Bruges

Bruges is the capital of West Flanders and the sixth most populous city in Belgium, set in the north-west of the country with its own stretch of coast at Zeebrugge, Brugge aan zee, Bruges by the sea. The historic centre is an oval of canals, brick gables and bridges, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The predominant language is West Flemish. It is a city best taken slowly and on foot: the core is compact, level and largely closed to traffic, and the water is never more than a street away. Winter suits it, when the crowds thin and the canals go still.