Belgium has 70 kilometres of coastline on the North Sea with beautiful beaches of fine sands.
Explore the unspoilt mediaeval towns and cities offering a window to history, the poignant memorials and Battlefield sites of World War I and Brussels, the capital of the EU and NATO.
Belgium has played an important part in European history as it was here that Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and the Great War of 1914-1918 was fought on Flanders' fields.
Students will appreciate learning about a European neighbour with a diversity of cultures where three different languages are spoken in a relatively small geographical area.
Curriculum Focus
Accommodation
As the UK's leading school tour operator, we offer a first rate choice of accommodation to suit all requirements and budgets. Should the accommodation you prefer not be featured in our programme, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Blankenberge
Bredene
Nieuwpoort
Brussels
Blankenberge
This seaside resort is a favourite with school groups. It is an attractive resort with a fine sandy beach and pedestrianised promenade leading to the harbour and pier. Attractions include the National Sea Life Marine Park and the Sperpentarium. The resort has excellent local facilities including mini-golf, an indoor swimming pool and there are also excellent shopping facilities including a popular weekly market on a Friday.
Hotel Sabot D'Or This family run hotel offers a friendly welcome.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 120
Location: Easy walking distance to town centre and beach.
Facilities: The hotel has two dining rooms and two lounge areas.
Accommodation: Students are generally accommodated 2-3 to a room with private facilities. Meal Basis: Full Board.
Bredene
Just 5km north of Ostend, Bredene is an elegant resort, quieter than Ostend. The town has excellent facilities with a good beach, swimming pool, sports hall, as well as outdoor tennis courts, football pitch and an ice rink nearby. Groups may wish to visit the nearby resort of Ostend via the coastal tramway that connects the two resorts.
Hotel Europa This friendly, family-run chalet style hotel is a popular choice for groups and/or schools.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 130
Location: Situated close to the beach and dunes. Ostend and Bruges are only a few miles away.
Facilities: Ground floor facilities are spacious and there is a large dining room.
Accommodation: Pupils are usually in simple 2, 3 or 4 bedded rooms in single beds, all with private facilities.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Nieuwpoort
Situated about 20km from the popular coastal resort of Ostend, this attractive resort and fishing port offers a wealth of attractions, a traffic-free promenade and a fine sandy beach. The old town has a market square and an interesting fishing harbour where fish is often sold from the moored boats.
Hotel Cosmopolite This friendly, family-run chalet style hotel is a popular choice for groups and/or schools. Location: Situated close to the beach and dunes. Ostend and Bruges are only a few miles away.
Official Rating: 3 Star
Capacity: 200 Location: Situated centrally a few minutes walk from the promenade and beach.
Facilities: The hotel has its own restaurant and a conference room which can be used for evening work. Discos can be arranged. Groups can use the indoor heated swimming pool at the Carlton Apartments (pool is unsupervised and an entrance fee payable).
Accommodation: All rooms are nicely decorated with a TV and private facilities. Groups are accommodated in rooms 2-6 people in single beds.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
We also work with the Cosmopolite's sister hotel in Nieuwpoort: The Carlton Hotel and Apartments.
Brussels
Capital of Belgium and the European Union. There are many fine examples of renaissance and Gothic architecture. See the Grande Place, one of Europe's finest mediaeval squares with its guild halls, gothic town hall and the Maison du Roi. There are a number of museums including the Scientastic museum with 80 hands on exhibits and the Belgium Comic strip centre.
Youth Hostel Jacques Brel This youth hostel has a friendly atmosphere and it benefits from a central location making it an ideal choice of accommodation for school groups.
Official Rating: 3 Star
Capacity: 170
Location: The property is situated right in the heart of Brussels - it is just a 10 minute walk away from the Grand Palace.
Facilities: The hostel facilities include a self service cafeteria (available for groups), several meeting rooms, a bar, a TV room, table tennis, vending machines and internet access. There is hostel also has a courtyard.
Accommodation: Pupis are generally accommodated in 2-6 bedded rooms. All of the rooms have a shower and some also have a toilet. There are also shared toilet facilities on the landing.
Meal Basis: Half Board.
Day 1 — Depart school. Connect with Channel crossing. Arrive at your centre for evening dinner. Subject to drivers' hours regulations you may wish to include a visit en route.
Days 2 - 3 — Excursions of your choice.
Day 4 — Morning at leisure to enjoy your resort. Depart after lunch to connect with a Channel crossing. Return to school.
Meal Arrangements
Full Board. First Meal - Evening meal on Day 1.
Final Meal - Packed lunch on Day 4.
Free Back-Up Material
STS Guide to Belgium and a map.
Tour Variations
Bring the history text books to life with our Battlefields of WWI Study Break.
Towns & Cities Brussels - capital of Belgium and the European Union. There are many fine examples of renaissance and Gothic architecture. See the Grande Place, one of Europe's finest mediaeval squares with its guild halls, gothic town hall and the Maison du Roi. There are a number of museums including the Scientastic museum with 80 hands on exhibits and the Belgium Comic strip centre. Outside the city is the Atomium, a science exhibition in a giant molecule.
