Bruges - 5 Love & Hates of Visiting Brugge, Belgium

[@Haytidaho]

It's fun how you say Brussels, Ghent and so on are "close" by train when for us, Belgians, a one hour drive is just too far away haha.

[@LincolnintheAdirondacks]

haha We Americans are used to long travel times!!

[@woltersworld]

Yeah :) I go visit my mom for lunch and come home... she lives 3 hours away and it's no big deal.

[@wowamy4196]

We have super commuters that travel 2 hours one way to work.

[@Ramin2340]

When I went to the US I wanted to visit two of my friends that both lived in California. Then I realised they lived 6 hours apart. Meanwhile in England I would consider a 3 hour journey the longest I would settle for.

[@tube.brasil]

It takes 10 hours to cross the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 1000 km.

[@lesrunmore]

Who does not love the newer and "improved" version of Mark? Like a fine wine...

[@PrinceNeeta]

It never ceases to amaze me how tourists can complain about cities having too many tourists. It fascinates me.

[@woltersworld]

Yep :)

[@muylae]

you should hear the locals about the 'too many tourists' ...

[@116graceandglory]

I visited Brugge in September, it was one of my favourite cities we visited in Europe. So beautiful!

[@ItsMillie1]

I am from Bruges and my school is there too, there are so many tourist and its very special to see people being amazed by bruges because i am there everyday and live there.

[@dylan2478]

Its Millie das waar, ik passeer er zoveel zonder eigenlijk er veel bij stil,te staan wat voor een prachtige stad het is

[@blr.intheusa]

Thank you for sharing your town with all of us tourists! I visited Bruges by myself in December 2023 and am returning in December 2024 with family, to show them how wonderful it is!

[@dylan2478]

@@blr.intheusa great, have a nice trip in our town (:

[@sailingopcy8154]

Thx iam from brugges and tourist some times forget that its still a working city. It's not Disneyland. :)

[@helixac6360]

Haha

[@potatooo6139]

agreed

[@mariomarroquin86]

2 years later I still feel nostalgia!

[@woltersworld]

It does that to you :)

[@Ahuka]

I was there with my wife in 2016, and we had a fantastic lunch by getting away from the square and the tourist traps. We found a restaurant named something like "Pigeon House", and the Chef came out and invited us to look at his special roaster in the kitchen, then the owner showed us the basement which was hundreds of years old and was where they stored the wine.

[@patrickverbaert7586]

I live in Bruges and work in Brussels. Train Time scheduall Bruges to Brussel 20 years ago was 58 minutes, nowadays it's 1 hour and 20 minutes without everyday delay :-) Great progress...

[@klaasfeys847]

NIce to see you promote 'Flanders' Fields' as well. Still at least a 45 minute drive from Bruges (Brugge) though. Here in Belgium we already consider that 'far' :-) Don't forget to stop for food and drinks in the many local towns and villages on the way. Like Ypres (Ieper), Roeselare, Kortrijk, Veurne, Diksmuide... Usually less pricy than Bruges but the same quality food. Bruges is also not far from the sea, certainly check out Ostend as well! If you can, you should visit Bruges in the fall, the light and the multicolored leaves give it an even more fairytale look! If the weather is nice of course... You have been lucky I gather, because you can have all sorts of weather in April and September :-) Certainly in early April, it can still freeze at night, but in late April you could have downright summer weather as well with temperatures approaching 30°C (85°F). September can be summery or 'automny', so be sure to come prepared!

[@timmmahhhh]

Loved it when I was there in 1988, I remember Louven also being very charming, a little smaller and the canals really adding a wonderful character.

[@shoestringvagabonds839]

There are HATES in Bruges??? We loved every second of it.....but then again, we had Wolters World to guide us! CHEERS, MARK & JOCELYN!!! Geno & Jared "The Shoestring Vagabonds" (P.S. Come visit the Outer Banks again soon!)

[@michaelaallanson4971]

I wanted to say thank you to you I've just come back from Rome and Sorrento and went for 3 guided tours with the guide operator you recommended in your video. They were fantastic! Never had such amazing knowledgeable guides, made our trip really special

[@meursaultscourtroom8886]

We arrived on a rainy weekday and it was empty....the next day was a sunny Friday and it was crazy....but still loved it. The people were super friendly.

[@moviac]

lived in bruges all my life and the feeling is mutual when it comes to tourrists randomly crossing streets lol other than that, it is a really nice place to live, though expensive, true.

