Belgium is one of our favorite countries to visit, and Brussels has become very familiar to us over the years. We have family there and have made wonderful friendships along the way. Most of our time in Belgium was spent in Brussels. This part of our trip was less about sightseeing and more about connection.

We picked up where we left off, returned to familiar places, and shared plenty of laughter. Of course, there was also Belgian beer for Raun and wine for me.

Brussels has become one of those places where we have favorite stops and traditions we look forward to. One of my must-stops is Passion Chocolat. I always make time to pick up chocolates before we leave Belgium.

Raun jokes about how many boxes I will bring home. The answer is always the same. A lot. I have a system when we travel to Europe. I bring a large empty suitcase and fill it along the way.

Chocolates, wine, perfume, scarves, and other finds usually make their way inside. I have used this system for years, and it works well for me. I have only gone over the weight limit once. I happily paid the extra charge because I was not leaving anything behind.

Another place we return to is Brasserie Gribaumont. It is warm, relaxed, and feels like a true neighborhood restaurant. We have been going there for years, and it is always nice when they remember us.

I order the moules-frites every time because they are my favorite there. Raun always orders the pasta Bolognese because it is his favorite. Some traditions are worth keeping.

Some of our best moments in Brussels happen around a table. We meet family and friends at local pubs, restaurants, and familiar gathering places. The conversations range from meaningful to completely silly. Soccer and cycling usually find their way into the conversation, too.

Dinner often means plenty of food, wine, stories, and laughter. Those are the moments we treasure most.

While Brussels felt familiar, this trip also gave us something new. We spent a day exploring Leuven, about 25 minutes from Brussels by train. Leuven is a university city with centuries of history. Its university tradition dates back to 1425 and still shapes the city today.

The historic center gave us plenty to admire. The Grote Markt sits at the heart of the old city. Its beautiful Gothic Town Hall dates to the 15th century. Nearby, Saint Peter’s Church is another part of Leuven’s Gothic history.

The church also holds important works by Flemish painter Dieric Bouts. Leuven also has the University Library and the historic Great Beguinage. The Great Beguinage is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

We enjoyed walking through Leuven and taking in the architecture and atmosphere. We stopped for lunch, enjoyed some wine, and did a little people-watching. The best part was spending the day with family. That made our first visit to Leuven even more special.

We only had a few days in Belgium, so we made the most of them. Most of our time was spent in Brussels with family and friends. We also discovered Leuven, which gave us another special memory from this visit.

For us, Belgium is no longer just a place we travel to. It is filled with people and traditions we look forward to seeing again. That is what made this part of Our European Summer Adventure so special.

Sometimes travel is not about seeing as much as possible. Sometimes it is simply about being together.

Soon, it was time to say goodbye and continue our journey. The final stop on Our European Summer Adventure was Paris.

Before we move on, if you missed our day in the Dutch countryside, we shared our visits to Zaanse Schans and Giethoorn.

You can read Our European Summer Adventure: A Day in the Dutch Countryside HERE.