docphoto Loc: Illinois

Good morning. My wife and I are going to Amsterdam, Bruges, and Ghent.We've been to Amsterdam before and briefly went to Bruges. Never to Ghent.Have any of you been to Bruges and Ghent? We will be in Bruges/Ghent for 4 days. I'm looking for places , off the beaten path, to photograph. If you have any suggestions of unique places to photograph I would appreciate it. We're going to see the Vermeer exhibit at the end of April and making a side trip to Bruges. We will have a car so getting to places will not be a problem.Thank you in advance.

Rick0747

Check out the tour books by Rick Steves. They are on his website or bookstores. My wife and I went to Bruges and Ghent (and other cities) last year. Great great books.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I spent five days in Bruges right before the pandemic. Bruges is firmly in the hands of group day tourism. During the day, the city is jammed with hordes of people who either come off one of the cruise ships or who are part of the European bus tour circuit. Most of these groups walk along the same route so many side streets or even some canals are not busy during the day. They flood the city around 9:30 am and usually leave by 6 pm. If you want to photograph in the center, do that by 9:30 in the morning or after 6 pm. The light also is lovely in the mornings or evenings to photograph in the squares and along the canals. Evenings are long in summer, so you can photograph at 9pm.

The Jeruzalemkerk (Jerusalem Church) with its alms houses is not on the tourist circuit and only a ten-minute walk from the center. It and the neighborhood around it are worth a stop. A walk along the Langerei is also worthwhile--not many tourists. Walk to the Daamport and then right along the Kruisvest--there are several historic windmills along that canal.

I stopped in Ghent for a day many years ago. It was a rainy day so we spent most of it in coffee houses and climbed one of the bell towers. Ghent is similar to Bruges, its historic center being a little smaller.

newvy

I raced for a couple years in Ghent a long time ago. For me the people are the the real gems of a city. To be at the tour of Flanders among the crowds, or the Gentse Feesten where the states are set up in the street.
I fell in a race once and walked back into town where I was watching a stage of the Tour de France. There was an old farmer there that didn’t speak any English, between the little Flemish I knew, a bit of French and the few English words he knew we had a great time watching the race we both cherished.
I don’t have any of the images I shot as I have moved a lot since then. When you are traveling talk to the people and get off the tour buses. ( only my two cents)

newvy

The tire of Ghent gives a nice view. 600 ancient steps will get your heart pounding if you’re not in shape.

Canisdirus

Just Bruges...had a massive toothache on the second visit.
Luckily the waitress suggested cold beer...

Where else can you get great free medical advice...it worked.

I never had an agenda on vacations...I always just drifted...so I cannot suggest anything specific.

But I will say I have had some of my best days...all over the world...just picking a nice spot...and becoming mindful.

Arend Loc: Holland

[quote=docphoto]Good morning. My wife and I are going to Amsterdam, Bruges, and Ghent

Go check the altarpiece Lamb of God by Jan van Eyck in the Bavo Cathedral. Mindboggling an a once in a lifetime experience. Also in Brugge check the museums for van Eijk and Jeroen Bosch paintings.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Following. My wife and I will also be visiting Ghent and Bruges this coming August for the first time.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I meant to add my Bruges photo album on Flickr to my previous post. Here it is.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/albums/72157672615364255

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Thanks for sharing these. Those night shots are nice. Is it mostly safe to be out shooting at night?

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Yes, Bruges is a generally a safe city, day and night. You might encounter the occasional pickpocket, like in all tourist areas, but it is not a major issue.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

My suggestion would be to contact the tourist office in those places.
I haven't checked but you should be able to find them on-line.
Tell them what your general interests are so they can give you information that fits your visit there.
Do you speak, or understand any Dutch? If I remember correctly both those cities are in the Dutch language area of Belgium.
Enjoy your trip!
Esther

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

shieldsadvert

We took a Viking cruise to all those cities last year. If you go to shieldsphotographics.com you will find a gallery that may give you some ideas on shooting those beautiful cities.
Bill

Tom Bar

You will not be too far from the Normandy beaches. Many fantastic sites to photograph plus a moving experience. There is a German cemetery if you are so inclined. Not on many American tours.