[@virtualfitnesstv]

Great place to travel and awesome place to walk as well. Great work.

[@TheAnadromist]

2019 Mark is a jollier soul.

[@woltersworld]

That is a very nice way to put it

[@wildgeesemediaagency]

We went to Brugge in July this year for my birthday and it was lovely! But sooo busy! We spent the night in a bivouac zone outside of the city. Free to camp for the night! Belgium is good for Bivouac zones for those on a budget who can't afford the expensive hotels

[@ellenbelfiore9105]

Went there in Oct of 2015 on a day trip from Paris. I had seen the movie In Bruges, and I told my husband we must go there. Loved it, would like to go back and stay longer.

[@anitathompson6571]

Oh yes, we love Bruges. We took the Field of Flanders tour in 2003 or so and it was fantastic. We’ve been back about three more times. It is one of our happy places in Europe.

[@brettg9013]

I visited Bruges last week and lasted about three hours before leaving. It's a beautiful town, but the number of tourists is matched only by that of Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto. We went to Ghent afterward and it was great.

[@danielmarsden2277]

I regularly visit Brugee from England as we have direct ferries. When I come for three days - I use one day to take the bus from Brugee to a town in Netherlands called Sluis, 20 minutes on the bus and I bring back shopping.

[@flitsertheo]

3 years later ... there are no direct passenger ferries between Belgium and the UK anymore. The last route, Hull to Zeebrugge was cancelled due to the combination of Covid and Brexit. The closest routes are now Dover to Dunkirk or Hull to Rotterdam. There are rumours about a new Rosyth (Scotland) to Zeebrugge line but the first time they tried that (early 2000s) it didn't end well.

[@karlzen86]

Have been traveling alot and visiting many cities around Europe, but Bruges for me is the most beautiful one I have ever visited!

[@brigittesamson5089]

Your loves and hates can easily apply to any large European Cities . I was in Bruges 2 weeks ago and fell in love with this wonderful city !

[@dylan2478]

Brigitte Samson thank you, hope you had a great time

[@watermelonineasterhay]

I went for 3 days last week and loved every minute. The hotel was right by the famous view of the canal and it was beautiful just sitting there eating waffles. The hospital museum and the Dali gallery was excellent. My sister enjoyed the belfry but found it very claustrophobic due to the stairs. I have tendinitis in my knees so had to miss it. I know what you mean about the service, some were friendly but some were a little snotty and cursory. Though its amazing how everyone speaks english. The beguinage is also very peaceful and interesting.

[@dempsey_mbk]

I live there and I love living there🇧🇪❤

[@johnvisage7182]

Happy to see how much you love the city where i live.

[@seansaunders1432]

I have literally just got home to the UK after driving from a weekend in Bruges and saw your video..... This is scarily true even after being there 3 times now I agree with every word you said!!!! The Flanders Fields if anyone gets chance to go I recommend going to the Tyne Cot cemetery.

[@sanperez797]

Great video , this is one place I would like to visit

[@darrellmillner930]

Love being there early on a Saturday morning, before the groups start showing up. The cobble stone streets early am are AMAZING

[@woltersworld]

So true

[@clarinetteplayer]

I went in February 2018 and it was great! I stayed in a residential area of Ghent, and just took the train to Brugge for the day. That let me avoid most of the tourists and eat at the cheaper local places, at the expense of needing to travel for a few minutes to get down town.

[@jebm]

Im from Mexico... I've been in Bruges 5 times and I will come back the next year hehe

[@piedrablanca1942]

hay mas cosas en el mundo muchacho

[@jebm]

@@piedrablanca1942 Trabajo como Tour Leader, chaval

[@anoncrazynonevilgooddecent7631]

oh wow

[@sahilanant123]

2nd! And no idea what to comment 😂 Love the videos! ❤️ Bruges looks a bit like Delft Hope all’s well :)

[@scottholthouse6004]

Mark I gotta say mate I’ve always enjoyed your top 10’s and love/hate vids. Keep it up man and can’t wait for you to review my homeland straya 🇦🇺

[@woltersworld]

I am glad to hear it :) I was an exchange student in Temora, NSW many many moons ago and we will he back next year!! :)

[@scottholthouse6004]

Wolters World awesome 😎

[@michaelrae9599]

I would suggest staying at a hotel right in the Markt. We had an amazing taxi riding from the train station into suddenly cobblestoned streets to an AMAZING reveal of the Markt. And it just got better from there. Everything you want to see is walkable from your (tiny) hotel room.

