Optional Tours


Full Day Tours

BRUGES - BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES
Discover the charms of this small medieval city that is often referred to as “the Venice of the North”. We start our tour with a walk through the Beguinage, where time has stopped and we get to experience the quietness of slow living of the “Begijntjes”. In the Church of Our Lady, we admire Michelangelo’s magnificent sculpture of the “Madonna with Child” before we continue our visit to the Holy Blood Chapel, the Belforttower and town hall. Then, we visit the Groeninge Museum that hosts a magnificent collection of the Flamish primitives from the 15th century like Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van Der Weyden en Hans Memling. Later, we take a romantic boat ride on the canals, and visit the “Halve Maan” Brewery to enjoy a “Brugse Zot”.

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010
Start: 9.30 h
Duration: 8 hours
Price per person: transport by train, € 70.–
(lunch at own expense)


ART & ARCHITECTURE - ABSOLUTELY ANTWERP
Starting our tour with a walk through the historic centre of Antwerp, we pay a visit to the magnificent Rubens’ House, the home and studio of this Flemish Baroque Master. Afterwards, we continue to the Plantin-Moretus Museum that was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list, and which offers a fascinating view on the development and the history of book publishing. We then visit the Cathedral, stroll through the Vlaeykensgang and the Diamond Centre, famous for its “Antwerp quality” and the “Antwerp cut”, before continuing our walk through the Fashion district where we visit the “Mode Natie” Museum of Fashion. Later, we discover the waterfront of the Schelde and admire Belle Epoque Architecture in the Zurenborg
quarter and the famous Cogels-Osylei.

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Start: 9.30 h
Duration: 8 hours
Price per person: transport by train, € 60.–
(lunch at own expense)


Half Day Tours

BELGIAN DELICACIES - CREATE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATES
Experts chocolatiers will give an overview of the history of cocoa and of chocolate production before asking you to put on an apron and get your hands dirty.
Participants will experience each stage of the manufacturing of a ‘Belgian chocolate’ from tempering the chocolate to the final unmoulding. Everyone will be given a bag of their own ‘creations’ to take home and enjoy.

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010
Start: 14.00 h
Duration: 2 hours
Price per person: € 50.–


BRUSSELS - CAPITAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
This 2,5 hour walking tour will examine how the European Institutions arrived in this district and the effect they had on the existing streetscape and residents.
We will discover the principal buildings associated with European institutions, such as the European Commission, the Council of Ministers of the EU, the European Parliament and the European Social & Economic Council.
In addition, we will examine how the buildings function, as well as the questions raised by the way they were inserted into an already existing, populated townscape.

Date: Monday, May 17, 2010
Start: 14.00 hrs
Duration: 2,5 hours
Price per person: (walking tour) € 16.–




“FIN DE SIÈCLE ARCHITECTURE” - BRUSSELS 1900
This guided tour explores the most innovative style in Brussels’ architectural history:
Art Nouveau, which originated in the designs of Victor Horta toward the end of the nineteenth century. Now recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage sites, Horta’s buildings inspired other architects to develop the style as new suburbs were built around the city.
The tour visits several districts: the city centre, the avenue Louis Bertrand in Schaerbeek, the Squares district in Etterbeek, and the Ixelles ponds as well as the avenues Louise and Saint-Gilles.
In addition, we visit the interiors of some Art Nouveau buildings, some of which are not generally open to the public.

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Start: 9.30 h
Duration: 3 hours
Price per person incl.: transport by bus, € 45.–


GENERAL INFORMATION TOURS

All tours will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Tours are subject to a minimum number of 15 participants. The Organisers reserve the right to change the date or time of any tour due to organisational reasons.


TERMS AND CONDTIONS TOURS
Please note that tour and excursion bookings can only be accepted and confirmed upon receipt of the completed registration form (may be land-mailed, faxed or filled in online) and payment of the selected tours and excursions – For payments, please refer to “TERMS OF PAYMENT”.
After receipt of payment, MONDIAL CONGRESS & EVENTS will send a written confirmation of the tours selected.


CANCELLATION POLICY – TOURS
All cancellations/alterations must be made in writing. Cancellations before Friday, April 9, 2010 will be accepted free of charge. For cancellations after this date, no refunds can be granted. Reimbursement will be made after the conference.