 

Loved them all, but wondered if there is enough to do for a few hours near to where the shuttle bus drops you in Blankenberg? 

We don't want a lot, just maybe something interesting to see in April. 

Also any recommendations for good waffle/coffee shops would be welcomed. 

Thank you in advance, 

Andy 

We usually go to Blankenburg every time we go to Zeebrugge.

You have been given good advice.

It is basically 1 long street with a few side streets.

There are a number of Belgium choc shops but the best one is right near the top end of the pedestrian street on the left hand side.

There are several places to eat on or just off the main Street.

There are about 30 steps at the end of the street and the beach front promenade is long in either direction.

[AndyMichelle]

40 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

We usually go to Blankenburg every time we go to Zeebrugge.

You have been given good advice.

It is basically 1 long street with a few side streets.

There are a number of Belgium choc shops but the best one is right near the top end of the pedestrian street on the left hand side.

There are several places to eat on or just off the main Street.

There are about 30 steps at the end of the street and the beach front promenade is long in either direction.

Excellent Graham, thank you. 

Chocolate and waffles, nice stroll, can't beat it. 

Andy 

[redwell]

We always stay in blankenberg we have a look round the shops, have a coffee on the beach if the weather is good we are going there april so not expecting nice weather. You can be blown away on the promenade.

There is a good market but not certain what days it on.

You can catch the tram to ostend but watch the time to get back to the  ship 

[Selbourne]

Andy - Like you we had been to Bruges so fancied a change on our last stop at Zeebrugge. We took a cab to Ghent, which we found to be even nicer than Bruges. Lovely to walk around and plenty of nice places to have a drink or bite to eat. On the return journey we asked the cab driver to drop us in Blankenberg and I would echo the comments above. When we finished there we got the shuttle bus back to the ship. We thoroughly enjoyed the day. 

[AndyMichelle]

10 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Andy - Like you we had been to Bruges so fancied a change on our last stop at Zeebrugge. We took a cab to Ghent, which we found to be even nicer than Bruges. Lovely to walk around and plenty of nice places to have a drink or bite to eat. On the return journey we asked the cab driver to drop us in Blankenberg and I would echo the comments above. When we finished there we got the shuttle bus back to the ship. We thoroughly enjoyed the day. 

Thank you Selbourne. 

We have been to Ghent, it was a long time ago though, so might be worth a revisit, we really liked it. 

I think this time we are hoping for a dry day and a stroll along the promenade and nice lunch which will probably involve waffles, so Blankenberg seems ideal. 

We are easily pleased... 😊

Andy 

 

[AndyMichelle]

1 hour ago, redwell said:

We always stay in blankenberg we have a look round the shops, have a coffee on the beach if the weather is good we are going there april so not expecting nice weather. You can be blown away on the promenade.

There is a good market but not certain what days it on.

You can catch the tram to ostend but watch the time to get back to the  ship 

Thank you. 

A stroll along the promenade sounds perfect for us, just hope it's dry. 

Andy 

[gosport11]

A walk up the pier is nice,a café at the end.There is also a crazy golf park with snooker golf its great fun to watch  n do,loads to do in Blankenberg .There are some amazing sandy beaches that go on for miles, not to mention the moules n frittes 

 

 

[AndyMichelle]

25 minutes ago, gosport11 said:

A walk up the pier is nice,a café at the end.There is also a crazy golf park with snooker golf its great fun to watch  n do,loads to do in Blankenberg .There are some amazing sandy beaches that go on for miles, not to mention the moules n frittes 

 

 

Thank you, don't do mussels though😝

Like the sound of the cafe on the pier. 

Andy 

[P&O SUE]

We went in July, lovely place although of course the weather helped! Lots of places selling coffee and beer on the prom (though they may have only popped up in the summer!) 

We had a beer overlooking the beach then a walk along the pier.

Then of course bought some chocolates!

The giant babies are sort of sculptures ‘crawling’ up some of the buildings!! 

[terrierjohn]

48 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Thank you, don't do mussels though😝

Like the sound of the cafe on the pier. 

Andy 

Does the pier have Belgium's equivalent of Jamie & Jimmy?

[AndyMichelle]

28 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

We went in July, lovely place although of course the weather helped! Lots of places selling coffee and beer on the prom (though they may have only popped up in the summer!) 

We had a beer overlooking the beach then a walk along the pier.

Then of course bought some chocolates!

The giant babies are sort of sculptures ‘crawling’ up some of the buildings!! 

Praying for a nice day... 

Thank you Sue. 

Andy 

[jaydee6969]

10 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Praying for a nice day... 

Thank you Sue. 

Andy 

So will we be hoping for a nice day in April, when we go on Britannia.

 

We did the markets in Bruges in December, so plan on same as you really when we go in April.  Nice little walk up through town up to the prom, and on the way back stop in the Leonidas at the bottom of the steps for my chocolate supplies.

[AndyMichelle]

15 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

So will we be hoping for a nice day in April, when we go on Britannia.

 

We did the markets in Bruges in December, so plan on same as you really when we go in April.  Nice little walk up through town up to the prom, and on the way back stop in the Leonidas at the bottom of the steps for my chocolate supplies.

Sounds like our day out.. 

Are you on Britannia 19th April? 

Andy 

[jaydee6969]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

Sounds like our day out.. 

Are you on Britannia 19th April? 

Andy 

No, that's when we get off.  Board on the 10th disembark 19th, B008 and B009.