[@ElbRusk-d2d]

I just love your vids. I look trough your eyes to my country and I just have to admit that you are a great observer.

[@ryanw903]

it looks like you are happier & more chill than back then~~~

[@jcorbo7518]

My favorite and best city in Belgie. So many cool sights and activities here

[@queerdor]

The movie was great :)

[@janantoni3604]

I enjoy all your videos. You are true. Gentleman and Scholar. Thanks for your videos do all of us less fortunate who can afford to travel a round the world. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[@sherryschumacher1881]

Was there three weeks ago and really enjoyed visiting!

[@Stevehendryckx]

Train times update: to Brussels 1:06 to Ghent 0:24 to Antwerp 1:25

[@horseplop9]

Thanks man.. Lille?

[@Londronable]

@@horseplop9

[@nattytravels3220]

Looks fab! I was supposed to come here last month but, never got here because the holiday company went bust. It's now rescheduled can't wait now I've watched this!! Thanks

[@mudminnow01]

After watching the movie In Bruges, I have wanted to visit. Now you’ve reignited my interest with this video.

[@TinaR622]

Spent a few days in Brugge earlier this year and loved it.....we loved the great beer you can get there...oh and of course the chocolate shops were great 😀

[@korema66]

THX Mark, Ieper is so important to understand the WWI. Thank you for mentioning !

[@JamesThomas-fj8ds]

Definitely on my bucket list. Looks amazing there. Might even be able to do it in a day trip from England

[@flitsertheo]

By bus or car you can forget the day trip from England thanks to Brexit. You'll need that day to get to and trough Dover. Maybe by train if you take the Eurostar from London to Brussels-Zuid/Midi and then a train to Brugge (arrival and departure in same station).

[@tibotierenteyn]

As someone who lives near Bruges and frequently goes to Bruges, I totally agree with the amount of tourists in the city. They walk slow and I always wonder why. But yes, in their perspective it’s nice, they want to see everything. I could go any time I want, so it isn’t special to me.

[@michaellejeune7715]

As a local cyclist myself, on multiple occasions I got thrown to the cobbles because of tourists who aren't aware what a street is and just crossed without looking - with multiple broken ribs as consequence, so yeah, we can be a bit bity towards tourists. Also, never ever ever go eat something on the Markt. As you said, horrible service (implemented by their bosses I might add, to get a better flow as people want to leave), and almost Venetian prices. You'll never see a local there, they go to smaller places just outside the Markt, there's a lot of good restaurants in the Mariastraat/Ezelstraat and the Langestraat. Edit: Oh, and always welcome back!

[@alicel2981]

As someone who has lived in Bruges all my life, it is not that we don’t care about the safety of tourists. We are simply living our daily lives, going to work or going home after a long day of work, grocery shopping, getting the kids off school, etc. We drive our cars and bikes in public roads meant for tragic. Tourists (even more so these lasts years) are walking in the middle of the road or suddenly cross over without even looking and then get angry when they almost get hit or you ring your bike bell. The speed in the centre is not fast at all and many of the streets are one direction. So it’s really not that there is a lot of careless driving but rather that a lot of visitors are just not paying attention when using the roads. It’s understandable to be in your own tourist bubble of enjoying the sights and looking around but Bruges is still a functioning city with locals living and working there.

[@redrumax]

Been there in 2009. None of the hates, no problem being run down by a bus or anything, the place is amazing, loved it, food is amazing and I love the blond people travelling there.

[@talisha5863]

Thanks for sharing👏🏽👍🏽

[@koreankisssa]

I love it! I was there last January after watching your video! Loved everything!

[@Kudenisu]

I’m glad you love my city!

[@b2h316]

Me: Wait, how did he find 5 things you will "hate" in Bruges?! One of my absolute favourite destinations

[@woltersworld]

Could you tell I was searching? Took me 5 years to find 5 hates :)

[@b2h316]

@@woltersworld 5 things that may possibly mildly annoy you before you have a beer and a walk around and realize how incredible it is

[@woltersworld]

@@b2h316 exactly!!!! 🤣

[@cicigirl098]

Mark, my boyfriend and I both love watching your channel! We went on a trip through Europe in August and used your videos as guides for all of our destinations! Some of the most helpful videos I've seen for traveling

[@StamfordBridge]

It’s like a fairy tale ...

[@jgamez5023]

All these great videos, thank you !

