Meet the Flemish Masters in the places where they lived and worked. Far from the hustle and bustle, you can admire them in their natural habitat. Here are three slow travel tips for tours by bicycle, on foot or by tram featuring stunning arts and heritage.
Flanders welcomes visitors, always in ways that respect local history, heritage, and communities; this is an essential part of the regenerative tourism of tomorrow. The Master Tours fit perfectly into this category, guiding you on journeys through the Flanders of the Flemish Masters. On each one, you'll get to discover the places where they lived, worked, and found inspiration — at churches and cathedrals, monasteries, town halls, castles, city palaces, and many others. Where better way to acquaint yourself with the Flemish Masters than here?
The golden river
Masters by the Lys, for example, is a wonderful route to explore by bike. The winding Lys Region cycling route is a “golden river” leading you to idyllic villages full of picturesque houses, artists' studios, museums and art, all set against a beautiful historic backdrop. Along the way, visit St Martin's Church, a place of peace and reflection. There, you can admire the works of local heroes such as Gustave van de Woestyne and George Minne. A bike ride doesn't get much nicer than this!
Art by the North Sea
Is it the air? Or the light? Or the eternal rushing of the waves? The North Sea has always held an irresistible allure. Masters by the sea takes you on a journey in the footsteps of the geniuses along the Flemish coast. Admire artists' homes and charming little churches. A travel tip: discover it all by coastal tram. The tracks run like a ribbon from one end of the Flemish coast to the other. That way, you can travel carefree from one highlight to the next, whether that's the James Ensor House, the Paul Delvaux Museum, or the Church of Our Lady in Nieuwpoort.
City trips with Rubens
How about an artistic city trip? You can never fully understand Antwerp without considering Peter Paul Rubens. The godfather of the Baroque is still at home there. The Genius of Antwerp Master Tour takes you through the city past highlights such as the Rubenshuis, where he lived and worked, his masterpieces in the Cathedral of Our Lady, and the iconic St Charles Borromeo Church, the quintessential Rubens church.
By the way, a Rubens tour like this one will be even more interesting in 2027; to mark his 450th birthday, he will be in the spotlight at major exhibitions at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the Snijders&Rockox House, and the Plantin-Moretus Museum. Where else can you get closer to the master than in Antwerp?
