Belgium to the English Channel

PART 3: BELGIUM - MUSSELS & BROODJES REVISITED

OOSTENDE, BELGIUM [QR-221]

Coordinates: 51°14'N, 2°55'E

Marina: Royal Belgian Sailing Club

Berth Cost: €40-60/night

Character: Beach resort, fishing port, mussel heaven, Belgian beer

🇧🇪 BELGIAN FOOD ESSENTIALS (Repeated because it's that important):

Mussels (Moules-Frites):

Belgium's national dish. Steamed mussels (white wine, garlic, herbs), served with fries. Order a kilo per person (minimum). Dip fries in mayo.

Best places: Any harbor restaurant in Oostende, Nieuwpoort, Blankenberge.
Cost: €15-25 per person
Pair with: Belgian beer (Duvel, Westmalle, or local craft)

Broodjes (Belgian Sandwiches):

1. Broodje Martino [Personal favorite]

Raw beef (steak tartare style), Worcestershire sauce, mayo, pickles, onions
Sounds weird, tastes incredible
€5-8

2. Broodje Smos [The classic]

Ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, hard-boiled egg, mayo
Messy, satisfying
€4-7

3. Broodje Prepare [The fancy one]

Chicken or shrimp salad with mayo, curry, pineapple
Belgian-Indonesian fusion
€5-8

Where: Any frituur (fry shop), bakery, or sandwich shop.

Belgian Waffles:

Two types:

Brussels waffles (rectangular, light, crispy, topped with cream/fruit)
Liège waffles (oval, dense, caramelized sugar inside—superior, fight me)

Belgian Chocolate:

Leonidas, Neuhaus, Godiva (touristy but good). Buy pralines, seashells (mosselen shape—get it?).

Belgian Beer:

300+ breweries. Trappist beers, abbey beers, sour beers, fruit beers. Belgium takes beer seriously.

Try: Westvleteren 12 (world's "best" beer, hard to find), Rochefort 10, Orval.

Dining:

🍴 Savarin [QR-222]

Seafood, mussels, waterfront
€30-50

🍴 't Kroegentje [QR-223]

Traditional Flemish, waterzooi (fish stew)
€25-45

Stay 2 nights - Eat mussels, drink beer, buy chocolate.

NIEUWPOORT, BELGIUM [QR-224]

Coordinates: 51°08'N, 2°44'E

Marina: Royal Yacht Club Nieuwpoort

Berth Cost: €35-55/night

Character: Yacht harbor, WWI flooded plains history, quieter

King Albert I Monument [QR-225] - WWI memorial (Belgians flooded plains to stop Germans).

Dining:

🍴 Novelle Cuisine [QR-226]

Modern Flemish
€40-65

🍴 Moules everywhere

Stay 1 night