The best hotels in Belgium
We've tested 200+ hotels. These 10 are the ones we'd actually book.
Our Top Picks in Belgium
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
Hotel Métropole Brussels
City Center, Brussels
Free cancellation & Pay later
Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo
Grand Place, Brussels
Free cancellation & Pay later
Le Louise Hotel Brussels
Avenue Louise, Brussels
Free cancellation & Pay later
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Canal District, Bruges
Free cancellation & Pay later
All Hotels Compared
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right hotel. Prices reflect shoulder season averages.
| # | Hotel | City & Area | Price/Night | Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hotel Métropole Brussels | City Center, Brussels | €95–160/night | 8.5/10 | Best Historic Value |
| 2 | Hotel Prinsenhof | City Center, Bruges | €85–140/night | 8.8/10 | Best Budget |
| 3 | Hotel Harmony | City Center, Ghent | €80–135/night | 8.6/10 | Best Value |
| 4 | Hotel Julien | Old Town, Antwerp | €150–260/night | 8.8/10 | Best Minimalist |
| 5 | Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo | Grand Place, Brussels | €280–480/night | 9.1/10 | Best Location |
| 6 | Hotel Heritage | Markt Square, Bruges | €160–280/night | 9/10 | Best Boutique |
| 7 | 1898 The Post | Korenmarkt, Ghent | €140–240/night | 8.9/10 | Best Design |
| 8 | Hotel Banks | Leien District, Antwerp | €180–320/night | 9/10 | Best Hip Hotel |
| 9 | Le Louise Hotel Brussels | Avenue Louise, Brussels | €220–380/night | 9.2/10 | Best Luxury |
| 10 | Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce | Canal District, Bruges | €240–420/night | 9.3/10 | Best Romantic |
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Every hotel earned its spot. Here's exactly why we picked each one.
Hotel Métropole Brussels
Belle Époque landmark near Grand Place. Lobby is a time capsule—original 1895 decor. Café Métropole is where locals drink coffee. Rooms vary (ask for renovated wing). Breakfast in gilded dining room. Walking distance to everything.
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Hotel Prinsenhof
Family-run hotel in 15th-century building. Canal views from some rooms. Walk to Market Square in 5 minutes. Breakfast includes Belgian waffles (the real deal). Owners share secret spots away from day-tripper crowds. Cozy and authentic.
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Hotel Harmony
Charming hotel in historic guildhall. Ghent is Bruges without the crowds—same beauty, better bars. Walk to Gravensteen castle in 3 minutes. Rooms are compact but comfortable. Breakfast features local products. Staff knows every hidden café.
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Hotel Julien
Minimalist boutique hotel in 16th-century building. Rooms are white and serene with rain showers. Breakfast is healthy and delicious. Location near Cathedral is perfect for exploring fashion district. Lounge has honesty bar. Quiet luxury.
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Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo
Luxury hotel steps from Grand Place. Rooms blend Belgian design with Italian elegance. Bocconi restaurant serves excellent Italian-Belgian fusion. Staff is multilingual and attentive. Location is unbeatable for exploring Brussels. Chocolates on pillow are from Pierre Marcolini.
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Hotel Heritage
Boutique hotel in medieval mansion on Market Square. Every room is different with antique furniture and modern bathrooms. Breakfast in Gothic cellar. Rooftop terrace has Belfry views. Family-run with attention to detail. Book Room 1 for the turret.
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1898 The Post
Former post office transformed into design hotel. Industrial-chic rooms with high ceilings. Central location on Korenmarkt. Rooftop bar with city views. Breakfast includes local cheeses and charcuterie. Ghent's coolest hotel.
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Hotel Banks
Former bank transformed into stylish hotel. Original vault is now the bar. Rooms mix Art Deco with contemporary design. Rooftop terrace has cathedral views. Location on the Ring is central for shopping and museums. Breakfast is Instagram-worthy.
