Enfnts Terribles

1.Retsin’s Lucifernum (Bruges)

Retsin’s Lucifernum serves as a spooky place to enjoy a drink in the evening. It’s actually the private home of self-proclaimed vampire Don Retsin in a former Masonic temple, but the local celebrity often opens the doors for guests. While having a drink, you can enjoy poetry readings, live music, or other shows the operators can come up with.

Retsin himself considers his Lucifernum as some sort of museum, which is honestly a good way to describe the place. Unusual artwork lines the walls, odd artifacts are scattered throughout the lodge, and the ambiance is impeccable. After the show, don’t forget to visit the on-site Freemason’s cemetery to make the evening even creepier.

Address: Twijnstraat 6, 8000 Bruges

2. Nemo 33 (Brussels)

Wanting to instill an immediate love for diving in those who didn’t have the option of traveling far, diver John Beernaerts created Nemo 33. Beernaerts recognized that learning to dive in the waters of exotic islands isn’t the same as learning it in a shallow pool in Belgium.

With its deepest level reaching 33 meters down, Nemo 33 is the deepest indoor swimming pool in the world. It has simulated caves, several platforms, and a 33-meter deep cylindrical pit. The indoor swimming pool is a place for beginner and veteran divers.

The facility isn’t like the blue lagoons, however, it’s still perfect for those that want to learn how to dive but don’t want to go far. Nemo 33 is used for recreation and diving instruction packages, but also for military training and film production! It also features underwater windows that allow visitors to watch divers as they swim. 

Address: Stallestraat 333, 1180 Brussels

3. Caves of Remouchamps (Liège)

This is an appealing attraction to anyone looking for something a bit more unusual. The Caves of Remouchamps opened in 1912 and consist out of two walks: the first is a long walk to a cathedral, which was only discovered in 1912. The room is 40 meters high and very impressive! The walk is followed by a boat ride down the caves’ quiet and underground river, the Rubicon. You can admire the special rock formations, bats flying through the caves, and if you’re in luck, you can even sight a translucent shrimp!

Another interesting fact to note: Around 8000 years ago, ancient hunters used the caves as shelter. Much later, the area was used as a wine cellar and even as a shelter during World War II!

Address: Rue de Louveigné 3, 4920 Aywaille

4. Guided Fashion Tour (Antwerp)

Discover the fashion Mecca of Antwerp with a guided fashion tour! Through a cultural voyage of discovery with a focus on contemporary design, architecture, and history, you will get to know Antwerp’s fashion history throughout the years. Learn more about the legendary “Antwerp Six” (Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee) who managed to acquire Antwerp’s spot as a leading fashion center in the ’80s.

During this walk, you will take a look at certain shops, buildings, and other places that were key to the development of Antwerp as an international fashion city. For example, you get to visit the ModeNatie, a lavish fashion complex where different partners in the industry are housed under one roof. The building also includes Antwerp’s fashion museum, the MOMU. If it hasn’t already, this guided tour will definitely awaken the fashion freak inside of you.

Address: Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerpen (Starting point)

5. KaraFun (Brussels)

This brand-new karaoke bar is perfect for bringing out your inner superstar! KaraFun is a Japanese-inspired music experience in the heart of Brussels. But this is not just a normal karaoke bar. Here, you can completely customize your entire experience: you can choose your own sound, lighting, decorations, and smoke effects. The karaoke bar has 12 private rooms, with each a different theme (museum, gold, battle room, and so on) to add an extra Instagramable touch to your experience. During your experience, you can order a bunch of local and sustainable foods and drinks.

KaraFun opens its doors on Wednesday, July 15. One karaoke session (2 hours) costs 12 euros per person. Perfect for a budget-friendly night out!

Address: Rue de la Vierge Noire 12, 1000 Bruxelles

6. The Blue Forest (Halle)

The Hallerbos — also called The Blue Forest — is an immensely huge forest in Halle, Flemish Brabant, that almost doesn’t seem real. Each spring, a dreamlike carpet of bluebells overtakes the forest floor, which results in an ethereal fairytale-like view. Honestly, if you see a fairy randomly flying past you, you wouldn’t even be surprised. Visitors can take a stroll on the paths to admire the flowers and spot bunnies and deer chilling in the grass.

For the ultimate experience, visit the Blue Forest from April until early Summer. That’s when the Bluebells take on a vibrant purple-blue hue. The flowers keep changing colors depending on the different weather conditions, which provides a different experience every time you visit the forest. You can check these color changes via updates on the forest’s website.

Address: Vlasmarktdreef, 1500 Halle

Co-written by Janne Schellingen and Femke Lippens