Author Profile: Denzil Walton

Diest has an interesting museum, and one of the largest and best conserved Beguinages in Europe, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also has a cosy market square, a super outdoor swimming pool and children’s park, and a pleasant walk through the town and along the Demer...   view more

Museum Hof van Busleyden has an outstanding collection of artwork from the 15th and 16th centuries, plus exhibits that cleverly bridge the gap between then and now. So it aims to suggest ways in which the artwork of that period has significance...   view more

Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne is listed as one of Wallonia’s exceptional heritage sites. Not surprisingly, it’s a popular tourist destination, and a much sought after location for society weddings. It’s certainly a beautiful and well-maintained castle with an attractive courtyard...   view more

Horst Castle is special because it’s authentic. Most of the castles in Flanders were renovated or rebuilt in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries, but at Horst nothing happened; everything stood still after...   view more

Lier is a charming Belgian town with cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, and a relaxed atmosphere. Here’s how to spend a day in...   view more

Wondering how to spend a day in Charleroi? This Belgian city may may not be as famous as some of the country’s larger cities, but it has its own unique charm and interesting places to...   view more

Discover the surprising delights of Vilvoorde, an industrial town on the north-eastern edge of Brussels, through this 11 km mostly urban...   view more

I really enjoyed my day walking around Antwerp’s historic centre. There’s so much to see that I could have spent far more than a day here. However, if you have only a day, here’s my short tour of the beautiful historic centre, with 10 stop-off points. The walk is around 5 km in length so you can do it in a couple of hours. However, if you spend time in the places I visited, you will need to set aside a full...   view more

During the First World War, dozens of towns and villages along the old frontline were wiped clean off the map. As a result, after the Armistice in November 1918, the entire Westhoek region of Flanders was a wasteland of desolation. Recovery seemed impossible. Yet slowly but surely, the Westhoek clawed its way back to its feet. Within a decade, the reconstruction was largely...   view more

For this post I am grateful to Discovering Belgium reader Steven Loyens. He saw my post on How to spend a day in Diest and offered to provide me with details of a similar tour in his hometown of Tienen. So here is his recommended route with descriptions of the points of interest to see on the way. The whole walk is around 11 km, which will certainly enable you to spend a day in...   view more