Brussels Stock Exchange

The building that houses the Brussels Stock Exchange does not have a distinct name, though it is usually called simply the Bourse/Beurs. It is located on Boulevard Anspach, and is the namesake of the Place de la Bourse/Beursplein, which is, after the Grand Place, the second most important square in Brussels.
As part of the covering of the river Senne for health and aesthetic reasons in the 1860s and 1870s, a massive program of beautification of the city centre was undertaken. Architect Léon-Pierre Suys, as part of his proposal for covering of the Senne, designed a building to become the centre of the rapidly expanding business sector. It was to be located on the former butter market, (itself situated on the ruins of the former Recollets Franciscan convent) on the newly created Anspach Boulevard (then called Central Boulevard).
The building was erected from 1868 to 1873, and mixes elements of the Neo-Renaissance and Second Empire architectural styles. It has an abundance of ornaments and sculptures, created by famous artists, including the brothers Jacques and Joseph Jacquet, Guillaume de Groot, French sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and his then-assistant Auguste Rodin.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Ilsa for the beautiful architectural card. (PostcardUnited)

Sent: 27 May 2016    Received: 13 June 2016    Travelled: 17 days

Poperinge, Belgium

Poperinge  is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises the city of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Anaik for these two lovely cards that came in my Christmas mail

Sent: 1 December 2015   Received: 27 January 2016   Travelled: 58 days

Ostend, Belgium

Ostend  is a Belgian coasted city and municipality, located in the province of West-Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke, Raversijde, Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast.
Ostend is famous for its sea-side esplanade, including the Royal Galleries of Ostend, pier, and fine-sand beaches. Ostend is visited by many day-trippers heading to the beaches, especially during July and August. Tourists from inland Belgium and foreigners mostly arrive by train (day trips) and head for the closest beach area, the Klein Strand, located next to the pier. The locals and other residents in Belgium usually occupy the larger beach (het Groot Strand). Ostend used to be widely visited by the British, Germans, French and Dutch, but is now mainly frequented by Belgians and Dutch.

Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified Atlantic Wall, open to the public as the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum located in Raversijde. During summer evenings (or just any kind of weather) one can walk through the little streets around Het Vissersplein. At certain times there are local markets in the neighbourhood streets and in the summer the Vissersplein has music festivals. The Vissersplein (Bonenstraat/Kadzandstraat) is a car free zone with many brasseries where patrons can sit outside and have a drink. Towards the port side there are many little fish outlets, and beyond that the ferries can be observed docking.

Thanks to Caro via PostcardUnited for this card with

nice stamps and a view of her city. No idea why

Pos Malaysia defaces the Belgian stamps with

the above postmark :| 

Sent: 9 November 2015   Received: 22 January 2016   Travelled: 74 days

Chocolate + cat

Thanks to Maryke via postcrossing for this sweet cat and

chocolate ^_^

Sent: 28 January 2016   Received: 18 February 2016   Travelled: 21 days

Owl and gnome

A gnome getting a ride from an owl. 

Thanks to Henk for this great fantasy card

Sent: 27 July 2015   Received: 3 September 2015   Travelled: 38 days

Siamese cat

Ok so this card is for my sister but I had to display 

the wonderful artwork of the sender.

Thanks to Lawrence from Belgium for this great card

Sent: 18 May 2015   Received: 30 June 2015   Travelled: 42 days

Bruges, Belgium

BrugesGerman: Brügge [ˈbrʏɡə]) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.
Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its port. At one time, it was considered the "chief commercial city" of the world.

Thanks to Simona for this lovely postcard from her trip to Belgium

Sent: 20 October 2014   Received: 10 November 2014   Travelled: 21 days

Belgium

 

 

Arcade of the "Cinquantenaire", Brussel

 

Thank you Helen for the detailed explanations on the historical significance of the Arcarde and the stamp featuring new King Phillipe.

 

Sent: 17 January 2014

Received: 5 February 2014

Travelled: 19 days

St Peter's Church, Leuven

 

Built mainly in the 15th century in Brabantine Gothic style, the church has a cruciform floor plan and a low bell tower that has never been completed. It is 93 meters long.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Church,_Leuven

 

Thank you Jadelynn

 

Sent: ??

Received: 11 December 2013

 

Thank you Jetske for the awesome map of Belgium.

Haven't had the chance to come visit this country but hopefully on my next trip I shall!

 

Sent: 10 October 2013

Received: 15 November 2013

Travelled: 36 days

Zimmer Tower

The tower was built no later than 1425 though the precise date of construction is unknown. In 1812 the tower was sold by the municipal authorities, but after World War I, they repurchased it and slated it for demolition. However, in 1928 clockmaker Louis Zimmer presented to city, his work, the anniversary which consists of 12 clocks encircling a central one with 57 dials. These clocks showed time on all continents, phases of the moons, times of tides and many other periodic phenomena. It was decided to place this new design in the old tower, which had to be substantially reconstructed for this. In honor of the astronomer they renamed the tower the Zimmer tower.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmer_tower

 

Thank you Stefan for this beautiful clock tower!

Sent: 16 September 2013
Received: 8 October 2013
Travelled: 22 days

Leuven

 

The 'Oude Markt' or "Old Market" square located in the center of Leuven features a vibrant social scene the center

 

Thank you Adriaan for the beautiful view of the waffle houses :)

 

Sent: 18 April 2013

Received: 8 May 2013

Travelled: 20 days

Gravensteen

Castle of the Counts

The present castle was built in 1180 by count Philip of Alsace and was modeled after the crusaders castles that Philip of Alsace encountered while he participated in the second crusade. Before its construction, there stood a wooden castle on the same location, presumably built in the ninth century. The castle served as the seat of the Counts of Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century. The castle was then used as a courthouse, a prison and eventually decayed. Houses were built against the walls and even on the courtyard and the stones of the walls were used to erect other buildings. At one time it even served as a factory. At the end of the 19th century, the castle was scheduled to be demolished.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravensteen_castle

Thank you Petra for the lovely card!(postcrossing)

Sent:28 January 2013   Received: 19 February 2013   Travelled: 22 days