[@woltersworld]

Thank you :)

[@TilaKnuthLVinGermany]

I went there too many times and so far I don’t have any complaints about Bruges besides the weather that often windy and rainy...,

[@nathanwall2808]

Skip Amsterdam and Brussels. Do Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent

[@woltersworld]

I agree 100%!!

[@topzozzle5642]

Bro amsterdam is in a different country....

[@nathanwall2808]

@@topzozzle5642 Yes. I know. People go to Amsterdam and they can get a better experience for what they're looking for in those other places.

[@topzozzle5642]

@@nathanwall2808 Totally depends on what youre going for, theres no Anne frank house or Van Gogh museums in any of those locations you mentioned.

[@nathanwall2808]

@@topzozzle5642 But there is Ruben's house, The King's Museum, awesome breweries, The Cathedral of Our Lady (the prettiest in Europe), gorgeous medieval architecture, cheaper food/hotels/transportation, Bell towers you can ascend, etc...

[@joebrouillard565]

I was able to see the WWI Verdun battlefields a few yeas back, it was amazing and reminded me our US Civil War battle fields in Gettysburg. I just returned from 2-weeks in Paris and Lyon and was on the fence about going to Brugge...a must see for my next trip. Thanks young and mature Mark!

[@malcolm4672]

Hi Skinny and not so skinny Mark, great timing I am in Bruges in less than a months time.

[@damasovi_travels1244]

Thanks Mark! this is a city I run and did not got to see as much as I should have. So I will return! I did notice the nonamerican service, but I not an american so I am fine and I just order all the beer and all the chocolate I was going to had and went on with my drinking, and yes I did paid! It was such a pretty city well worth it to go back a couple of times.

[@leyenda6149]

Brujis is a great spot to visit

[@Swaney01115]

Was upset by the lack of dwarfs hight on ketamin

[@watermelonineasterhay]

hahahaha what a film!

[@tamlynrn]

I loved Brugge!! Yummy waffles

[@rottytops4727]

Thats brussels

[@HaCkEr6662k7]

I FREAKING LOVE BRUGES!!

[@horseplop9]

Ya me too

[@naiboz]

How were the alcoves?

[@VulcanOnWheels]

About those difference. I think you did a good job of describing them.

[@sonic95k15]

Have you ever been to SPA in Belgium , I have heard a lot of interesting features including the hot spring water swimming for tourist , any ideas Mr Walter , love your channel and I am big fan ❤

[@virgilflowers9846]

For awhile after I discovered this channel, I went back and checked out some old videos and thought that this version of you and the current version were 2 different guys lol

[@tommyedodson2412]

Heading there late April for a week. Can't wait. Looking for a good day trip via train.

[@andrewdougal7258]

Probably my favourite city in the world, been more times to bruges than London, and I'm English

[@Zm54321]

Andrew Strachan I wish London was 20 minutes away by train like Brugge is to me. London is the place for me ❤️

[@andrewdougal7258]

@@Zm54321 I'd happily swap aha

[@Zm54321]

Andrew Strachan Let’s, please!

[@michellewensch7571]

hello Mark, I am from Bruges, I was born there, and I live there, yes indeed Bruges is a beautiful city, but you are absolutely right we are not the nicest people towards tourists (read the comment of that one troll who want to race through Bruges)

[@jcattaipei7093]

Always great. thanks for the videos. You travel so I don't have to! ;)

[@Nynke_K]

Younger Mark as a bit louder than current Mark! And I have to say, the ponytail and beard look good on you :)

[@karenmac8661]

Was just there for the first time this past July. It was the hottest day in Belgium’s recorded history. Would like to go back when it’s not so hot. We kept popping in stores to try to cool off and spent a lot of time sitting in restaurants! Karen

[@roppie]

'Bruges a small town', Bruges the biggest city of my province :P

[@dedewx9550]

I live in ostend 25 mins away so cool that you were here

[@danielmarsden2277]

If you visit Brugge and you find yourself with nothing to do; head to the bus station and you can take a 15-20 minutes bus ride to a beautiful little village across the border in the Netherlands called Sluis, you will really like it. It's cheap and quite rural so you can enjoy a nice country walk and it costs 5 Euros for a return journey

[@nielstjeuh]

hi i'm from Bruges, you said it's really expensive but that's just the grote markt it really is expensive there.. but if you go anywhere else less touristy you will pay the 'normal' prices also we have a bus route from the train station to the grote markt , locals with bikes , truck drivers .. it is really anoying for the locals to get somewhere without stopping every 5 meters for tourist that don't pay attention and crossing the street loved the video :)

[@AisleorWindow]

Anybody who uses the phrase, "some fair coin" is alright in my book! I've been wanting to visit Bruges ever since I watched In Bruges many years ago. My list of must-visit places just gets longer and longer. Oh, and do you have a new camera,? Because that image is SHARP! 📸 Love the old hair, btw.