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Le Louise Hotel Brussels
Art Nouveau gem on Brussels' chicest avenue. Rooms have Nespresso machines and deep soaking tubs. Greenhouse restaurant serves Belgian-French cuisine. Walk to Grand Sablon antique market in 5 minutes. Service is warm and professional.
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Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Romantic canal-side mansion with just 16 rooms. Original 13th-century details throughout. Every room has canal views. Breakfast on the terrace overlooking swans. Service feels like staying with aristocratic friends. Bruges' most romantic hotel.
Check AvailabilityWhere to Stay in Belgium
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel. Here's what you need to know.
Brussels: where to stay and what to skip
The best Brussels neighborhoods for hotels are the Ilot Sacré. that compact medieval grid between Grand Place and Place de la Monnaie. and Avenue Louise in Ixelles. You're 5 minutes walk from the best beer bars on Rue des Alexiens from the first, and 10 minutes from the Bois de la Cambre park from the second.
Skip everything near Brussels-Nord station. We've seen travelers book there thinking it's 'central'. it is on a map, but the vibe is all commuters and fast food. The tram 92 and 94 lines run along Avenue Louise directly to the center in 12 minutes, so don't feel like you have to pay Grand Place prices to be well-located.
Bruges after dark: why your hotel location actually matters
Day-trip crowds vanish from Bruges after 6pm. but only if you're in the right part of the city. The Canal District around Dijver and Groenerei empties out beautifully, while Markt Square stays loud until the last restaurant closes around 10pm.
If you're here for romance rather than nightlife, book in the Canal District or near the Begijnhof. You're 7 minutes walk from the Belfry but feel a world away from the tourist circuit. And yes, the canal-facing rooms at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce are worth the €240–420/night. that view at 7am with mist on the water is something you won't forget.
Ghent's Korenmarkt area: Belgium's most underrated hotel zone
Korenmarkt is where Ghent's three towers. Sint-Niklaaskerk, the Belfry, and Sint-Baafskathedraal. line up in a row that makes you stop mid-sentence. Hotels here like 1898 The Post put you at the center of everything, and the Graslei waterfront is literally 3 minutes on foot.
The Patershol neighborhood, a 10-minute walk north of Korenmarkt, is where locals eat. tiny Flemish restaurants in medieval lanes, zero tourist menus, and mains averaging €18–26. Stay near Korenmarkt and you've got both worlds within easy reach.
Antwerp for first-timers: Old Town vs the Leien District
Antwerp's Old Town around Grote Markt and Groenplaats is the obvious choice. you're 9 minutes walk from Centraal Station and surrounded by some of the best chocolate shops and diamond dealers in Europe. But the Leien District, just north along the wide boulevards, has a cooler, more local energy and Hotels like Hotel Banks that genuinely reflect the city's design credentials.
One thing most visitors get wrong: Antwerp's fashion district around Nationalestraat and the Kammenstraat is 12 minutes walk from the Old Town and worth building a half-day around. The city has the second-largest fashion industry in the world after New York. and it shows in the street style alone.
Belgium by train: the €6 secret most tourists miss
Belgium's rail network is genuinely one of Europe's best for short hops. Brussels to Ghent: 32 minutes, under €10. Ghent to Bruges: 24 minutes, about €6. You can realistically stay in one city and day-trip to the others without any of the hassle of changing hotels.
The NMBS/SNCB Weekend Ticket lets two people travel anywhere in Belgium on Saturday and Sunday for around €14 total. it's barely advertised in English but available at any station kiosk. We've seen travelers pay four times that on taxis for the same journeys. Don't be that person.
When to book and when to avoid Belgium entirely
The Ghent Festivities in late July bring 1.5 million people to a city of 260,000. hotels within 1km of Korenmarkt sell out 3 months ahead and prices spike to €200–350/night for rooms that normally cost €80–140. Brussels' Ommegang pageant on Grand Place in early July has the same effect on the city center.
