Belgium

Oh, this postcard recalls nice memories indeed! I send it myself while staying at my sister's place in Belgium this winter. You can see a bit of Antwerp's architecture. Antwerp is, in my opinion, the most beautiful Belgian city - architecture, atmosphere, art... 

Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium, with over 500,000 inhabitants, located on the right bank of the river Scheldt. According to folklore, notably celebrated by a statue in front of the town hall, the city got its name from a legend involving a mythical giant called Antigoon who lived near the Scheldt river. He exacted a toll from those crossing the river, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river. Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero named Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen, akin to Old English hand and wearpan (to throw), which has evolved to today's warp.

Belgium

Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium.The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". 

Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its port. At one time, it was the "chief commercial city" of the world.

I visited Bruges while staying at my sister's place in Brussels. A charming place indeed!

Belgium

I could have received this, quite common, mapcard of Belgium from any Belgian Postcrosser, but this card is special to me because I sent it myself, while visiting Brussels and some other small towns round Belgium. The country is really wonderful! The stamps is nothing spectacular, plus it hasn't been cancelled, so I did't want to waste time scanning it...

Belgium

I have chosen two snowy views for today, as winter is coming... Unfortunately, snow is very rare in Istria, region of Croatia where I live, so I enjoy it only when trevelling inland. But when the snow actually falls, there is a total chaos - I didn't even go to school one day (last winter, or the winter before... I don't remember anymore) when we had snow :P

Anyway, the postcards shows Grand Place, the central square of Brussels, Belgium. Except snowy view in winter, the view that you might find even more beautiful is an enormous "flower carpet" set up once in two years on Grand Place. A million colourful begonias are set up in patterns, and the display covers a full 24 by 77 metres, for area total of 1,800 square metres. The first flower carpet was made in 1971, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued, with the flower carpet attracting a large number of tourists. Grand Place a UNECSO World Heritage Site as well. 

Belgium

Such a happy day in my mailbox today! My mailbox hasn't been so full since... oh, it's really been a long time. Among many nice postcards and envelopes, I received this nice postcard from Leuven, Belgium. It's the first card which I received thanks to my postcard blog. Putting all my postcards on a blog seemed like an amazing idea when I started blogging, but now, while I'm searching for the information and scanning all of the cards and stamps, I like it even more. Anyway, thank you guys for following me and reading my, sometimes silly, posts.

Leuven is the capital city of Flemish Brabant province in the Flemish Region, Belgium. Leuven is a big university center with a lot of student living there during the academic year and it's the seat of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the oldest Catholic university still in existance. Others sites that you should see if you are passing through or visiting Luven are: the Town Hall, built in the 15th century, the St Peter's Chruch, built in the 15th century as well, the Large Beguinage, one of the world's best remaining examples of its architectural type also listed to the UNESCO WHS list in 1998 and many more.

I really like the statue placed near the centre of  town called "Fons Sapientiae" or "The Fountain of Wisdom" in English. It represents a university student who, while reading a book, lets wisdom flow into his head as liquid from a glass. Great statue for a city full of student, don't you think so?

Thanks to Johan for this nice postcard. I also like the stamp he used. I thought that Belgium has only the sticker-type of stamp that I hate, but I was obviously wrong. Thanks, Johan :)

Belgium

The Brussels Region is the largest urban, the capital of Belgium and the center of the European Union, consisting of 19 municipalities. One of the municipalities is the City of Brussels, the capital city and the seat of main institutions of the EU. The Brussels Region has a population of over 1.8 million.

The European Union has no official capital city, but, as it is the seat of the European Commission, European Council and Council of the European Union, Brussels is known as its unofficial capital.

During her staying in Brussels, my sister sent me this cool postcard. She even circled the place where her office used to be when she worked in the European Parliament. What a great sister I have :)

Belgium

Ghent is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium and  it is the capital city of the East Flanders Province. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was one of the richest and largest cities of northern Europe. Ghent is also the second-largest city in Belgium by the number of inhabitants (around 250 000). 

The postcards shows historical sites of Ghent and riverside . My sister told me that it's an amazing city. I hope that I'll be able to visit it some day (edit: done! (: ) . Thanks to my sister who sent me this nice multi-view :)

Belgium

My sister moved to Brussels for three month and during her visit she sent me many nice cards. This is my favourite of all cards she sent me, for sure. It shows Grand-Place, Brussels at night. It's not normal size card, which made it even more special. The view is amazing, isn't it?

Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square in Brussels. It is the most important and memorable destination of Brussels and it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It measures 68 by 110 meters.

Albert II is the King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. Hif full name is  Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie in English or Albert Felix Humbert Theodoor Christiaan Eugène Marie in Dutch.

Many thanks to my dear sister who always remembers her brother and sends him great cards :)