Stedentrip Brugge

About the destination: Bruges is Europe’s sleeping beauty. It is the best-preserved example of northern Renaissance architecture in Europe, with the beauty of its romantic canals and remarkable facades matched only by its art. Bruges is a museum pulled inside out, displayed with loving touch and subtlety that most curators can only dream of. After dark buildings and canals are beautifully illuminated and the sight is just breathtaking. The centre of town is the Markt, a gorgeous square presided by the remarkable Beffroi, a medieval bell tower and one of the city's most prominent symbols. For a beautiful panorama of the city’s circular perimeter, climb the steps of the Beffroi. The 14th century Stadhuis, the town hall, is a good example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. Many Flemish masters worked in Bruges, some of their masterpieces are housed in the excellent Groeninge Museum. The perfectly preserved medieval tower of Our Lady's Church is the highest tower in Bruges. The Church of our Lady contains Michelangelo´s soft and touching Madonna and Child, there is also a fantastically ornate wood pulpit. Located in the right-hand corner of Burg Square, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, dating from 1150, is made up of a Romanesque lower chapel and a Gothic upper chapel. Two levels are strikingly different: the Romanesque lower level is austere with little ornamentation, whereas the Gothic upper level is pulses with colourful detail. The two chapels are connected by a grand brick staircase, which climbs behind the grand facade facing the square. Today’s stairs and facade are a 19th-century reconstruction of the 1533 Renaissance versions, demolished during the French occupation following the French Revolution. The Minnewater, dubbed Lake of Love, and its lovely park is one of the first things you see in the city of Bruges, when arriving by train or coach. The lake and surrounding park offer an excellent retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city`s sights and streets. The many resident swan couples form the finishing touch to its romantic character. At the Lake of Love Bruges seems even more picturesque than usual. Charmingly medieval, Bruges is a unique place. Strolling along its alleys, picturesque canals and verdant ramparts you cannot but fall hopelessly in love with her elegant mysteriousness.

About the destination: Utrecht is both the geographical centre of Holland, and one of its major university towns as well as one of one of the Netherlands' oldest cities, with a compact medieval centre set out around canals unique to the Netherlands. National demonstrations often start here, book and print shops dot tiny streets throughout the old tonw, and in summer, people sit near the Oude Gracht, the old canal. The Old Town of Utrecht really is a pleasant place to wander with its varying architecture and its uniquely-structured canals. As to be expected there are some magnificent churches, the most interesting being the Dom Tower and the remains of its church. In the 17th century, a hurricane separated the Domtoren, an imposing tower, from its cathedral. Don’t let the 465 steps to the tower put you off, the view is splendid. The cathedral’s chapel and enormous clocks are fascinating. Across the street is the Kloostergang, part of the cathedral’s Gothic cloister, a perfect place to sit down and relax, and listen to a Saturday morning carillon concert. The city has a fine number of museums, most of them situated in the Museum Quarter at 10 minutes walking distance from Central Station. Utrecht is known as a student city with a large population of single young people. This results in a booming nightlife with many places to have a quick meal, some drinks or a dance.