Past Blast: Bruges

The Bonne-Chière Windmill

An hour by high-speed train from Brussels, Bruges is a northwestern port city for Belgium. While its official city limits are quite large, its well-preserved medieval city-center draws the visitors. And while I didn't notice any hitmen on retreat, it's easy to see why Bruges is often referred to as a "Venice of the North".

Like Venice,
but less marble

Standing near a windmill, you're rewarded with a skyline-view

The medieval district is dominated by church bell towers, and it's not a bad idea to pick one in the distance and try to make your way through the winding streets and canals. There are small buildings straddling the waterways, and private gardens lining the roads. If you reach the outer edge of the district, you'll find the old textile windmills on their built-up hills, allowing them to reach the sea breeze above the mostly-2-story city.