February is genuinely underrated. Bruges has almost no tourists, hotels drop to €75–120/night, and the city's bars and restaurants are full of locals rather than selfie sticks. It's cold. expect 2–6°C. but every hotel has excellent heating and a warm bar. And Belgian beer tastes better in winter anyway.
Explore Belgium by city
We cover 6 destinations across Belgium. Pick a city for a dedicated hotel guide with neighborhoods, seasonal tips, and our vetted picks.
Belgium's best hotel regions
Belgium packs four wildly different city experiences into a country you can cross by train in under 2 hours. Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp each have their own personality. and their own sweet spots for staying.
Brussels 3 vetted hotels Belgium's capital delivers history, food, and serious luxury. if you pick the right neighborhood.
Belgium's capital delivers history, food, and serious luxury. if you pick the right neighborhood.
Brussels is two cities stacked on top of each other. The lower city. Grand Place, Ilot Sacré, Place Sainte-Catherine. is medieval, walkable, and genuinely stunning. The upper city around Avenue Louise and Ixelles is where you'll find the best restaurants, the Sablon antique market, and hotels that cater to people who've been here before.
Don't write off Avenue Louise as just a shopping street. The tram 93 and 94 lines connect it to the center in 12 minutes, and hotels here like Le Louise offer a level of calm that's impossible to find near Grand Place. You're also 15 minutes walk from the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, which most visitors completely miss.
Stay away from the area between Brussels-Midi and the Gare du Nord unless you specifically need rail access. It's not dangerous, but it's soulless, and the price-to-experience ratio is genuinely bad.
Browse all Brussels hotels → Bruges 3 vetted hotels Medieval canals, world-class chocolate, and the most romantic hotel in Belgium.
Medieval canals, world-class chocolate, and the most romantic hotel in Belgium.
Bruges is the most photogenic city in Belgium and it knows it. The crowds on Markt Square between June and August are real. but they're completely avoidable if you stay in the Canal District around Dijver or near the Begijnhof, where the cobbled streets empty out by evening.
The Markt Square hotels are convenient but you pay a premium for the location and the noise. Head 5 minutes south to the area around Wollestraat and Groenerei for better value and a genuinely quieter stay. Hotel Heritage on Markt Square is the exception. at €160–280/night it earns its location through sheer quality.
Bruges is walkable in under 25 minutes end to end. You don't need a taxi unless you're arriving with heavy luggage from the station, which is about a 20-minute walk or a €10–12 taxi to the center.
Browse all Bruges hotels → Ghent 2 vetted hotels More authentic than Bruges, more manageable than Brussels. and the food is better than both.
More authentic than Bruges, more manageable than Brussels. and the food is better than both.
Ghent is the Belgian city that Belgians actually recommend. The Korenmarkt and Graslei waterfront area is stunning. three medieval towers in one sightline, canal boats, and coffee bars that don't double their prices because a tourist walked in. Hotels here run €80–240/night, which is remarkable given what you're getting.
The Patershol quarter, a 10-minute walk north of Graslei, is the best restaurant neighborhood in Belgium that most tourists never find. Tiny restaurants in medieval lanes, traditional Flemish stew, and zero laminated menus with photos. It's the kind of place you keep as a secret after you've been.
Ghent is easy to navigate on foot or by bike. the city has 400km of dedicated bike lanes and rental shops near Sint-Pietersstation. The Vrijdagmarkt square, 6 minutes walk from Korenmarkt, is where locals actually drink on a Friday night.
Browse all Ghent hotels → Antwerp 2 vetted hotels Belgium's most stylish city. diamonds, fashion, and a port culture that's all its own.
Belgium's most stylish city. diamonds, fashion, and a port culture that's all its own.
