Peerdermolen (12p)N°001
Brussels, Belgium
garden
From $360 per night
Grand squares, Art Nouveau and green Belgian countryside
Brussels is Belgium's compact, quietly grand capital: the gilded Grand-Place, Art Nouveau townhouses, serious chocolate and some of Europe's best beer and dining. A private villa or country estate within reach of the city, including in the wooded quiet of Limburg around Meeuwen-Gruitrode, gives families and groups the gardens, pools and privacy that city hotels cannot.
- The Grand-Place, one of Europe's most beautiful squares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- World-class chocolate, beer culture and Michelin-starred dining
- Art Nouveau landmarks by Victor Horta and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts
- Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp all within easy day-trip distance
- Country villas with gardens and pools in Belgium's green provinces
Known forThe Grand-Place, Art Nouveau architecture, chocolate and beer, European institutions, easy reach of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp
Best time to visitApril to June and September for mild sightseeing weather; December for the Christmas markets
Nearest airportBrussels Airport (BRU); Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) for low-cost routes
Ideal forFamilies, culture lovers and groups wanting a countryside base for Belgium's cities
1homes available
5–5bedrooms
up to 12guests
Events not to miss in Brussels
- Early July
Ommegang Pageant
A grand historical pageant on the Grand-Place recreating Emperor Charles V's ceremonial entry into Brussels in 1549, with costumed processions, horses and flag-throwers.
- Mid-August, even-numbered years
Brussels Flower Carpet
Every two years the Grand-Place is carpeted with hundreds of thousands of begonias and dahlias in an intricate design, best admired from the Town Hall balcony.
- 21 July
Belgian National Day
Military and civil parades through the centre of Brussels followed by evening fireworks, with the Royal Palace opening to visitors in the weeks that follow.
- Late November to early January
Winter Wonders
Brussels' Christmas festival spreads markets, light shows and an ice rink across the city centre, one of Europe's most atmospheric festive seasons.
Brussels through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Bluebells and garden season
Mild days, blooming parks and the famous purple bluebell carpet of Hallerbos forest in April, with the sightseeing cities pleasantly uncrowded.
- Summer (June – August)
Terrace life and cycling country
Warm rather than hot, ideal for café terraces in the capital, festivals on the Grand-Place and long cycle rides through Limburg's heathland.
- Autumn (September – November)
Golden forests, quiet cities
Settled early-autumn weather suits day trips to Bruges and Ghent, while the Sonian Forest and Hoge Kempen turn gold and copper.
- Winter (December – February)
Christmas markets and firesides
Winter Wonders fills Brussels with lights and market stalls, and a countryside villa with a fireplace makes the cosiest of Belgian bases.
The Area and Where to Stay
Brussels sits at the centre of a small, superbly connected country, which is precisely what makes a countryside villa such a clever base. The capital itself rewards slow exploration: the Grand-Place and its guildhalls, the Sablon's antique dealers and chocolatiers, the elegant avenues of Ixelles and the European quarter's parks. Rather than a city hotel, our guests take houses in Belgium's green provinces, including the quiet, wooded corner of Limburg around Meeuwen-Gruitrode near the Hoge Kempen National Park, roughly an hour east of Brussels. From a base like this you have space, gardens, a private pool and genuine calm, with the capital, Antwerp, Ghent and even Bruges all reachable for unhurried day trips before returning to your own fireside.
Things to Do
Start in Brussels with the Grand-Place, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Magritte Museum, then follow the Art Nouveau trail through Victor Horta's townhouses. The Atomium and the Africa Museum suit families, and the city's parks, from the Bois de la Cambre to the Sonian Forest, are made for long walks. Beyond the capital, Belgium unfolds quickly: medieval Bruges and its canals, Ghent's castle and altarpiece, Antwerp's fashion and Rubens, and the battlefield of Waterloo just south of the city. In Limburg, cycle the celebrated routes through the Hoge Kempen National Park, where paths run through heathland and pine forest. The concierge can arrange chauffeurs, private guides, chocolate ateliers and restaurant tables.
Food and Local Flavour
Belgium takes eating seriously, and Brussels is its confident capital of appetite. The classics are worth doing properly: moules-frites, shrimp croquettes, carbonnade slow-cooked in dark beer and waffles eaten warm in the street. Chocolate here is a craft, from grand houses around the Sablon to small ateliers, and the beer culture, from Trappist ales to Brussels' own lambic and gueuze, is recognised by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible heritage. The city holds a dense constellation of Michelin-starred rooms alongside timeless brasseries. At your villa, a private chef can bring the market to you, pairing seasonal Flemish and Walloon produce with the cellar's Belgian ales.
When to Visit
Belgium is a temperate, year-round destination with no extreme seasons. Late spring, from April to June, brings mild days, long evenings and gardens in bloom, including the famous bluebell woods of Hallerbos south of Brussels in April. Summer is warm rather than hot, ideal for terrace life and cycling in Limburg. September and early October offer settled weather and thinner crowds in Bruges and Ghent. Winter has its own charm: Brussels' Winter Wonders market fills the city centre with lights from late November, and a countryside villa with a fireplace makes a wonderfully cosy base. Pack for changeable skies whatever the month.
Getting There
Brussels Airport (BRU) is one of Europe's best-connected hubs, twenty minutes from the city centre, with Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) serving low-cost routes. The Eurostar links Brussels-Midi directly with London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne, making a car-free arrival easy. For a countryside villa in Limburg, the drive from Brussels Airport takes about an hour on fast motorways, and Belgium's compact size means nowhere in the country is much more than two hours away. The concierge can arrange private transfers, chauffeured day trips and car hire so the whole stay runs smoothly.