Valentine’s Day in Flanders: unique travel tips for a romantic getaway

De_Panne_Fiets-1 © Westtoer
Valentine’s Day, the celebration of love. It is the day when you honour the one you love and cherish. On that day too, we are delighted to place our beautiful Flanders in the spotlight. Picturesque Bruges, worldly Antwerp and fashionable Ghent are wonderful destinations for a romantic city break, in the heart of Europe. Do you love losing yourself among ancient and modern art in grand museums? Or would you rather head out into the great outdoors? Flanders makes for the perfect romantic Valentine’s getaway, tailor-made for you and your love.

For museum lovers

There is no better place for a first (or two hundredth) date than a museum. St John’s Hospital, in the historic centre of Bruges, is an ideal destination. This former hospital has been a place of warmth and love for centuries. It is a place where you can learn more about the history of healthcare, and also one where you can see a wonderful array of centuries-old art. For example, there are masterpieces by Hans Memling, figurehead of the Flemish Primitives. His refined brushstrokes will make your heart beat faster, like your beloved does.

Museum Sint-Janshospitaal (c) 2024 Femke den Hollander (4)

For enthusiastic castle visitors

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be spent with your dream prince or princess. Of course, a fairytale castle would naturally be the ideal setting. As it happens, Flanders does have something to offer in that department. d’Ursel Castle, for example. This 400-year-old castle lies on the mighty Scheldt river, midway between Ghent and Antwerp. This striking, ochre-yellow moated castle is a truly breathtaking sight. You can learn all about the history of this place on a guided tour. A picturesque stroll through the castle park sparks the perfect romantic moment. Is one castle not enough for you? Then hop on your bike and discover the treasures on the Scheldt castles route.

Castle d'Ursel - Kasteel d'Ursel

For those who like to discover new places by bicycle

‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving,’ Albert Einstein once said. Flanders is the perfect environment to put both into practice. With the Flanders’ Finest Cycle Routes, for example, you can explore the best of what we have to offer. On bikes, you and your sweetheart can enjoy surprising landscapes, captivating history, art and all kinds of heritage, including culinary. Just as love is for everyone, Flanders is too. Thanks to our accessible cycle routes, the idyllic landscape is there for everyone to see and enjoy, including those on adapted bikes.

Cycling accessibility-©Sien Verstraeten

For cycling enthusiasts who live by the motto ‘no pain, no gain’

Love is not always tender or velvety soft. Sometimes it is also fierce, tempestuous and intense. If we apply that to cycling, we end up with the real fanatics. The Flandriens who, deep in their souls, yearn for Flanders’ tough hills and bumpy cobblestone lanes. They can channel all their love and passion into the Flandrien Challenge on STRAVA. This unique physical challenge connects 59 iconic berg and cobble segments. Anyone who conquers them all in less than 72 hours deserves eternal glory. Your personalised cobblestone will then get a place on the wall of fame at the Tour of Flanders Centre.

Cycling in Flanders_RPM Souplesse_Flandrien Challenge

For those who admire the art of the Flemish Masters

Valentine’s Day is the celebration of love. It invokes intense emotions, but these are not always easy to convey. Fortunately, our Flemish Masters can help. These artistic giants capture the inexpressible like no other. You and your loved one can experience this together through Flemish Masters in situ. With these master tours, you follow in the footsteps of our grandmasters. These routes take you all over Flanders to the places where the masters lived and worked. Mechelen Masters and More is one such tour. With this, you get to see the works of Baroque great Peter Paul Rubens and many others, in and around historic Mechelen.

Stadspaleis en tuinen (c) Sophie Nuytten - Museum Hof van Busleyden

For Belgian chocolate fans

Your classic Valentine’s Day gift takes on a whole new dimension in Flanders: chocolate. Especially if you visit The Chocolate Line in Bruges or Antwerp. There, chocolate masters Dominique and Julius Persoone will blow your taste buds away. The famous Belgian praline is the starting point, with a surprising sensation at the end. Have you ever tasted chocolates with caramelised shrimp heads, fermented mushrooms or freshly cut grass? This father-and-son duo offers a marvellous take on a romantic classic.

Julius Persoone en Alina

For nature lovers

Sometimes, we just need to keep things simple. What is better than a romantic walk on the beach? You, your beloved and the swishing of the waves: pure bliss. A tip? Plan one such delightful stroll to De Panne. There on the beach, a massive wooden structure suddenly appears: the Westerpunt. This architectural masterpiece presents you with a romantic tableau of the North Sea and the dunes. A beautiful place to hold each other close and enjoy the wild sea. Do you want to extend this stroll (a lot) further? This Treinstapper walk takes you through the undulating dune landscape, from De Panne to Nieuwpoort.

Westhoekreservaat - Westerpunt (c) Couchflucht

For those looking for peace and quiet

On Valentine’s Day, it is important to love and be loved. Both for yourself, for your heart’s desire and also for nature. You can combine the three on a long walk in one of Flanders’ oasis of peace. Because the power of nature only reveals itself when all the noise dies down. You can experience it yourself in the Silence Area of the Kalmthoutse Heide, the peace and quiet of Dender-Mark, or accompanied by the gentle natural soundscape in Kempen-Broek. But not to worry, total quiet is a relative concept. Feel free to whisper sweet nothings to each other. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.

Kalmthoutse Heide, 2020 © gemeente Kalmthout

Flanders celebrates love in all its shapes and sizes. The love for each other, as well as for the pristine nature and Belgian chocolate. The love for bicycles, Flemish Masters or fairytale castles, by the side of your own dream prince or princess. There is more than enough here in Flanders for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day getaway.

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