Antwerp has a confidence that other Belgian cities don't. The Old Town around Grote Markt and Groenplaats is genuinely beautiful. and Centraal Station, 9 minutes walk away, is one of the most jaw-dropping pieces of architecture in Europe. Most people pass through it without stopping. Don't.
The Leien District. the wide boulevards around Meir and De Keyserlei. is where Antwerp's cooler, design-forward hotels sit. Hotel Banks here is the best example: a converted bank building that genuinely reflects what modern Antwerp feels like. You're 6 minutes walk from the fashion district on Nationalestraat.
Antwerp is a port city and proud of it. The MAS Museum on the waterfront is 15 minutes walk from the Old Town and gives you the whole story in one building. from diamond trade to colonial history, all of it unvarnished. The rooftop is free and has the best city view in Belgium.
Browse all Antwerp hotels →Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel and we'll point you to the right part of Belgium.
Romantic
The Canal District in Bruges. specifically around Dijver and Groenerei. is the one. Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce sits directly on the water in a 16th-century building, and after 7pm you'll have those cobbled streets almost entirely to yourselves.
Culture
Ghent's Korenmarkt puts you within 6 minutes walk of three UNESCO-listed medieval towers, the SMAK contemporary art museum, and the MSK fine arts collection. all in one city center that most tourists fly straight past on their way to Bruges.
Family
Brussels' lower city around Place Sainte-Catherine is the pick. Mini-Europe and the Atomium are 20 minutes by metro (line 6 from Sainte-Catherine), and the flat, wide streets around Grand Place are genuinely manageable with kids and luggage.
Budget
Ghent delivers the most for the least. Hotel Harmony near the city center runs €80–135/night and puts you inside the medieval core, not outside it. The city's student population keeps food and drink prices honest: a proper Flemish meal in Patershol runs €16–22.
Beach
De Panne and Knokke-Heist on the Flemish coast are 70–90 minutes by train from Brussels. Belgian coastal towns with flat sandy beaches and strong North Sea winds. Not tropical, but genuinely refreshing in summer, and the North Sea seafood is worth the trip alone.
Foodie
Antwerp's restaurant scene. especially around the Volkstraat in the Zuid district and the Vlaamse Kaai. is the best in Belgium right now. The city has 4 Michelin-starred restaurants within a 15-minute walk of Centraal Station, plus the best frituur (chip shop) culture in the country.
How We Vetted These Hotels
Every hotel on this list went through the same evaluation. Here's exactly how we score them.
We started with 200+ hotels across 4 regions. Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp. We cut anything with inconsistent service, misleading photos, or a location that sounds central but isn't.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
Hotels that score below 8.0 don't make our list. Hotels can't pay for placement. We update scores every quarter based on new reviews. If a hotel's quality drops, it gets removed. Read more about our approach on the about page.
When to Visit Belgium: Season by Season
Hotel prices, crowds, and weather vary dramatically. Here's what to expect each season.
Winter (December–February)
December is the exception. Brussels' Christmas market on Grand Place and Bruges' Winter Glow festival spike prices back to €120–280/night for the first 3 weeks of the month. January and February are the real off-season: crowds drop by 60%, Bruges' canals sometimes freeze, and hotels in Ghent hit their floor prices of €75–100/night. Pack properly. 1–4°C with wind off the North Sea is colder than it sounds.
Spring (March–May)
May is honestly the best month in Belgium. temperatures reach 15–17°C, the terraces on Brussels' Place du Grand Sablon fill up, and hotel prices haven't yet hit summer levels. The Brussels Jazz Weekend in late May takes over the Grand Place area for free, and Ghent's tulip displays along the Leie river are genuinely spectacular. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for Bruges in May. it sells out faster than people expect.
Summer (June–August)
The Ghent Festivities in the last 10 days of July bring 1.5 million visitors. hotels within walking distance of Korenmarkt hit €200–350/night and book out months ahead. Brussels' Ommegang pageant on Grand Place in early July is worth planning around, but expect €200–400/night nearby. Bruges in August is best visited mid-week and only if you've booked the Canal District. Markt Square in peak summer is genuinely overwhelming.
