Belgium Unveiled: Exploring the Enchanting Diversity of a European Gem
From mediaeval towns to gastronomic delights, Belgium offers a captivating blend of experiences. Belgium, a country often overlooked in favour of its more renowned European counterparts, is a hidden gem…
Hasselt Jenever Festival 2023, Belgium
The third weekend in October sees the Flemish city of Hasselt spring to life for its jenever festival. In 2023, the Hasselt Jenever Festival will be on 21 and 22…
Hotel Des Brasseurs: Carbon Clean Vision for the Future
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a sneak preview of Hotel des Brasseurs in De Haan, Belgium, which is the first carbon neutral hotel in Flanders. It is on a journey to…
A Practical Guide to Planning a Camping Holiday in Belgium
Visiting Europe is the dream of every person because of its unique history, beautiful architecture, and authentic cushions famous worldwide. However, many tourists want to see a specific area of…
KMSKA Antwerp: Two Museums in One
While in Antwerp for the 50 best restaurant awards in 2021, Mark Bibby Jackson was given a behind the scenes look at the leading arts museum in Antwerp before it…
Don’t Look Back in Ostend
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Ostend Belgium and ends up turning full circle. When I informed a travel writing colleague of mine, I was travelling to Ostend, her response was just…
11 Festivals in July 2023
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best global festivals in July 2023 from Pennsylvania to South Korea, so wherever you are you can join in the celebrations. Music Festivals…
What to Do in Brussels: 10 Hidden Gems
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is a charming and vibrant metropolis that offers a plethora of experiences for visitors. From historical landmarks to culinary delights, the city is filled…
9 Festivals in February 2023 Around the World
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in February 2023 across the Globe, from Mongolia to Easter Island, so wherever you are you just can’t help celebrating the…
11 Carnivals Around the World for 2023
Whether you call it the carnival, Mardi Gras or simply a fête, the approach of Lent brings with it a wonderful explosion of colour and exuberance. Travel Begins at 40…
The Future of Tourism is Positive
Mark Bibby Jackson looks forward to 2023, predicting the future of tourism could be positive, albeit that we have to be conscious of its negative impacts. My New Year’s Resolution…
Regeneration in Hoge Kempen National Park Limburg
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the Rivierpark Maasvallei and Hoge Kempen National Park in Limburg, Belgium to discover the regeneration of the former industrial region. It was in Germany while visiting…
7 Global Festivals in December
From the India to Turkey and Colombia to Belgium, we bring you the best festivals in December, including where to ring in the New Year, and that is not even…
Christmas Markets in Europe and the UK
From the original December market to the city that created stollen, the source of mulled wine and the first Christmas tree, let Travel Begins at 40 guide you through some…
Top-5 Hidden Gems in Bruges
Antwerp, Ghent, and Brussels are the three cities in Belgium that attract the most tourists. And Bruges is frequently disregarded. The capital of West Flanders, a province of Belgium, is…
Poperinge Beer Festival, Belgium
The Poperinge Beer Festival is one of the most popular beer festivals in Belgium. Held in the town of Poperinge close to the French border, near Ypres, the beer festival…
In Bruges Beer and Culture
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the medieval Flanders city to discover its rich culture and wonderful Bruges beer. The main reason for my trip to Bruges, Belgium was to visit the…
7 Great Beer Festivals in the UK, Belgium, Germany and the US
Travel Begins at 40 looks at seven great beer festivals in the UK, Belgium, Germany and the US. There is certainly no lack of beer festivals in the UK –…
Befriending Proud Margaret in Leuven Belgium
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on a tour of Leuven Belgium, a town with the oldest university in Belgium and the home of Stella, where he gets a glimpse of the…
Visit a Bamboo Garden in Europe
Global Ambassador of the World Bamboo Organisation and Senior Advisor to the European Bamboo Programme Dr Hans Friederich explains why we should all visit a Bamboo Garden in 2022. What…
KMSKA Antwerp Hangs First Rubens
As Antwerp looks forward to the much-anticipated opening of its Fine Arts Museum (KMSKA) in September, the museum was excited to start its programme of populating its walls with the…
Mechelen : Medieval Flemish Gem
After visiting The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards in Antwerp, Mark Bibby Jackson stops off at the delightful and intimate city of Mechelen in Flanders. Sandwiched between the twin Flemish…
Eating Your Way Through Antwerp
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Antwerp, Flanders for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2021 to discover the host city has its own rich and diverse culinary scene. Although Copenhagen…
Copenhagen Officially Global Culinary Capital
The stars of the restaurant world converged 5 October 2021 for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2021, in Antwerp, Flanders sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna…