Ghent

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Today is a national holiday in the Netherlands. It is the King's Birthday. Last year we endured the crazy young drinkers, techno music and urine smelling streets, but this year we chose to leave the country for the day since Joe had off work. 

It was also very cold (40s) and raining. We hadn't been to the city of Ghent in Belgium. It's an hour and half from Eindhoven. 

We parked beneath vrijdagmarkt. The rain picked up as we began to walk about the city. 

Ghent along the Leie 

Het Belfort van Gent, a 14th century belfry and watch tower

Cathedral of St. Bavo, a 10th century Romanesque church housing treasures by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan van Eyck

More Flemish architecture in Ghent along the Leie

We ate lunch of a mixed grill plate & mussels at De Witte Leeuw along the Leie.

Gravensteen or Castle of the Counts, a restored fortress with typical castle ramparts, a dungeon, and good tower views 

Although we didn't spend much time in Ghent, we definitely would like to go back on a day with nicer weather. It is a tremendously nicer city than Brussels and closer than quaint & small Bruges.  

We were back in Eindhoven at 3:30. Brooklyn woke up from her nap when we stopped for gas. We decided to park the car and take our bikes down to Stadswandel Park to check out what was left at the flea markets. On Koningsdag (Kings Day), you are allowed to sell items without a permit on this one day of year. Most of it is cheap Dutch garbage, but it is really cute to see little kids out selling their old toys. Brooklyn enjoyed listening to the band playing music and stomping through the puddles in her favorite rainboots. She now insists on wearing them everyday.