Autumn (September–November)
September is Belgium's best-kept secret. school holidays end, crowds drop 40%, and temperatures stay at a comfortable 14–17°C through mid-October. Ghent's GIFF film festival in October and Antwerp's ModeMuseum fashion season kick off the cultural calendar, and hotel prices settle back to €85–180/night for most properties. The autumn light on Bruges' canals is genuinely extraordinary. October mornings on the Dijver are worth planning an entire trip around.
How to Book Hotels in Belgium
Smart booking strategies that save money without sacrificing quality.
Book Bruges hotels mid-week in summer
Bruges hotels on Friday and Saturday nights in July–August cost 35–50% more than Tuesday–Thursday. A room at Hotel Heritage that runs €160/night mid-week can hit €240 on a Saturday. If your dates are flexible, shifting by even one day saves real money. and the city is noticeably calmer Monday through Thursday anyway.
The NMBS Weekend Ticket is genuinely underused
Two people can travel anywhere in Belgium by train on Saturday and Sunday for around €14 total with the NMBS Weekend Ticket. That covers Brussels to Bruges (55 min), Ghent to Antwerp (47 min), or any combination. Buy it at station kiosks. it's barely marketed in English but available everywhere and saves €20–40 per couple per day versus separate tickets.
Avoid the tourist menus on Rue des Bouchers in Brussels
Rue des Bouchers looks spectacular and every restaurant there has someone trying to drag you inside. skip them entirely. The food is mediocre at €25–35 a head for what should be €12. Walk one block to Rue des Dominicains or head to Place Sainte-Catherine for the real Brussels seafood restaurants, where moules-frites runs €16–20 and actually tastes right.
Ghent's Festivities sell out 3 months ahead
The Ghent Festivities run for 10 days in late July. the entire inner city becomes one enormous free festival, and every hotel within 1.5km of Korenmarkt sells out by April. If you want to go, book in April. If you want to avoid it, check the exact dates and give Ghent a wide berth that fortnight. the city is genuinely at capacity.
Canal-facing rooms in Bruges cost €30–60 more. worth it
At Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce and several other Bruges properties, canal-facing rooms carry a €30–60/night premium over courtyard or street rooms. It's one of the few hotel upsells that actually delivers what it promises. The view at dawn over the Dijver with morning mist is something you'll reference for years. Don't book the 'superior' canal-view room and end up with a courtyard view. specify exactly what you want when booking.
Brussels taxi from Grand Place to Atomium: fix the price first
Official Brussels taxis from the center to the Atomium should cost €15–20. If a driver outside Grand Place quotes you €30+, walk to Rue de la Colline and hail one from the official rank instead. or just take metro line 6 from De Brouckère to Ossegem in 18 minutes for €2.50. The metro is almost always faster than a taxi in Brussels center anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotels in Belgium
Straight answers from our team after reviewing hotels across Belgium.
What's the best area to stay in Brussels?
Stay near the Ilot Sacré or Avenue Louise. you're within 10 minutes walk of Grand Place and the best restaurants on Rue des Bouchers. Avoid the area around Brussels-Midi station: it's perfectly safe but grim, and you'll pay the same prices for none of the atmosphere. Budget around €95–280/night depending on how fancy you want to go.
Is Bruges worth visiting or is it too touristy?
Bruges is genuinely beautiful. but yes, the Markt Square gets suffocating between 10am and 5pm in July and August. Stay in the Canal District or near Jan van Eyckplein and you'll see a completely different city after 7pm when the day-trippers leave. Hotels here run €85–420/night, and the shoulder season. October or March. is when Bruges actually belongs to you.
How do I get between Belgian cities by train?
