An A to Z of sport and leisure

Virtually every municipality in Flanders has its own
swimming pool, sports complex and leisure facilities,
including tennis, for which Belgium has gained
something of a reputation in recent years!

Most universities and some larger companies have
their own sports facilities and compete against
each other in a number of disciplines and events.

And of course local clubs organise courses in anything
from aikido to Zen Buddhism.

Shop till you drop

Antwerp is internationally renowned for its fashion, including creations by
a number of emerging and established Belgian designers. Also smaller towns
like Hasselt and Knokke present themselves as true fashion paradises.

Naturally, major international chain stores can be found in towns and cities
throughout Flanders, but avid shoppers will soon discover that there are many
less mainstream shops, too.

Popular shopping streets include:

• Meir in Antwerp;
• Nieuwstraat/Rue Neuve, Avenue Louise and
  Antoine Dansaertstraat/Rue Antoine Dansaert in Brussels;
• Veldstraat in Ghent;
• Bruul in Mechelen;
• Bondgenotenlaan in Leuven;
• Hasselt city centre.

On Saturdays, however, these streets can get pretty crowded. You have been warned!