Brussels Lion

Statue of a lion holding a shield representing the coat of arms of the city of Brussels. It depicts the city's patron saint - Archangel Michael - slaying a devil.

A Touch of Gold

The Palace of the Liberty in Bruges dates from the 1700s. Liberty was an area surrounding medieval Bruges. The gold-trimmed building later functioned as a courthouse and subsequently housed the city council's administration. It is situated on the main town square.

Brussels Lacemaker

This animated mannikin in front of a Brussels art and lace store moved her hands forward and back to mimic the motions of lacemaking.

Stormy Skies Over Brussels

The gothic Town Hall of Brussels was built in the 1400s. The various statues on the facade represent nobles, saints and allegorical figures.

Pralines

Chocolates and pralines on display in a store window in Brussels, Belgium. They are every bit as delicious as they look!

Oude Burg Street

The old section of Bruges contains many streets filled with restaurants, hotels, antique stores and other interesting businesses to spend your time.

Guild Houses, Brussels

Guild houses along the Grand Place in Brussels, including the residence of Victor Hugo.

Early Morning in the Grand Place

I took this photograph as soon as I arrived in Brussels, despite being extremely jet-lagged. I was a bit disappointed because the famous square was being prepped for a music festival and the equipment and stages sort of spoiled the historic feel, although I have to admit it was a perfect place for the crowds to enjoy a concert.

Secluded Spot

This secluded canal-side spot provided a quiet respite from the crowds of tourists who flock to Bruges to enjoy a sense of the Middle Ages.

Bruges

With a few easy tweaks my photos of Bruges end up appearing as though they were taken in another era. Some folks don't care for this "frozen in time" aspect of this historic city, but I found it absolutely charming. I added an old paper texture to this photo, taken across from the main canal.

Across the Canal

A photo taken from across the main canal in Ghent, Belgium.
Texture by Shadowhouse Creations.

Colorful Corner

Flowers create a colorful border at a restaurant in a corner of the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium.
Texture by Shadowhouse Creations.

The Old Pharmacy Transformed

This image began with a photo of an old pharmacy in Brussels which was built in 1895 and combines many styles of architecture. I've added fog, birds, a moon and a texture from Shadowhouse Creations to create an eerie night scene.

Dungeon Door

Okay, so I've been getting an early start on Halloween by watching a few scary movies, and it led to this image based on the photo I took of an old door and stone walls at the Gravenstein Castle in Ghent.
Texture by Shadowhouse Creations.

Brussels Museum Banner

The bright red banner of the City of Brussels Museum. The museum is located in the Grand Place, inside the Maison du Roi, or King's House, and was built in the 14th century.  It showcases the history of Brussels and contains a room filled entirely with costumes for the Mannekin Pis, the famous peeing boy statue. Many of the costumes have been donated by countries all over the world and include costumes of Elvis and Dracula.
Textures by Shadowhouse Creations and Natmarie

Afternoon in Ghent

This image was taken during a stroll along one of the canals in Ghent, Belgium.
Textures from Shadowhouse Creations and Batabidd.

Gateway to Bruges

This is actually a composite of two of my Belgium photos. The wooden doorway is actually a part of the Ghent castle property and the view through the doorway is a street near the train station in Bruges. I added a texture for which I have no source, unfortunately, as well as several adjustment layers in Photoshop CS3.

Lion Door Knocker

Ornate brass door knocker seen in Brussels, Belgium.
Texture by Brenda Starr.

Bikes in Brussels

Bicycles for rent on the Place Agora near our Brussels hotel. This is a popular and busy square, surrounded by restaurants and hotels. There was also a flea market underway on this day.
Canvas texture by Shadowhouse Creations.

Brussels Clock

The Jacquemart carillion on the Mont des Arts in Brussels was built for the 1958 World's Fair and originally depicted 12 folkloric and historic Belgian figures. The figure on top represents the Brussels mayor, who strikes the bell on every hour.
Texture by Ellen vd.