The NMBS/SNCB intercity trains are fast and cheap. Brussels to Ghent takes 32 minutes, Brussels to Bruges is 55 minutes, and Brussels to Antwerp is 38 minutes. A standard one-way ticket runs €6–15 depending on the route and how far in advance you book. Don't bother renting a car in Belgium's city centers. parking is expensive and the medieval street layouts will genuinely ruin your day.
When is the cheapest time to visit Belgium?
January and February are rock-bottom. hotel prices in Bruges can drop to €75/night and Brussels to €80/night. The catch is it's cold (2–5°C) and some smaller restaurants and canal boat tours close. November is the sweet spot: prices are still low, the Christmas markets start mid-month, and Ghent's Sinterklaas decorations along Korenlei are genuinely worth it.
What's the best hotel in Bruges for a romantic weekend?
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce on the Dijver canal is the one. it's a 16th-century Flemish merchant house with rooms that look directly over the water, 4 minutes walk from the Belfry. It's €240–420/night, so it's not cheap, but you're paying for something that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. Book the canal-facing room; the courtyard rooms are lovely but miss the whole point.
Is Antwerp a good base for exploring Belgium?
Antwerp is underrated as a base. it's 38 minutes from Brussels and 47 minutes from Ghent by train, and the city itself has the best restaurant scene in Belgium outside the capital. Stay in the Old Town near Hendrik Conscienceplein or the Leien District and you're 8 minutes walk from Centraal Station, which is one of the most spectacular train stations in Europe. Hotels run €150–320/night for the good ones.
What neighborhoods should I avoid when booking hotels in Belgium?
In Brussels, skip hotels near the European Quarter on Rue de la Loi. it's all office blocks and dead on weekends. In Bruges, anything marketed as 'just outside the Ring Road' means a 25-minute walk to anything interesting. Antwerp's South district looks cool on Instagram but puts you 20 minutes from Centraal Station on foot, which matters more than you'd think after a long day.
Do Belgian hotels include breakfast?
Most 4-star and boutique hotels include breakfast, but it's worth checking. Hotel Prinsenhof in Bruges includes a Flemish breakfast that alone is worth €15–20, while some Brussels hotels charge €25–35 extra for what turns out to be a mediocre buffet. Our honest advice: skip the hotel breakfast at big Brussels properties and walk to Mokafé on Galerie du Roi instead, where a proper coffee and croissant costs under €8.
What's the best hotel in Belgium for design lovers?
1898 The Post in Ghent's Korenmarkt is the one. it's housed in the former main post office, and the interior design team clearly had something to prove. You're 3 minutes walk from the Graslei waterfront and 6 minutes from Gravensteen Castle. Rates run €140–240/night, which is genuinely reasonable for what you get.
How much should I budget for a hotel in Belgium per night?
Budget travelers can find solid options for €80–140/night in Ghent and Bruges. Hotel Harmony and Hotel Prinsenhof both deliver real value at that level. Mid-range in Brussels means €150–220/night for something in a decent location, like Hotel Métropole near De Brouckère. If you want luxury, Le Louise on Avenue Louise or Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo near Grand Place start at €220 and go up to €480/night.
Is it worth staying in Ghent instead of Bruges?
Honestly, yes. Ghent has all the medieval canals and Flemish architecture but a third of the tourist foot traffic. The Patershol neighborhood is one of the best restaurant quarters in Belgium, and you're 5 minutes walk from Graslei without fighting through a tour group. Hotels average €80–240/night, and you'll feel like you actually discovered something rather than following a guidebook.
What's the best time of year to visit Belgium?
May and June are the sweet spot. temperatures hit 16–20°C, the Belgian Beer Weekend happens in Brussels in early June on Grand Place, and hotel prices haven't yet hit peak summer levels of €160–480/night. September is equally good: the Ghent Festivities end in late July but the city stays lively, and Bruges loses about 40% of its summer crowds after the school holidays finish. Avoid the last two weeks of July in Bruges. it's genuinely unpleasant.
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