Bruges - A beautifully preserved mediaeval city. Its wealth can be seen in the fine civic and religious buildings which grace its narrow streets, town squares and canals. The town is also the birthplace of Flemish painting. A canal boat trip can be arranged for a small supplement. Bruges is also known for its lace making and fine Belgian chocolate. Market: Saturday/Wednesday morning.
Ostend - Ostend is Belgium's largest and most developed resort on its North Sea coast, with a long wide sandy beach and a wide seafront promenade. This busy town is also a passenger port and major fishing port, with a fresh fish auction and colourful fish stalls. There is a Fine Arts Museum, a Museum of Local History, a Modern Art Museum and a Naval Museum in the Mercator sailing ship in the marina. Market day: Thursday.
Ghent - is Belgium's second port and an important industrial centre. The Graslei with its fine Flemish architecture was once the old port of Ghent. There is a Fine Arts Museum, a Museum of Contemporary Art and the Bijloke Archaeology and History Museum in an old Cistercian abbey. Ghent is also known as the city of flowers because of its local horticultural industry.
History & Landmarks WWI Battlefields - click here for full details.
Waterloo - site of the famous battle of 1815 where Napoleon was defeated by Wellington. Groups can climb the Butte du Lion, with a view of the battle site. There is a visitors centre, the 'Panorama' a huge painting of the battle scene and the Wellington museum.
Special Interest Lace Making - A lace-making demonstration for which Bruges is famous.
Roose's Chocolate World - Bruges. Discover the craft of chocolate making at this chocolate shop!
Choco-story - Bruges. A museum about the history of chocolate. Demonstrations of chocolate making and tasting.
Christmas Markets - Brussels, Bruges and Ostend all have Christmas markets in December. Further information available on request.
Leisure Bellewaerde Park - near Ypres, groups can wander among wild animals or take a safari-tram ride through the jungle and see hundreds of exotic animals, including lions and tigers. This park also offers a selection of shows and thrilling white-knuckle rides (Seasonal opening).
Walibi Park - near Brussels. Exciting theme park with seven roller-coasters and other rides which include Madness at breakneck speed (Loup-Garou, Turbine); frights at a height (Dalton terror) and giddy loop the loops (Cobra). Seasonal opening.
Aqualibi - Water leisure complex. Tropical environment of 290 C, ocean waves, two 140m slides, wild river, waterfalls, rapids and whirlpools. Opening details on request.
Boudewijnpark - near Bruges. Featuring thrilling rides alongside instructive and interactive attractions. The park has a large dolphinarium with dolphin and sea lion shows throughout the day (Seasonal opening).
Bruparck - Near Brussels at the foot of the Atomium, activities include: 'Mini-Europe', a collection of models of the most important European Community buildings with an interactive exhibition "The Spirit of Europe". 'Océade' the aquatic park has it's "Aquafun House" alongside water slides and a wave pool. Plus 'Kinepolis', the largest cinema complex in the world, with 24 cinemas and an IMAX® screen.
National Sea-Life Marine Park - Blankenberge. A spectacular underwaterworld.
Serpentarium - Blankenberge. Discover the fascinating world of reptiles.
Seafront - A maritime theme park in Zeebrugge. It consists of a permanent interactive exhibition centred around the history of the North Sea and Bruges, the origin and the evolution of the new seaport, fisheries from 1920 until now and much more.
Sports and Recreation park - Blaarmeersen, Ghent. A full or half day of activities can be organised at this excellent recreational centre which is run by the city of Ghent. The centre is set in parkland on a lake. Activities on offer include mountain biking, orientation walks, in-line skating, various ball games, raft building, windsurfing, canoe or kayak sessions plus indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Groups rotate activities in smaller groups. Further information on request.
Departing from your school and returning to school by British touring coach, arriving at your centre on Day 1 and departing from the centre on the final day. Minimum group size: Coach tour price is based on 35 paying passengers. Supplements apply for smaller groups.
Standard Channel Crossing
Ferry: Dover to Calais: 1½
Other channel crossings: Available at a supplementary charge.
Eurotunnel: Folkestone to Calais: 35 minutes platform to platform.
For groups travelling from the North we can provide request on P&O North Sea Ferries (overnight sailing) from Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge.
Transfer Times
Calais to Belgium 4 hours
Tour Length
4 days. Extra day supplement applicable upon request.
Eurostar Travel Arrangements
Departing from London St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet International direct train to Brussels through the channel tunnel.
Transfer Times
St Pancras International - Brussels: 1hr 51mins.
Ebbsfleet International - Brussels: 1hr 41mins
Tour Length
3 days by Eurostar. Add extra days at a supplement.
Sample Itinerary - 3 DAYS TO BELGIUM BY EUROSTAR TRAIN
(STS itineraries are tailor made. Below as one example)
Day 1 — Travel from London St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet International direct to Brussels Gare du Midi. Depending on train times there may be sightseeing time.
Day 2 — Day at leisure for visits.
Day 3 — At leisure for visits before connecting with your departing Eurostar train. This tour is based on a minimum of 10 paying passengers. STS can quote for connecting UK train journeys. Please contact our office.
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Contact our head office
STS Travel Service One Jubilee Street,
Brighton, BN1 1GE T: +44(0)870 240 6828
F: +44(0)1273 693 116
E: sales@ststravel.co.uk
Belgium has played an important part in European history as it was here that Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and the Great War of 1914-1918 was fought on Flanders' fields.
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