[@mathijsadinau]

Man if you are in belgium come to Turnhout ! It’s a small city near antwerp, you will love it !😃✌️

[@rottytops4727]

Nee man

[@missmayflower]

This is really accurate. The place is gorgeous, but it rained the whole time we were there. The boats on the canals had no covers. Service people were really brusk.

[@emileevens915]

The restaurants on the great market are just really expensive. If you go a little farther away from the market you pay way less than the "grote markt". Just a tip from a local.

[@ashleydarkwah6627]

I love bruxells and buggenhout mu school is there and it's so peaceful

[@offthebeatenpathadventures1348]

Is your family planning a trip to Thailand? I would love to see more videos in that area. That's really fun how you had you and your former self do this video. The only thing it's missing is the high five like the one video you did where you dropped 50 pounds and chatted with your former self. The sound quality is so much better now too.

[@woltersworld]

We will get there

[@mikenogozones]

Belgian beer is awesome

[@MizzKittyBichon]

Younger Mark's voice sounds higher-pitched, but I'm not sure if that's due to age or audio quality. I will say that the picture quality has most definitely improved over the years, but you could say that for a lot of long-time KZbinrs. Just look at some videos done this year vs. 2011, 2013, or even 2014. A lot of times I'm able to tell how recent/old a video is just by looking at the picture quality alone.

[@flitsertheo]

the 2023 future here : in 2011-2014 1024p was considered "high res" and 720p acceptable. In 2023 1024p is acceptable and 4K "high res". Though there are already cameras shooting 8k. In another 10 years time someone will find those resolutions laughable.

[@Surferarno97]

Love your vid! Its my home town, I love it :D

[@deadpool1991]

I live in bruges 😊

[@webrarian]

The reason you (in the US) don't know much about the Great War battlefields is because the US government repatriated the remains of your solders who died. Soldiers from within the (then) British Empire were - controversially - not repatriated, but buried in distinctive cemeteries, as were German, French, Chinese and other nationalities' soldiers. This led, from the 1920s, to the tradition of visiting those cemeteries which still continues. Back in the 1920s, of course, the visitors were largely grieving wives and parents who wanted to see the graves in order to get some sort of "closure".

[@zachlevin7508]

This is true in part but there still does exist several American Great War cemeteries that are quite large. From my perspective it seems to be more a result of the fact that we were only in the war for a year and the power of WWII in American culture that overpowers the Great War in terms of memory. Most Americans confuse the Great War with WWII when asked

[@webrarian]

@@zachlevin7508 Thank you. I really appreciate your viewpoint and information.

[@ColonelHarry]

Hello from Wallonie (where there are beautiful places too). :)

[@Elsamuu-p8c]

Flanders is more city wise, wallonia is more nature wise. Together it makes a wonderful country

[@samanthagaudet1461]

Ok. You convinced me. I need to see Bruges

[@idahopotato5837]

I went to Brugge about 30 years ago. Busy but not bad. What I remember the most is the smell of sewage. In areas it runs right under the walkways raw. 1 breeze and it's nasty.

[@jerryschippasr3147]

Same great delivery’!

[@woltersworld]

Thank you :)

[@mathieuvanhulle324]

Greetings from Bruges! (And sorry, I'm one of those crazy cyclists)

[@izamorenoreyes3307]

Haha same ! I've yelled at tourists multiple times.

[@veeeeeeeeee453]

@@izamorenoreyes3307 yeah XD

[@yukijiconan9917]

Same haha I mean, it's so annoying when tourists just stop in the middle of the street to take pictures or just walk in the middle of the streets

[@helixac6360]

Same

[@MultiDaan12345]

I learnt to drive in Bruges, some tourists are way to annoying

[@Lucas-sg6ct]

You son is wearing a Flamengo Jersey. Very Nice.

[@MrSepox]

Mmmh the mussels it always looks so good but i cant have the taste and texture sadly enough :( but it makes me happy to see someone enjoy some mussels

[@MsItaly98]

Hello in one of your Bruges videos you spoke of visiting WW1 sites/history. Can you please tell me if a rental car is needed to really see most of the highlights or is there a tour you recommend?? Thinking of renting a car for a couple of days to see as many WW1 sites as possible. Thanks!