Belgium - An Expedition of Hidden Historical Narratives

Little did I know about Belgium before I set foot there. There was no specific reason why I chose Belgium, except for the affordable flight tickets. I went there with few expectations, but I came back amazed. The trip turned out to be unlike any I had taken before—I somehow became a history enthusiast.

A brief description on how I traveled to and inside Belgium: I flew to Charleroi Airport by Ryanair. Frustrating delays, but I made it safe and sound. Shuttle buses should be used to get from the airport to Brussels’ center. I mainly went on foot in Brussels, because the tourist attractions are within reach; otherwise, public transportation was easy to use. From Brussels, I took an intercity train to Ghent. In Ghent, I preferred walking, because the public transport system was in Dutch and quite confusing. In short, I walked a lot, which tore my feet apart, but that’s how I chose to travel.

So, how did I happen to explore Belgian history?

It may sound strange, but it was because I had no plan. A day before the trip, I marked some tourist attractions and popular restaurants on the map, but it’s okay if I wouldn’t visit them all. The next day, while wandering around the Grand Palace, I stumbled upon a free English tour guide. As a tourist with nothing special to do, I immediately joined them. That’s when I became enlightened about the asymmetrical architecture of Grand Place; the true and untrue legends behind Manneken Pis; the richest and poorest quarters in Brussels, which were actually just one street apart; and the establishment of the chapel that laid the foundation for wealth discrepancies and religious events in Belgium. I was astonished by the ancientness of historical buildings and the present status of the relationship between Belgium and its formerly colonized countries.

In Ghent, I was so lucky that I also bumped into a similar tour guide group. And I joined them, as a matter of fact. They introduced me to the best Belgian fries kiosk in town and told me stories about the past lives of the people of Ghent, the old butcher's shop, the fish market, the historical fate of the café museum, and the town square. In the square next to Gravensteen castle, there are two special lampposts. Normally, they are not lightened up. Because the lampposts are connected to the town’s hospital, the moment they flicker is when a new baby is born. Beautiful, isn't it?

I am grateful to have met those tour guides. They were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and it was evident that they truly enjoyed their jobs. The man in Ghent even waited for me to come back and join the group when I leisurely bought Belgian fries 🙂. I wish them the best.

How was Ghent different from Brussels?

Language, of course. Ghent is a Dutch-speaking city, while Brussels is French-speaking. Ghent is a pretty small city but a lively student city (much like Mikkeli). Ghent has a remarkable poetic canal that witnesses the development of the city. There are unexpectedly many Turkish residential areas and Turkish markets near where I stayed in Ghent. Additionally, I feel like Ghent has more vegan-friendly restaurants. It's difficult to make generalizations about Brussels because it's so big. But overall, each city offered me a different experience.

Another solo trip! Why?

To be honest, it wasn't initially planned as a solo trip because I intended to travel with my friend. However, due to unmatched schedules, we ended up going on separate trips. The biggest downside was that, once again, I couldn't find anyone to take good-looking pictures of me. When I say 'nobody,' I mean it—I even asked some other tourists for help, but the results were not satisfactory. 😂 The second downside was the risk of getting lost. I'm terrible at navigating and interpreting maps, so it took me longer to reach my destinations. However, I'm working on it, and the skill has improved a little bit, actually.

However, solo traveling gives me a sense of self-reflection and allows me to enjoy the trivial magic that I could overlook if I was with someone else. Being flexible, I let my feet guide me to every corner I could reach. I carefully observed the people, the buildings, the houses, the streets, the flowers, the birds. I heard the laughter, the talks, the crowds. I felt the essence of life in a foreign country. Solo traveling makes me braver, more confident, more open to the world (and the human). Of course, I always need to be careful, and it’s better to have a plan (for financial reasons as well), but it was a very enriching experience.

Three days in Belgium may not be enough to discover every interesting part, but it was definitely enough for a trip. I started to feel missing Finland by that time, not gonna lie. I’m satisfied with the trip, and will undoubtedly return if I have a chance!